Beneath the Surface Read Online Free PDF Page B

have spewed it across the desk in his face. As it was she had to tamp down a strong urge to laugh, and instead frowned to show her displeasure.
    Her look didn’t go a long way to putting him in his place, however.
    He simply grinned at her, a smug boy who had just put his second grade teacher on the spot with his risqué comment in front of the class.
    “Other than the suit and tie aversion—”
    “I’m fairly easy.”
    She just bet. “That helps a bit.” Although she didn’t consider the subject closed by any stretch of the imagination.
    He’d insulted her and Tabitha did not take well to insults. Rather than dwell on it though, she typed in “easy and casual” on his profile, then peered at him. “Would it be safe to say blue or black are your favorite colors?”

    19
    Gracie C. McKeever
    “Today they are. Tomorrow it might be something that’s at my fingertips when I reach into my closet.”
    Tabitha shifted in her chair, crossed her legs to stem the sudden flow of wetness in her panties. She’d never found wise-asses a turn-on, but there was something intrinsically sexy and inviting about his grin, something raw and challenging in the depths of those indigo eyes.
    She highlighted and underlined “easy and casual,” already envisioning him in a charcoal single breasted suit and vest to highlight those beautiful dark eyes, and a black T-shirt underneath. There, no tie! “Any colors or materials you don’t like?”
    He shrugged, but rather than give off uncertainty, the motion emitted his indifference.
    Tabitha stopped herself from flinging her mouse over the pad, and stared at him across the desk as he merely arched a thick brow. “This is not the best way to build rapport, Eric. I need cooperation from you to make this work. This relationship has to be a two-way street, give and ta—”
    “Okay, okay.” He chuckled, put up his hands as if in surrender. “You’re absolutely right. I have to apologize for dragging you into this.”
    That was more than she expected, but less than she deserved, and Tabitha waited for the other shoe to drop. She was sure he had something up his sleeve, especially when she realized what he had said. “Dragging me into what?”
    “Vega vendettas and power struggles.”
    “I’m not following.”
    “I have to be honest, my sister damn near twisted my arm to sell me on the idea of a makeover and personal shopper.”
    “You don’t have to feel obliga—”
    “But , now that I’m here I’m getting used to the idea of having a fashion consultant.”
    “Let’s get something straight, I can’t work miracles.”
    “I don’t expect you to.”
    “And I won’t do anything to your wardrobe you don’t want me to do.”
    “I leave myself and my wardrobe at your total discretion, Tabitha.”
    She stopped herself from sputtering at his silky warm murmur, the sound of her name on his lips, still waiting for that big size twelve desert boot to drop.
    At the thought, he did lower his right foot to the polished parquet floor, rolled his chair closer before leaning his elbows on her desk.
    Tabitha purposely held her ground, though she was tempted to roll her chair back an inch or two, his clean musky scent riding the wind to her nostrils and making her light-headed.

    20
    Beneath the Surface
    It should have been illegal for a man to smell as good as he looked.
    “Well, ah, that’s good to hear.”
    “And I promise to cooperate and be a good boy for the rest of our meeting.”
    She didn’t think he could or would keep that particular promise, not even if he tried, not a “good” bone in that big well-built body.
    “Scout’s honor.” He raised his hand and grinned at her silence.
    “Were you?”
    “Was I what?”
    “A Boy Scout.”
    “Even better. I was an Eagle.”
    She wasn’t that up on what the qualifications for an Eagle Scout were, but she was sure they were pretty extensive and doubted that Eric’s footloose and fancy-free mien had held him in good stead