Shades of Gray Read Free Page A

Richards."
    His words slid over her, richer than dark chocolate, more intoxicating than the wine in her glass.
    "So, Grigori, what do you do for a living?"
    "Magic, mostly. And you?"
    "Magic!" She cocked her head to one side, and then nodded. Yes, she could easily imagine him standing on a stage clad all in black, a silk cape billowing around him. "You're a magician?"
    He shrugged. "Among other things."
    "Are you performing here in town?"
    "Not at the moment."
    "Oh, that's too bad. I don't suppose you'd show me one of your secrets?"
    "I'm afraid not."
    "I didn't think you would. There's some sort of magician's oath or something, isn't there?"
    "Yes," Grigori said, smiling faintly. "A very ancient oath not to reveal our secrets. You did not tell me what it is you do," he reminded her.
    "I'm a legal secretary at Salazar and Salazar. The elder Mr. Salazar is my boss. A tyrant if ever there was one." She smiled. "Maybe you could make him disappear."
    She had expected him to laugh, or at least smile back. Instead, he regarded her for a moment and then said, quite seriously, "If you wish."
    Not certain how to reply, she changed the subject. "What do you do when you're not working?"
    "I like to take long walks in the moonlight."
    "Oh, a romantic."
    He shrugged. "Perhaps I just prefer the night."
    "Do you? Prefer the night, I mean?"
    "Yes." He made a vague gesture with his hand. It was a graceful movement, airy, light. "My eyes are quite sensitive to the sun."
    "Oh."
    "And what do you like to do when you're not working?"
    "Oh, I don't know. Read. Go to the movies." She grinned at him. "Take long walks through the park."
    "In the evening?"
    "In the morning, I'm afraid. I don't like walking in the park at night."
    "Perhaps you would take a walk with me some evening and give me a chance to change your mind."
    "Perhaps." She regarded him for a moment, trying to think of a tactful way to pose the question uppermost in her mind. In the end, she just asked it, straight out. "You're not married or anything, are you?"
    A hint of sadness passed behind his eyes. "Not anymore."
    "Divorced?"
    "No. My wife and children are… are no more."
    It was an odd way of putting it, she thought. "I'm sorry."
    "It happened a long time ago."
    Tommy brought her dinner then, and she was glad for the interruption, glad for the chance to change the subject.
    She had thought it would be awkward, eating while Grigori watched, but he sat back in his seat, sipping a second glass of wine. They made small talk while she ate. She declined dessert, protested when Grigori reached for the check.
    "You don't have to pay for my dinner," she said. "After all, you didn't eat anything."
    "I wish to," he replied, and something in the deep timbre of his voice, in the sultry glow of his eyes, made her blush.
    Outside, he placed her hand on his arm in a gesture that could only be called old-fashioned. "I should be honored if you would permit me to walk you home."
    She stared at him, suddenly alert. "How do you know I walked?"
    A good question,
Grigori mused. "I was behind you on the street."
    Marisa chewed on her lower lip. She didn't remember hearing anyone walking behind her. Of course, the rain could have muffled the sound of his footsteps. Her hand tightened on her umbrella. Not much of a weapon, she mused ruefully, but better than nothing.
    His dark gaze met hers. In the glow of the street lamp, his eyes seemed fathomless, compelling. There was a hint of danger, of mystery, in those eyes.
    "You do not know me," he said quietly. "I am a stranger you are reluctant to trust."
    "Well, this is the nineties, you know. A girl can't be too careful."
    "I understand." He stepped away from her. "Perhaps another time, then."
    "Wait, I — "
    "I would not want you to be uncomfortable, Marisa."
    "I'm not, really." She shrugged. "It's just that, well, you know…"
    "It is the nineties." He smiled at her. A beautiful megawatt smile that left her momentarily breathless. "Shall we?"
    He offered