But one night, without warning, Andre wasn’t waiting for her. She tried reaching him, but he didn’t answer her calls or texts. Worried that something bad had happened to him, she finally went to his hotel, where someone at the front desk remembered he’d left for the airport at dusk with a beautiful young woman in tow. His wife.
It felt as if she’d been punched in the gut. She’d been having sex with a married man. Had actually been falling for him. No wonder he’d been so secretive, sharing little about his personal life. She wasted no time erasing his name from her contacts and vowed never to be so gullible or naive again.
But here she was, less than a year later, getting ready to meet with him.
She had to forget their past. Shove it behind her and do what she needed to do—convince Andre not to cancel his contract. A contract big enough that it would secure her father’s retirement.
If her father hadn’t taken ill, he’d have flown down and handled things himself, so when he asked her to take his place and smooth things over, what could she say? Tell him to send his alcoholic business partner? Or that she couldn’t because she’d banged the customer, a married man who had lied to her?
So she’d sucked up her pride said yes.
“Let me check for you,” the hostess said, jerking Juliette’s thoughts back to the present. “What is the name on the reservation?”
Juliette lifted her hair, hoping a cool breeze would be kind enough to find its way to the back of her neck, but the air was stagnant. “Andre Lescarbeau.”
The woman looked up without consulting the book. “Mr. Lescarbeau?”
“You know him?” Juliette asked. He must come here a lot.
“He owns Cafe Sur La Rue. Would you like to wait in the bar for him? I’ll have Jeffrey grab your things.”
He owns this place?
Juliette glanced around again. Tiny lights were strung in the overhead branches of the courtyard and twinkled against the dark sky. The wrought iron gates and railings were exquisitely ornate. The atmosphere was dripping with Old World charm. Just like Andre.
Had he chosen his restaurant because he wanted to seduce her again on his turf? Well, she was smarter now. And much more informed. She wouldn’t sleep with him again if he were the last human male on the planet.
“Yes. That would be—”
“Juliette.”
The sound slid down her spine like melted chocolate. She’d told herself she wouldn’t let him affect her like this.
Remember. He’s married. You’re only here because Dad asked you.
Taking a deep breath, she turned to face him and her heart nearly stopped. Although she hadn’t forgotten how hot he was, time had a way of blurring the specifics.
His dark hair was tousled and he had a slight scruff on his jaw, making him look as if he’d just rolled out of bed. He wore a Mad Men inspired light gray suit, impeccably tailored to accentuate his broad, powerful shoulders and narrow waist. With no tie and camel-colored Italian shoes, he had an air of casual elegance. A man like him would be equally at home dining in the fanciest hotels or walking between rows of grapevines in a vineyard.
“Andre,” she said, curtly, trying to ignore the urge to offer him her hand.
She didn’t want to make any physical contact with him. There’d been something strangely magical about his touch, so she needed to avoid it at all costs.
She cleared her throat. “Will your wife be joining us?”
Get your copy of ENTICED BY BLOOD here.
Also by Laurie London
Iron Portal Series (Warriors with Special Abilities)
Assassin’s Touch
Rogue’s Passion
Warrior’s Heart
Rebel’s Desire
Iron Portal Boxed Set (1-3)
Sweetblood World (Vampires)
Enticed By Blood
Unraveled By Blood
Nocturne Falls Universe (light paranormal)
How Knot To Marry A Vampire
Sweetblood Series (Vampires)
Bonded By Blood
Embraced By Blood
Tempted By Blood
Seduced By Blood
Hidden By Blood (novella)
Enchanted By Blood (novella in A Vampire for Christmas)
About the Author
Laurie London is the NY Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Sweetblood and Iron Portal series—dark, sexy paranormal romance, set primarily in the Pacific Northwest.
Sign up for her newsletter and get a free coloring page at http://laurielondonbooks.com/mailing-list-sign-up/
Copyright © 2017 by Laurie London
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Cover art/design by Patricia Schmitt (Pickyme)
www.LaurieLondonBooks.com
Unraveled By Blood, A Sweetblood World Vampire Romance Page 8