Panthers' Pleasure [Impulse 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Read Online Free Page B

Rafe was still behind the bar with her, not actually serving anyone. The rush had subsided and he left her to attend to any customers who still needed anything. He kept right on watching her like he couldn’t quite believe what he was seeing. She felt his piercing gaze even when her back was toward him and wondered what it was about her that he found so objectionable. Why else would he keep staring at her? She didn’t look bad enough to stand out, did she? Hell, it would be pretty difficult to achieve that ambition in a place like Impulse.
    “I can manage if you have things to do,” she said, tired of being in his orbit, especially since her body had woken up and taken more than a passing interest in the man. “There’s no need to babysit me.”
    “I’m good right here.”
    “I won’t run away with the day’s takings.”
    Several people chuckled, which is when Chantal realized how alike a lot of them actually were. They had the same piercing blue eyes as Rafe and Vilas and they all growled rather than laughed. Yet they were different, too. Their facial features varied, but they were all blessed with above-average looks.
    “Do you always get this many in for breakfast?” she asked.
    “Nope.” Rafe flashed a sexy smile that went straight to her pussy. “You’ve drawn quite a crowd, sweetheart.”
    “But no one knew I was starting work today. Anyway, why would they be interested in me?”
    “You’re a stranger.”
    “You don’t get passersby in Impulse?”
    “Sure we do, but not ones as special as you.”
    Chantal shook her head. For all the sense he was making, he might as well be talking in Swahili. She was tired of feeling as though she was the only person in the room not in on a secret. Before she could say as much to Rafe, a man with long, striped hair called out to him.
    “We still on for tonight, Rafe?” The stripy man winked at Chantal. “Or do you now have other priorities?” He paused, as though listening to something and nodded. “Okay, Rafe, I get the picture.”
    How could he, Chantal wondered, when Rafe hadn’t said a word?
    “Can you reach me down a sack of that flour, Rafe?” Rochelle asked, poking her head around the kitchen door. She grinned at Chantal and pointed to a shelf a good ten feet above the bar.
    “You doing okay so far, honey?” she asked.
    “Yes, thanks,” Chantal said. “I’ll get the stepladder for you, Rafe.”
    Before she could do so, Rafe seemed to elevate himself from the floor with…well, with almost feline grace. She gasped when he reached the shelf, grabbed the sack, and landed again, all in one fluid movement.
    “Oh shit,” she thought she heard him mutter beneath his breath when he saw her gaping at him. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

Chapter Three
     
    Rafe dragged himself away from Chantal, aware that he ought to leave her to it and go upstairs to see how Vilas was doing with his Internet search.
    “Press the buzzer here if you need me,” he said, pointing to a button beneath the bar. He would know if she had any problems before she even told him, but he didn’t want to freak her out by telling her so. “It goes straight through to the apartment.”
    “I think I can manage,” she said, glancing around the bar that now only had about half a dozen customers.
    “Okay.” He loitered, reluctant to let her out of his sight now that she’d finally come into their lives. No, he amended, now that she was here and had the ability to save their very existence. “I’ll leave you to it.”
    “What time do we start serving lunch?” she asked.
    “Oh, whenever people want it. They don’t usually come in before five.”
    “I guess they wouldn’t, seeing as how half the town has just eaten big enough breakfasts to keep them going for several days.”
    The locals’ appetites appeared to amuse her, and she smiled at him as she spoke. The gesture lit up her entire face, enhancing her elfin features. It turned the copper in her eyes to a