A Touch of Minx Read Online Free PDF

always imagined that she was taller and larger than she was—a match for her personality. In reality, though, when she wore flat shoes the top of her head didn't quite come to his chin. With her auburn hair softly framing her face and those deeper-than-the-ocean green eyes, she mesmerized him. "Hello," he said, smiling.
    "Hi." Samantha slipped her arms around his shoulders, rose up on her toes, and kissed him.
    She seemed to be vibrating almost on some sort of subatomic level. "What's going on?" he murmured against her mouth. It probably shouldn't, but seeing her that excited made him distinctly nervous.
    "I got a job," she returned, flashing him a grin that lingered on her soft mouth. "Two jobs, actually."
    Uh oh. "Considering the wide variety of work you've done in the past, may I ask whether this is legal or more… questionable employment?" he asked, glancing in Pendleton's direction.
    Samantha kissed him again. "Both, hopefully."
    "Samantha."
    "Oh, don't worry about it," she said, releasing him and abruptly testy. "You're such a tight ass."
    He caught her wrist before she could retreat from the reception area. "I know what excites you, Sam," he said in a low voice, "And I reserve the right to be concerned when you get all giggly over a job."
    She pulled her arm free to jab him in the chest with a forefinger. "I do not get giggly," she retorted, jabbing in iambic pentameter. "Ever."
    "Okay. Would you elaborate about this job—jobs? Just to satisfy my curiosity?"
    "Maybe. If you buy me an ice cream."
    "Done."
    And somehow she'd maneuvered him into being the one trying to make amends. No one else in the world could do that to him. He simply didn't allow it. His question had been a legitimate one—even the above-board work she did seemed to include some element or other of danger or deception. Those were the jobs—the "gigs," as she called them—that she liked.
    She headed for the main door and pushed it open. "I have my cell, Aubrey," she called over her shoulder.
    "I'll love you forever if you bring me back a lemon sorbet," Pendleton returned.
    A muscle in Richard's jaw twitched. "I told you he's not gay," he said as they walked to the elevators and began their descent to the lobby.
    "He asked for a lemon sorbet, Brit. He's totally gay."
    Rick still had considerable doubts about that, but since Samantha seemed to look at Aubrey Pendleton as some sort of eccentric uncle, he supposed the bloke's orientation didn't matter. But he was still correct—Pendleton was straight.
    They headed down the street, Samantha riddling with her pocket probably so he couldn't hold her hand. Richard swallowed his irritation; it would only egg her on. "Tom and I went golfing today," he said instead. "Nine holes at Mar-a-Lago."
    She eyed him. "You mean you blew off work to go play?"
    "Just for a couple of hours."
    "Good for you."
    "You're being sarcastic, aren't you?"
    "No. All work doesn't make you a dull boy, but at the same time it's not like your empire's going to crumble if you relax once in a while."
    Before he'd met Samantha, he'd never really realized that. Or more likely, it had just never occurred to him. Golf and skiing were for wooing reluctant partners or buyers, polo was for charity fund-raising. He enjoyed them, yes, but he enjoyed them more when there was no point to them. "Is that why you gifted me with the man trip?" Samantha grinned. "You betcha. Did you tell Donner?"
    "I did. His only concern was that you might be sending him out on a death hunt, but he reckoned he'd be safe if I was along."
    This time she laughed outright. "Just make sure he gets the special gold ticket."
    Ah, a little insinuation of murder and mayhem, and she was back in good spirits again. He held the door of the ice cream shop open for her. "What's your news, then?"
    At the sight of them, the young man behind the counter gulped audibly and sprinted for the back, from where he reemerged a moment later with a second employee in tow. "How can we help