Seduced by the Baron (The Fairy Tales of New York Book 4) Read Online Free Page A

possible these days.
    “I own a string of successful micro-breweries in Australia and New Zealand. Small scale, boutique beers that kind of thing but I have a product I want to go global with. It’s called Baron lager and I want to start by launching in the US market which is why I’d like to talk to your father about the possibility of putting it on tap here for a trial period.”
    Faith blinked. What the fuck? “You want to launch an Australian lager here in Brooklyn , in an Irish pub?”
    “Yes.” He smiled and if she hadn’t been feeling so utterly confused and, frankly, horrified, Faith may well have been swept off her feet. “Of course I’d be here to keep a close eye on how it’s going during the trial. I wouldn’t expect you guys to do all the heavy lifting. Do you think he’ll be amenable to meeting with me?”
    Rafael, here? Keeping a close eye on things? Looking like that and smiling like that and wanting to put an Australian beer into Sullivan’s?
    Messing with tradition?
    It would kill her father for sure.
    And God only knew what would become of her with him in such close proximity. No,” she said. “No, he would not.”

Chapter Two
    ‡
    T here was silence for a moment or two during which Raf looked at her again with that little line between his brows like he was trying to figure her out.
    “Faith?” Mercy murmured.
    Faith looked at her friend. There was surprise on Mercy’s face at the vehement denial which only made Faith feel crappier. But she couldn’t explain the panic welling inside her when she looked at Raf. Her body was aware of him like she’d never been aware of another man and that scared the crap out of her. In just half an hour he’d made her want things – sunbathing at Bondi and waking up in a hotel on Times Square – she couldn’t have.
    And that was just plain unsettling.
    Things were fine the way they were. Sure, it hadn’t been the life that she’d dreamed for herself all those years ago at St. J’s and hooking up with her friends again had magnified that but she had responsibilities .
    And when she looked at Rafael Quartermaine she wanted to throw them all away.
    “You know what a traditionalist Pop is, Mercy,” she said defensively.
    “And is he the only one?” Mercy asked gently.
    “I – ” She opened her mouth to deny her friend’s suggestion but Pop had rubbed off on her over the years.
    “Right.” Mercy nodded. “So, Raf’s beer?”
    Faith glanced at him to find him watching her with that steady, aquamarine gaze. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to come across so harsh but – ”
    “Wait,” Mercy said, reaching her hand across to Faith’s arm and giving it a squeeze. “Don’t say no. Not yet. Just promise me you’ll try and convince JP to listen to Raf’s pitch. That’s all you’re asking, right, Raf?”
    “Absolutely,” Raf said with a nod. “If he doesn’t like it when I’m done then I’ll walk away.”
    Yes. That’s what she was worried about. Almost as much as him staying.
    “Please, Faith,” Mercy asked, squeezing her arm again. “For me? As a personal favor to me?”
    Faith almost groaned at Mercy’s request. But she couldn’t refuse her either.
    Would it really hurt to listen?
    “Okay fine,” she conceded. But no way in Hell was she letting her father in on this until it was necessary. “You pitch to me, though. You convince me and I’ll convince him.”
    “Deal.” Raf stuck out his hand quickly. A little too quickly for her liking.
    Faith steeled herself as she took his hand this time – mentally girding herself against the mad spike in her pulse. She withdrew it after the most perfunctory of shakes. “How does tomorrow suit you?”
    Best to just get it over and done with then she could relegate Raf into a neat little box labelled impossible and get on with her life.
    Raf pulled out his phone. “I have appointments most of the day but I can be here by about…” His thumb swiped over the screen as he