WickedSeduction Read Online Free

another client, your wait shouldn’t be too long.”
    “I don’t…” She didn’t continue.
    “Don’t what?” Tor asked.
    She shifted from foot to foot, her gauzy, white skirt
fluttering around her ankles. This afternoon, like the previous one, she’d
covered up most of her body, her long-sleeved, white shirt tied at the waist
rather than above her midriff. He wondered if she had to dress that way for
work.
    After glancing at Van Gogh again and looking torn, she
suddenly turned to Tor. “I can talk to you—I want to. Whenever you have a
minute.”
    Tor wished he had one right now. If he could have tossed his
artwork at Hank without pissing off Polly, he would have. The woman kept
tapping his shoulder.
    “Hank’s double-parked,” she said again.
    “I know the cops around here,” Tor said. Actually, his
brother Dante did, being an attorney. “I promise, no one will give you a
ticket.”
    “Hank’s still waiting.”
    Right. She wanted Tor to act like the professional he was
supposed to be. He gave the young woman a gentle smile. “Be back in a sec.”
    “You will be careful, right?” Polly asked. “You won’t rush.”
    “Never.”
    Tor forced himself to take more time than needed as he put the
sketches in the rear of the couple’s Toyota hatchback.
    Before he could move away, Polly touched his arm. Looking up
at him, she squinted at the brilliant sun. “How do I take care of my drawings?”
    Without thinking, Tor glanced at the parlor. Rather than
having gone inside, the young woman waited for him by the door. If he’d been a
gambling man, Tor would have bet she was debating whether to leave.
    Reining in his desire to join her, he turned to Polly.
“Don’t handle the drawings unless you absolutely have to. No touching the
surfaces to see how they feel. Your fingertips have oil on them you don’t want
to leave on the artwork. Wash your hands first or wear gloves if you absolutely
have to touch the drawings to move them or whatever. Never place them in direct
sunlight or they could fade. Keep them in a cool, dry place and—”
    “Wait. I need to get this down. I’ll send myself a text.”
She pulled out her smartphone, fiddled with the device, and finally nodded.
“Okay, repeat what you just said.”
    Good God. Although he’d be forever grateful that
Polly liked and had bought his work, Tor still wanted to get back to the parlor
before the end of today. Suppressing a sigh, he repeated what he’d said earlier,
adding information on the extra care one had to give drawings in ink and those
in pastels.
    Seconds after he’d finished, Polly kept tapping on her
phone. At last, she beamed. “Got it. I’m so excited.” She gave him a hard hug.
“I’m telling my friends about this place and you.”
    Tor’s face got hot with his grateful blush. “Thanks, I
appreciate you spreading the word.”
    She dismissed his appreciation with a wave of her hand. “You
have talent to spare. Someday you’re gonna be big. And I’m gonna get rich
because I have your early work.”
    He laughed.
    Hank cleared his throat. “Babe, we are double-parked.”
    After Polly hurried into the passenger seat, Tor waved them
on their way, watching until they’d turned down another street and disappeared
from view.
    Hot damn. Tor approached the young woman, relieved
she was still there. “Hi.” He offered his hand. “Tor Avana.”
    After a moment’s hesitation, she slipped her fingers across
his palm.
    Every nerve-ending in Tor’s body fired, sending a tsunami of
delight through him. Her skin was achingly soft, delightfully warm. Hell, if
merely touching her hand did this to him, what was going to happen when they engaged
in something truly intimate? Kissing. Stripping. Crawling naked over each
other, mouths, tongues, hands exploring with shameless desire.
    “Marnie Cruz,” she said.
    Marnie, short for Marina? Tor smiled at her nickname and
fragrance, a light, floral scent fresh as spring flowers, enticing as