Read Harlequin Nocturne March 2016 Box Set for Free Online Page B

was as nice as the one from the front.
    He caught her looking when he came back. She didn’t pretend to be embarrassed. He frowned, settling into his chair.
    â€œI’m not on the menu,” he said. “In case you were hoping for dessert.”
    Monica burst into laughter. “Oh. Was I that obvious?”
    â€œNo, actually, you’re not obvious at all.” He sat back in his chair and gave her a look so stern it made her sit back, too.
    â€œErm,” she said finally when it was clear that was all he was going to say. “Sorry?”
    Jordan swiped at his mouth with a paper napkin and flung it down, then got up to pace a little bit. “I mean, what the hell was last night?”
    Before she could answer, not that she had any clue what to say, he’d turned on his heel and stalked over to her. He should’ve been intimidating—and he was, or he would be if she hadn’t faced actual monsters, not just some guy with his boxers in a twist. When he leaned to get in her face, though, she did pull back a little.
    â€œI thought you were in trouble,” he snapped.
    â€œSo you figured you’d save me?” Monica snapped back. “Well, that’s noble and all, but I promise you, I can take care of myself.”
    â€œI’ve seen what that thing can do. You haven’t, not firsthand.”
    She put a hand on his bare chest, no longer sweaty. He’d taste like salt, she thought. And fuck, that made her want to lick him.
    â€œI’ve seen other things, Jordan. I’m not a shrinking flower—”
    His hands gripped her upper arms, tight. She was up and out of the chair before she knew it. She thought he meant to kiss her, and she was already opening her mouth for it, but instead, he shook his head. His dark hair had fallen over his eyes.
    â€œThe next thing I know, you’ve got me fucking you,” he said in a low, rumbling voice. “And that’s it. Nothing after that. Not a damned word about it, all day long.”
    â€œI made you dinner,” Monica whispered, torn between being flattered he was so upset and apologetic for so unexpectedly hurting his feelings.
    Jordan let her go and stepped back. He was still breathing hard. Light flashed in his eyes. He turned away from her, shoulders hunched. Fists clenched.
    â€œWhy are you even here?” he muttered. “It’s ridiculous. DiNero has too much fucking money.”
    That stung. Monica rubbed at her arms where his fingers had left marks. “Look, I know what I do must seem crazy. But really, there are things out there that people refuse to see.”
    He swung around to look at her, brows furrowed, mouth curled into a sneer. “Sure. Like a goat sucker?”
    â€œAmong others. Yes. You work with animals—is it so hard for you to imagine that there are creatures we don’t know about?” She put her hands on her hips. “Something came through that wall. Multiple times. Something killed those animals. And something, if we don’t figure out what the hell it is, will come back again and again and continue until everything in this zoo is dead, probably including the people. Because it can, Jordan. It simply fucking can.”
    â€œKeeping the animals safe is my job. Not yours.”
    â€œYeah, well, DiNero hired me to figure out what it is, okay? So once I do that, I can tell you what to do to keep them safe. My crew can come in and hunt it down, and if DiNero wants it alive, maybe we can even figure out how to tell you to take care of it. I’m sorry I stepped on your toes, if I did. And I’m sorry about last night... No, fuck that,” she amended. “I’m not sorry about last night. I needed you, and you were there. I’m glad you were. Believe it or not, I appreciated it.”
    â€œGreat. So I did you a favor?” Jordan’s scowl twisted further.
    She stepped closer to him. He backed up. She took another. This time, he