Belle and Valentine Read Free Page A

When several more female customers throughout the day pressed numbers into Fane’s hand and gave open signs they were available if he was interested, Zuria told Sam she had business to attend to and left the shop. No matter what it was, she would find work elsewhere so she wouldn’t have to witness Fane’s seduction of the women of Aves anymore.
    ****
    Zuria left the upstairs apartment and descended into the coffee shop. The customers had all gone home, and the scent of something delicious wafting from the kitchen said that’s where Sam was, preparing for the next day. She stuck her head in.
    “Don’t you get tired of putting in such long hours? You need a life, little brother.”
    He raised his eyebrow at her, and she laughed.
    “Don’t give me that look. You are the little brother. I’m a whole two years older at the ripe old age of thirty-two.” She groaned at the admission, thinking she heard her ovaries shriveling as she spoke. “You’d make an awesome house husband.”
    A dishtowel flew toward her head, and she jumped back, letting the door close before the towel struck.
    “I won’t be out late,” she called to him and walked outside to wait for Fane.
    Downtown Aves rolled up the sidewalks at sundown. The only sounds she picked up were music from the bar a block over on Artemis Road. She breathed in the fresh, clean air, and a slight scent of the nearby river reached her. Memories came flooding back, of her and her high school friends hanging out there at night. She imagined it was still the spot for teens to make out. Nothing ever changed in Aves.
    By the time she remembered she didn’t want to look too eager to see Fane by standing outside the shop, the motorcycle had already come roaring down the road. Zuria paused with her hand on the door handle to go back inside, and Fane stopped feet away at the curb.
    He flashed his even, white smile at her beneath the streetlights, and the shadows along with his dark clothing made him look sinister. Her heart hammered in her throat, and she froze.
    “Are you running away, little rabbit?” he whispered.
    She straightened. “Why should I? Nobody’s scared of you!”
    “Then come here.” He held out his hand. “Get on.”
    Why the hell did it seem like he was inviting her to get on something other than his bike? She pressed her lips together and approached him. With a few quick movements, she had settled behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. Stupid desire threatened to make her pass out, but she buried it. Fane started the engine, and they were off, the buildings whipping by, her hair blowing in the wind. A thrill raced over her, and she felt the ties that held her down slipping away.
    They rode for miles, just enjoying the warm summer night. When they came up on a roadside gas station, Fane pulled into the lot and helped her off the bike. She followed him into the store and strode along the short aisles. Zuria chose a bag of chips and some gum. She watched Fane in another aisle grab a couple of sodas from the refrigerator case. A woman sidled up next to him and started chatting while twirling her hair around a finger. Were women still doing that move, Zuria wondered. Fane flashed a smile, and Zuria stuffed her chips and gum onto a shelf and started for the exit. A strong arm encircled her waist and drew her backward. She looked over her shoulder to find Fane and glared at him.
    “Hang on while I pay for this. Did you want the chips and gum?” He pointed to where she’d put the snacks, and she wondered about him. He always seemed to be aware of her, maybe when she didn’t even know it, like how he’d known about Richard. Was he that dedicated to getting every woman he desired? Perhaps that was why they all wanted him.
    No, she’d seen women flocking around Fane from day one, even those he hadn’t noticed. The man exuded all that a mother warned her daughter to avoid if she didn’t want her heart crushed.
    “I guess so,” Zuria said, and