Veiled Target (A Veilers Novel) Read Online Free

like an open book.
    “You are Tess,” he repeated. Not a question. A statement. That totally unsettled her and shook her from the trance he’d somehow cast. She’d never met anyone who knew her before being properly introduced.
    “Yes, sorry. Nice to”—she thrust her arm across the table—“meet you.”
    His hand enveloped hers and thanks to static electricity, included a shock that made her flinch and whip her arm back. A noise escaped her lips that sounded suspiciously like a giggle. She did not giggle. Not like that.
    “The pleasure’s all mine.” He slouched against the back of the booth, the wood panel behind his head separating them from the next table.
    Nope. The pleasure was not all his. If the tiny bursts of tingles thrumming through her body didn’t mean pleasure, she didn’t know what did. Scratch that. She knew exactly what did. It had just been a long time since the pleasure wasn’t a result of extreme physical exertion.
    She directed her attention to the eatery, privately insisting he was not the best thing she’d ever seen. “Nice place. Do you come here often?” Could she sound more clichéd? She’d been out of the dating world for so long, she had no idea what to talk about.
    “Often enough, but I’ve never sat across from such a beautiful woman before.” His eyes searched past her and he waved a hand. The waitress made a beeline to their table.
    “What can I get you?” she asked, slightly out of breath.
    “I’ve already got a beer coming.” Tess looked at the waitress with raised eyebrows. How long did it take to get a beer? She needed it. Like now. Beautiful? Her? Smooth talker. She didn’t care that it was probably a line.
    “Make it two then.” The corner of his mouth lifted in a quirk of a smile that was far too dangerous for her liking.
    She kicked off her shoes under the table and slid one leg beneath her bottom. He looked awfully comfortable and for the first time in far too long, Tess forced herself to relax as well. She took a deep breath, hoping he wouldn’t notice the rise and fall of her chest. Blind date jitters were not something she was familiar with. Certainly no man had ever made her feel this restless.
    “I would have guessed you a scotch man.” She set her sights back on him and her stomach flipped. Hungry. She was hungry.
    “Why don’t we just cut to the chase?” He leaned forward on his arms, hands clasped, the ease of a moment ago gone. There was no hint of playfulness in his expression, not an ounce of affection or desire on his part.
    So Tess had no idea what the hell he meant. “Excuse me?”
    “You heard me. What exactly are you doing here?” He didn’t glare, but the narrowing of his eyes meant serious business.
    “Isn’t it obvious?” I’m here on a date you moron. And you’re about to ruin it. Maybe Kensie and Francesca had lured him here under false pretenses? From the look on his face, the last thing he wanted to do was get chummy.
    “I need you to spell it out for me.”
    “Really? You look like a pretty intelligent guy to me.” This bonehead had obviously never been on a blind date before. Hell, she had never been on one, so who was she to spout the rules? Yet she still knew to be cordial. What had flipped this guy’s switch?
    The waitress delivered their beers with a smile and lingered for a moment to gawk—yes, gawk—at her date. Tess cleared her throat to get the woman’s attention. “Thanks.”
    The girl came to her senses and mumbled she’d be back to take their dinner order. Right. Tess would be lucky to finish her beer before bolting from Mr. Coulda-Been-One-Night-Wonderful.
    Something changed in his demeanor then. His tight jaw relaxed. The intensity in his stare lessened. She heard him take a deep breath as he eased away from the tabletop. His chest remained puffed out; he wasn’t backing down, but retreating some. He’d obviously realized his slightly hostile tactics wouldn’t get him anywhere.
    He lifted his