Aussie Rules Read Online Free PDF Page B

lucky you haven’t been shut down by the EPA. You have bill collectors calling—”
    â€œ What? How did you—”
    He put a finger over her lips, then had the balls to smile. “Let’s establish some ground rules here,” he said. “One, I’m staying until I talk to Sally. Two, I don’t expect your lovely office, but I do have a business to run so I’ll need a place to hole up and work while I’m here, with a computer, phone, and radio equipment, of course.” His eyes went steely. “And three…Don’t underestimate me. Something’s going on, Mel, and I will figure out what.”
    She grabbed his wrist and tried to toss his hand aside, but the man, solid as a rock, couldn’t be budged, and she had to settle for a withering stare. “You’re not staying long enough to need an office.”
    â€œWhy, is Sally showing up today?” He cocked a brow at her silence. “Tomorrow? No? Then get used to seeing this face, Mel.”
    Something popped inside her head. She was fairly certain it was her brain matter coming to a boil. “I don’t want you freaking everyone out.”
    â€œI don’t plan to do any such thing. I just want to talk to Sally.”
    â€œI don’t see the need for you to park yourself here, ” she said. “Take your fancy plane somewhere and I’ll call you.” She spun on her heels, opening the door, but a big hand reached over her head and shut it, then held it closed.
    This left her crowded up against the wood, with his body not quite brushing the back of hers, though she felt surrounded by him all the same. He was as hard as he looked, all tough muscle and bone, not an ounce of softness to him. Damn, genius, now what? She didn’t know, but it was hard to think in this close proximity. She stared down at his boots, one on either side of hers.
    â€œNo can do on the leaving thing,” he murmured, his voice like a caress up her spine, making her shiver. “Nothing personal, Mel, but I don’t trust you.”
    â€œYou’re in my space.” She said this from between her teeth, caught in some inexplicable place between fury and pure, unadulterated lust.
    Unbelievably, he put his mouth to the sensitive spot just beneath her ear. “Yeah. But it’s such a nice space.” His breath whispered over her flesh, and just like that, rendered her stupid.
    And furious. “Get out of here, Bo.”
    â€œWhy don’t you tell me just why it is you panicked when you saw the deed in my father’s name?”
    She closed her eyes against his voice, which turned out to be a big mistake because with her eyes closed, their position felt even more intimate. “No reason really. Just surprise.”
    His exhale fanned her temple, and she heard the humorless smile in his voice. “Can’t bullshit a bullshitter, darlin’.”
    She realized she was squinting her eyes. You squint your eyes when you lie . She opened them wide. “I’m not.”
    â€œSo you’re asking me to believe Sally left you completely out of the loop on this one.”
    â€œNo.” Mel put her forehead to the door, a very weak part of her wanting to press her bottom back snug to his crotch, which was crazy. Crazy . “Yes.”
    â€œWhich is it?”
    â€œNo.” She had to tell him this much, he was going to find out anyway. And if she gave this freely, maybe he’d trust her enough to tell her what it was he needed with Sally. “Yes, I knew the deed wasn’t in the safe. No, I didn’t know why. I had just hoped it’d been misplaced, that’s all. And…”
    â€œAnd…”
    She let out a breath. “People might think the deed is still here. In Sally’s name.”
    â€œPeople?”
    â€œEmployees.”
    He went very still in surprise. “So no one knows what Sally did all those years ago? For ten years you thought you