All Things Pretty Read Online Free PDF Page B

take me dress
shopping, furious that I went to such lengths to keep it form
him.
    But I feel something besides fear, too. I
feel breathless, but in a completely different way than what Lance
makes me feel. I also feel warm and dewy, like my skin has been
misted with hot water. And I feel attracted. Oh god! Over
the last three weeks, I’ve managed to convince myself that my
memory of him had to be embellished, but now I can plainly
see that it was not. He. Is. Gorgeous.
    He seems taller than he was that day, all
dressed in black from his perfectly fitted jeans to his perfectly
fitted tee and blazer, his presence filling the room. He looks like
a model for mob-wear or something. His sable eyes twinkle when they
meet mine, but he says nothing. Neither do I.
    “Randall, this is my lady, Tommi. Tommi,
this is Slade Randall.”
    I’m not surprised by Sig’s first words. It’s
not unusual for men in this community of felons to adopt a
nickname.
    “I go by Sig. Like the gun,” Sig says,
nodding curtly, his deep voice stroking the flesh of my face and
chest from all the way across the room. “I don’t tell many people
my name, much less go by it.”
    Although he is speaking to me, I know the
comment was meant for Lance. I almost gasp at his audacity, my eyes
flitting to Lance. I see his jaw harden and I brace for his wrath.
But it never comes. He merely responds with equal curtness. “Sig
then. I don’t give a shit what you call yourself, just as long as
you do your job.”
    “You don’t have to worry about that.”
    “Good because you start now. Tommi has a
friend’s baby shower to attend. You’ll be taking her. You can drive
the Maserati. You go where she goes. No questions. No excuses. She
doesn’t leave your sight.”
    Oh crap! “That’s not necessary,” I
pipe up hurriedly. “I’m sure Sig,” I say, purposely pausing over
the name, as though I’m not familiar with it, “would much rather
wait in the car than to stand in the shadows, watching a bunch of
girls swoon over baby clothes and play games that involve diapering
a doll.” I put on my purr face, as I like to call it, and walk to
Lance, draping one arm over his shoulder and running my finger down
his jawline. “But if you don’t believe me and you’d like to
come along, I’d be more than happy to show you.”
    The black dot of Lance’s pupil swells inside
his blue eyes and my belly crumples in on itself. If we were alone,
I know exactly what that look would mean. Been there, done that.
That’s why I don’t taunt him. I’ve done a great job of finding
other ways to keep him happy. No need to change that. Right now,
though, we aren’t alone so I know I’m safe.
    “Not this time. But if you want him to stay
in the car, that’s fine. Just keep your cell turned on.” The last
is said with a warning note. Once, a couple of weeks ago, I
mentioned in passing that I’d left my phone in the car that day it
was towed. He still hasn’t gotten over the thought of even possibly not being able to reach me for a few hours.
    “Of course,” I say, moving away to grab my
purse. “See you tonight.” I give him a chaste peck on the cheek and
turn to priss off, hoping that the sight of my wiggling butt in the
pencil skirt that he loves best will give him things to think about
other than what I’m doing and where I’m going.
    My eyes shift to Sig as I move past him. He
meets them and watches me until I reach the door, at which time he
opens it for me. I nod my thanks, ignoring the way my skin tingles
where my shoulder brushes him as I slip by.
    Neither of us says a word as we make our way
to the elevator and down from the penthouse. At the lobby, Sig
mutters, “I’ll pick you up at the curb.”
    “Don’t you need the keys?” I ask.
    He holds up a single key on a ring and
jiggles it. I thought I had the only two keys to my car. Evidently
Lance had another one made when he gifted it to me. Figures.
    I barely catch his wink before he turns and
walks