Billionaire's Contract Engagement Read Online Free PDF Page A

Somebody talked too much. Very distracting. E-mail me the stuff. I’ll take a look. And the tickets will be waiting for you at the box office.”
    “You always were my favorite sibling,” she said affectionately.
    He dropped a kiss on top of her head then stood and stretched lazily.
    “I’ll give you a call when I’m through reading everything.”

Three
    E van walked into the suite of offices he leased for the times he was in San Francisco. It wasn’t home, and though Union Square was a sumptuous neighborhood that catered to upscale businesses, he preferred the funky modern feel of Seattle.
    He nodded a good morning to his receptionist but halted when she came out of her seat, a concerned expression on her face.
    “You shouldn’t go in there,” Tanya said in a hushed whisper.
    He raised an eyebrow when he realized she was gesturing toward his office.
    “Why the devil not?” he demanded.
    She put one hand up to shield her mouth and then she tapped her finger against her palm—in the direction of his office.
    “Because she’s in there.”
    Evan turned to stare down the hall toward his office, but the door was closed. Damn, but he didn’t have time forthis. He looked back at Tanya and tried to stifle his growing impatience. The girl was highly efficient if a little eccentric. But he liked unconventional, and while she’d probably fit in better with his Seattle staff with her colored hair, multiple piercings and vintage 1930s clothing, he found she brought a sort of vibrancy to an otherwise stuffy office here.
    “Okay, Tanya. First of all, who the hell is ‘she’ and where is Vickie?”
    It wasn’t like Vickie not to meet him as he got off the elevator. His longtime assistant traveled with him everywhere. She had an apartment here and in Seattle. She had an uncanny knack for knowing precisely when he’d show up, and as a result she was always there, ready to pelt him with the day’s obligations.
    Tanya’s face fell. “Oh, sir, did you not get your message? I left you two. Vickie’s granddaughter was rushed to the hospital early this morning. They suspect appendicitis. She’s in surgery now.”
    Evan frowned. “No, I didn’t get any such message. Keep me updated. I want to know the minute she’s out of surgery. Send flowers and make sure Vickie has everything she might need. On second thought, send over food for the family. Hospital food is terrible. And arrange for a hospitality suite. If there is a hotel close to the hospital, have a block of rooms set aside for any of the family members.”
    Tanya blinked then hurriedly picked up a notepad and began scribbling.
    Evan waited a moment then sighed. “Tanya?”
    She looked up, blinking, as if surprised to still see him standing there.
    “Who is the ‘she’ waiting in my office?”
    Tanya’s nose curled in distaste. “It’s Miss Hammond, sir. I couldn’t stop her. She was quite imperious. Told me she’d wait for you.”
    It was all Evan could do not to look heavenward and ask “why me?” He glanced down the hall and briefly consideredleaving. He had no patience for Bettina today, and after his mother had extracted his promise to attend this weekend’s debacle, he couldn’t imagine anything Bettina could have to say to him.
    “Keep me posted on Vickie’s granddaughter,” he said as he turned to go down to his office.
    He opened the door and swept in, his gaze immediately finding Bettina. She was sitting on one of the sofas lining the window that overlooked the outdoor cafés lining the sidewalk below.
    “Bettina,” he said as he tossed his briefcase onto his desk. “What brings you here?”
    Bettina rose, her hands going down to smooth her dress. The motion directed attention to her legs—her self-admitted favorite personal attribute. The dress stopped almost at mid-thigh, which meant quite a lot of those legs were on display.
    Evan wouldn’t lie. He’d enjoyed those legs. It was just too bad they were attached to the rest of