Black Sparkle Romance Read Online Free PDF Page A

“Here is my number, so I’ll see you …?” She let the statement hang, looking at him. He said nothing for some moments and returned the stare. Mira felt the tingling sensation return to her spine. Dammit, tall men can be intimidating, especially tall, dashing men who can light up a firestorm with their sexiness. If he can emit such sexiness with his clothes on, then I wonder what would happen when they are off—
    Whoa! Mira stop it! What the hell is wrong with you?
    Finally, he took the paper. “OK. I’ll call you when I’m free to talk,” he said as he walked to the door, his hulking frame making everything in the room look small.
    She stared at his retreating back, perplexed. “Why don’t you just pick a date so I can be sure I’m ready?”
    He stopped at the door and raised an eyebrow at her. “And allow you to prepare your Twenty Questions to interrogate me like some army general? No.”
    She raised her chin. “Lauren hired you. You’ve got to do as I ask.”
    He grinned. “Well, about that: I haven’t signed a contract so, officially, you haven’t hired me. Until then, Imake the decisions and you obey them, lady,” he said and walked out before she could utter a word.
    Gosh, I hate this guy.

Four
    He called the next day – at six in the morning. Mira had just stepped out of the shower when the phone rang, startling her. She rummaged in her handbag and answered with an exasperated “Hello?”
    “I’m ready to sign the contract. Can you come over now?” Even though she could barely hear what he was saying, Dominic’s voice sent a delicious tremor through her. This was getting ridiculous.
    She lodged her phone between her shoulder and her ear. “What?” she shouted into the mouthpiece. “I can barely hear you … what is that racket in the background?”
    He laughed – or maybe she thought he’d laughed.
    She scampered around the room in search of a clear network signal. “What? Where?” In her panic she stubbed her toe. “Shit!” she cursed loudly as the pain seared through her.
    “Excuse me?” Dominic said, dimly through the sound of the waves.
    “Yes, what ? I can’t hear a thing … get away from that ocean, if you don’t mind!” Static, a little silence, and then the noise resumed. Mira frowned. “Hello? Mr Dominic? Are you still there?”
    “Can you hear me now?” he said, far more clearly.
    “Yes. Where are you? I haven’t been able to make out most of what you’ve been saying.”
    “I’m at Coconut Beach in Badagry—”
    “What in the world are you doing in Badagry at this time of the morning?” OK, she knew she was sounding hysterical but she couldn’t help it. Badagry! That was almost two hours from Lekki, if the traffic wasn’t heavy. Did he expect her to get in her car and drive that distance on a Wednesday morning, when she had work to do at the office? No way!
    “I live here,” he said simply.
    “What?” She couldn’t hide the surprise in her voice. “You live in Badagry?”
    He answered with another question. “Hey, are you really serious about me doing this job?”
    “For Pete’s sake, why don’t you just come to my office? I thought we agreed to meet there!”
    “First of all, we didn’t agree to meet at a particular place; we just agreed to talk. Secondly, no, I can’t come to your office now because I’m working. See what I’m saying?”
    “This is ridiculous!” Mira complained. “Wait a minute; are you trying to punish me for what happened in the parking lot? I apologised, for heaven’s sake! And you rejected my money – what was I supposed to do, force it down your throat? Whenever you’re ready, come up to the office! I don’t have time for this.”
    She could visualise his shrug when he answered, “Well then, I don’t think you’re serious about me doing this photo shoot, I guess.”
    “Fine! Good riddance … I’ve had it up to here with your arrogance! I’ll find someone else to do the job, thank you very