Read Secret North: Book 4 of The Wishes Series for Free Online Page B

must’ve been aware of the quirk because both hands were in his pockets, meaning he was in total control of himself and the conversation. I shuddered to think the lies he was spinning to get himself off the hook. They seemed to be buying it, though. There was a lot of nodding going on, and no sign of any handcuffs.
    Ryan Décarie could charm the pants off anyone. It was his biggest talent and his biggest downfall. Every woman he’d ever wooed had been attracted by the same thing – bright brown bedroom eyes, sexy crooked smile and a body made for touching. If for some strange reason those attributes failed, he had a fat bank account to sweeten the deal.
    The downfall was, no one ever looked past it – or got the chance to. Ryan’s relationships were notoriously short lived: one night, two if he thought she was worth the effort.
    Claiming to be immune to his charms would’ve been a lie, but I was older, wiser and far better equipped to deal with him now. Perhaps that’s why I’d agreed to give the wasp’s nest another kick.
    ***
    Ryan finally spotted me and waved me over. Just as I got to him, another fireman approached and declared the emergency a false alarm. “You might want to get the alarm system checked out,” he suggested, lifting the visor on his helmet. “Something’s obviously defective.”
    Just the owner , I answered silently.
    “Thank you,” replied Ryan. “I’ll do that.” He curved his arm around my back and pulled me close and that’s when I realised his steely criminal resolve was a sham. I could feel his guilty heart pounding.
    “You’re free to re-open if you want to,” said the police officer.
    Ryan looked up at the sign above the front doors. “I think we’ll just call it a night,” he replied, feigning melancholy.
    The emergency responders disappeared as quickly as they’d arrived. Once the trucks and flashing lights were gone, the crowd dissipated too. The only people who remained were the shell-shocked staff, waiting for instruction from Ryan.
    “Give me a minute?” he asked.
    I nodded. Ryan leaned in, lightly kissed my lips and ventured over to address his staff. I used the time alone to pull myself together. No amount of good looks and charm could change the fact that Ryan was trouble. Pulling a fire alarm to clear a restaurant was the perfect example of the kind of behaviour he was capable of.
    When he reappeared, I let him know exactly what I thought of his fire alarm stunt. “What if there had been a real fire somewhere? They couldn’t have attended because they were busy dealing with your nonsense.”
    “I’ll send the FDNY a sizeable donation tomorrow,” he promised.
    “And what about your staff?” I demanded. “They rely on the tips they get. They’re getting nothing tonight.”
    His arm swooped around me. I didn’t fight his hold, but I wedged my elbow between us to buy the distance required to keep my brain functioning. “I’ll take care of them too.”
    “If you say so,” I muttered.
    “You worked for me for a long time, Bente,” he reminded. “I’m a good boss, am I not?”
    “Yes.”
    It would’ve been a terrible lie to claim otherwise. Ryan was the fairest of employers, and I had no doubt that he’d make up their lost wages. His current employees obviously thought highly of him too. They were inside clearing the abandoned tables as we spoke.
    “You’ll make sure they’re compensated?”
    “Everyone will be made whole,” he assured. “And once the tables have been cleared, we’ll be free to continue our date. Do you have any other questions, Miss Denison?”
    “A few.”
    “I’m listening.”
    “Why did you kiss me?”
    A frown marred his otherwise perfect face. “I kissed you?”
    “Twice.”
    “You let me kiss you twice?” he asked. “You must be out of your mind.”
    “I’m beginning to think so.” I agreed.
    He leaned a tiny bit closer and whispered, “I think we should make it three times. I like odd