Watcher: A raven paranormal romance (Crookshollow ravens Book 1) Read Free

cheeks burning with heat. Say something.
    “Wh-wh-what can I get you, sir?” I managed to stammer out. Across from me, Elinor giggled. I shot her a filthy look.
    “What can you get me?” Hot Biker rubbed the stubble on his chin; his eyes darted over my face and across my body. “You can get me off with those pretty lips, if you like.”
    Did he just say …? Behind me, Finn cracked up laughing. As his words registered, I felt my whole body blush. From the tips of my toes right up to the ends of my hair, my body coursed with heat. As much as his crass attitude annoyed me, I couldn’t help but wish I had the guts to say, “Sure. Your place or mine?”
    Hot Biker’s line hung in the air between us, an open invitation to respond, to crush him with my unbelievable wit, to impress him with my ability to rise to his challenge. I swallowed. Nothing. My mind was a blank slate.
    “Excuse me,” Elinor cut in. “You shouldn’t talk to her like that.” Great, now I look so weak I need to have my friend stick up for me.
    “Why not?” Hot Biker leaned over the counter and studied my face with those dark eyes. I don’t know how it was possible, but my cheeks flared with even more heat. “She looks as if she’s enjoying it.”
    “I—” I stammered, finally managing to croak out a sound. Unfortunately, I was too late. Elinor was in full no-bullshit mode.
    “Well, for starters, Belinda is the baker. If you piss her off, she might put something unsavoury in your cupcakes.”
    “I’ll take my chances.” Hot Biker grinned at me; that wild, carefree grin that made my knees go weak. “Besides, your friend can talk for herself, can’t you, gorgeous?”
    “I …” I cleared my throat. “Yes, I can, thank you. Do you want to order something?”
    Good, that’s good. Let’s just get down to business. That should help you stop thinking about how hot he is. There’s nothing sexy about pastries.
    Unless he was feeding you a cupcake, pulling off small bites with his fingers and placing them on your tongue, licking his lips in anticipation as he imagined running his tongue over yours, smearing the icing around your—
    Urgh. Who was this person thinking this stuff? My whole body pulsed with heat. I needed to get this guy out of here so I could go stick my head under the cold tap.
    But Hot Biker wasn’t in a rush. He leaned across the counter, his leather jacket creaking as he stooped to admire all the slices and sweets in the display. “You’ve got angel food cake,” he grinned. “That’s one of my favourites. Innocent on the outside, but full of naughtiness inside.”
    “Um …”
    “Is that like you, gorgeous?”
    “I … er …” Scratch that, I think I needed a cold shower .
    Elinor shot Hot Biker another filthy look. He rolled his eyes at her, then gave me a conspiratorial smile that made my heart hammer against my chest.
    “Look at her!” Elinor jabbed a perfectly manicured finger in my direction, making my blush glow deeper. “You’re making her really uncomfortable. Why don’t you just place your order without being a fuckwit and then you can leave.”
    Hot Biker looked taken aback for a moment, but then he nodded. He leaned across the counter, his brown eyes wide now, kinder.
    “Listen,” he said, his voice low. “I’m just teasing. The truth is, I came in to get something for brunch, but then I saw you behind the counter and that first line just came out. You looked so gorgeously flustered, I just wanted to see how long I could keep going. I wasn’t trying to embarrass you.”
    “That’s OK,” I said, my face still burning.
    “It’s hardly OK.” Elinor snapped. I shot her a frantic look, and she nodded, finally understanding that I was actually keen on the biker. She took a few steps back and hid her face in one of the newspapers I kept stacked by the door.
    “Your friend is right.” Hot Biker pulled out a fat leather wallet and started to flip through it. I noticed he was carrying a huge