An Enchanted Spring: Mists of Fate - Book Two Read Online Free PDF Page A

finally meet you!” Mr. Price boomed as he approached. “Is your meeting over so soon?”
    Fraught with predators. She couldn’t have stated it better herself.
    “Price,” he replied in the same tone he had used with Heidi. He turned his full gaze to Emma, and though his face remained hard, his eyes softened toward her. His voice firm, he stated flatly, “Under no circumstances can anyone see the contract.” His eyes never left hers. “Absolutely no one. Just you, or the entire agreement is off.”
    “Duly noted,” Emma replied, biting the inside of her cheek. Aidan MacWilliam was proving himself to be a very insightful client, and she had the sudden urge to ensure she kept him.
    Heidi sputtered, and Aidan’s eyes crinkled slightly at the corners, as though he were enjoying ignoring her as much as Emma was.
    “Right, right, Ms. Perkins only,” Mr. Price assured him as he tried to steer him back toward his office. “Do you drink? I have a delicious brandy. Vintage, very good stuff. Care for a glass?”
    “He prefers whiskey,” Emma interjected, then pressed her lips together quickly. She hadn’t meant to say that.
    Aidan caught her eye, and he let her see the humor lurking beneath his stern exterior.
    “I have other engagements,” he said curtly. He gave Emma another kiss on the knuckles (she fought the urge to swoon again), then shook Price’s hand before stepping into the elevator. He didn’t acknowledge Heidi.
    As soon as the doors closed, Heidi flipped her hair. “He carries a man-purse. Who does that?”
    “It’s a medieval satchel,” Emma said, not troubling to hide her disdain. She didn’t bother to wait for a reply before saying to Mr. Price, “I’m meeting him for dinner tonight to discuss the contract. I’ll need the afternoon to review this binder, and you heard him. I think it’s best if I leave the office for a while to review this.”
    Mr. Price didn’t object as she turned on her heel and left, a huge smile lighting her features as Gayle pretended to be busy (and gave Emma a very tiny thumbs-up as she passed) and she made her way back to her desk.
    Aidan MacWilliam was definitely an interesting character… and , she admitted to herself, quite a nice piece of eye candy . She grinned again.

Chapter 2
    Aidan MacWilliam was not a man to leave things to chance, but some things were beyond even his control—specifically, Ms. Emma Perkins. She wasn’t at all what he was expecting, which was laughable now that he’d met her. He’d been prepared to go into battle—her reputation, his cousin Colin informed him, was for a well-earned steely countenance. She was a talent that her current company hadn’t yet fully exploited, and Colin hoped to steal her away before they did so.
    Aidan had to admit, he hoped he could pay attention to the job at hand. Colin had tasked him with determining if Ms. Perkins was as effective in person as his latest client swore she was. Celtic Connections needed only the best for the head of its PR department, but Colin didn’t want to post the position publicly for reasons unknown to Aidan.
    As they were family, Aidan didn’t question him. He simply agreed to meet with the woman, conduct the interview in an unassuming way, and report back to Colin with his impressions.
    First impression? Smart. Ms. Perkins was a quick thinker, and witty, too. She was also, he admitted without hesitation, quite beautiful. Her hair was a dark honey blonde, and her eyes were not easily forgotten. The stunning shade of blue, almost violet, was unlike any color he’d ever had the fortune of seeing. Her professional demeanor was well practiced; if he hadn’t been watching for it, he wouldn’t have noticed her subtle, admiring glances.
    He chuckled to himself. There wasn’t much he didn’t notice about Ms. Perkins.
    There weren’t any pictures of her online or in print—none on the web, her company’s website, or even social media. Aidan had had his own contacts do some