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20
Wiley stared at an older woman with braided silver hair, and the woman looked back at her with sky blue eyes alive with emotion. Wiley had a look of consternation fixed on her face, but the other woman…
The queenly lady glided forward, entranced, until she stood blinking fiercely at Wiley. Her voice was hoarse when she whispered, “Daughter?” Suddenly she hugged the stiff young woman, shaking her head over and over. “Rihlia,” she said, and her eyes were wet with tears.
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The Charmer 21
She rubbed the edge of the table with her thumb. What would he say first? That she’d made a fool of herself last night? That she ought to be nicer to Wiley? “What if I promised you I wouldn’t cause any trouble if you agreed to take me home?”His eyes glinted dangerously. Her scent was making him feel aggressive. He needed to touch her. “I’d tell you to stop sulking.” In a lightning fast maneuver, he snaked his hand around her waist and pulled her roughly up to him. She pushed against him, but was no match for his large, battle-toned body.
The Charmer 22
“That’s a load of garbage!” Rihlia’s eyes shot sparks as she sat forward, gesturing angrily. “She might be a little shy with men, but Jasmine has always been a pretty girl. I don’t think it’s fair of you to blame some mythical pheromone just so you can have an excuse for being attracted to a human!”“What I feel, what Fallon feels, what Knightin feels,” he answered with grim conviction. “What every unattached male above the age of puberty will feel whenever she is near.” He leaned forward, determined to make her understand. “She's pretty, and it doesn’t help, but it wouldn’t matter if she were fat and bald and covered with boils, men would s
The Charmer 23
“In front of people. Male audiences,” she finished bitterly.“I see.”“Good. Then send me back.” His face took on that stubborn look and she didn’t wait for his denial. “Listen here, you pigheaded son of a bitch! I.…” To her horror, her throat closed on the words, and she could only stand there in humiliation, reduced to the helplessness of a child. A single tear tracked down her cheek.
The Charmer 24
Keilor stepped back while he still had the will. It took strength to straighten her bodice, tucking her away from his sight. His hand fell away, and for a tortured moment, neither could move.“Your hair is loose,” Jasmine observed from where she sagged against the wall.He gave her a rakish smile and ran both his hands through it, smoothing it back. “So is yours.”
The Charmer 25
Grinning mischievously, Rihlia asked, “How is Michael, anyway?”“I don’t know and I don’t care.” Why was Wiley baiting her? Jasmine scowled at her untouched dessert, muttering, “At least now I won’t have to worry about avoiding him, either.”Urseya raised a brow at Keilor. You see? Now the truth comes out. He frowned at her. “Was it a very bad ending?” she inquired with cheerful interest.
The Charmer 26
Keilor frowned at Fallon. “Your mother does want you to wed.” There was a silence as they considered just how far the manipulative Portae would go to secure a daughter-in-law. Considering the lengths she’d gone to in the past to manage her only son’s life, there was no telling what she was capable of, and Jasmine was the first woman he’d ever shown a serious interest in.“Had the drug been in your dessert, Keilor, I would have suspected Urseya.” Jayems smiled faintly. “Under the circumstances, I can’t see her wishing to inflame Jasmine, lest she be forced to toast the pair of you at your wedding feast.”
The Charmer 27
While she was still mouthing curses and holding her wrist, the door tone sounded, and Rihlia went to answer it. “All right. Bring it on in.” Jasmine glanced in irritation at the doors as Rihlia swung them wide and stood back. A man pushed a wheeled platform into the room. A giant granite pot rested on the platform, and inside it grew a six-foot fruit tree, loaded with ripe avocados.She looked at Rihlia in bewilderment.The deliveryman stepped forward and nodded his head respectfully. “Lady Jasmine, may I present a gift from the cadet M
The Charmer 28
She lowered her gaze. “You Haunt men must take lessons in charm. Thank you. I will enjoy it.”He leaned back and gave her a lazy grin. “Of course, I have to admit the thought of you wearing it may cause me to loose sleep...” he laughed and caught the pillow she tossed at him, “but the gift of your smile makes the sacrifice worth while.”She wagged a finger at him and he chuckled. “I will call for Rihlia. She will wish to help you prepare to meet your admirers.” He kept the pleasant expression on his face un
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