Business and Pleasure (Lavender Lace, Book One) Read Online Free PDF Page A

else.”
    She drew her lower lip between her teeth. Keefe almost groaned aloud. He imagined nibbling on that lip first, then her neck, then moving down her body…
    “There are some incredible seafood restaurants in Seattle,” Marci said.
    “Seafood it is. I’ll pick you up at, what? Seven? Seven-thirty?”
    “No, that’s okay. I’ll meet you there. It’ll be easier.”
    He understood her reluctance in not giving him her address. He was her newest vice president, but she knew little about him. “Okay.”
    She picked up a notepad and pen and scribbled something on the top piece of paper. “Here’s the name and address of the restaurant. It’s right on the waterfront, so you won’t have any trouble finding it.” She tore off the paper and pushed it to the edge of her desk. “I’ll be there at seven.”
    Keefe picked up the paper and looked at what she’d written. He knew the restaurant. His friends had taken him there the first night he was in town. “Tomorrow night at seven.” He stood and smiled at her. “See you then.”

Chapter Three
     
    Strictly business, I swear.
    Once again, Keefe’s words played over and over in Marci’s mind. She’d told him in his interview that she’d always be available if he had questions or needed help. He had questions about Marshall Media and his position. She could help Keefe, and enjoy dinner at her favorite restaurant at the same time.
    Strictly business.
    A business dinner meant she should wear a suit. Wearing a suit on a Saturday night didn’t sound like any fun at all. Yet here she stood in Nordstrom, looking through the racks of wool and linen. She didn’t know why she’d decided she should have something new to wear tonight. Business wear filled over half her closet.
    “Marci!”
    Marci turned to see Molly hurrying toward her, a huge smile on her face. “Hi! Shopping for a new suit?”
    “Yes. No.”
    Molly arched one thin eyebrow. “You want to make up your mind before you answer me?”
    Peggy had told her to buy a sexy dress. Maybe she should. Marci hadn’t bought a new dress since she’d dated Ben.
    She shouldn’t even consider wearing a sexy dress tonight. This was a business dinner with her new employee. Okay, so he wasn’t officially her employee for two more days. It had been so long since Marci had dressed up and gone to dinner with a man. She wanted to feel like a woman tonight, not the president of a corporation.
    “I have enough suits. I’m thinking about dresses.”
    “Now you’re talking about my area. We have some gorgeous party dresses.”
    “Not a party dress. I want something…” Marci stopped. She wasn’t sure what she wanted, so didn’t know what to tell her new friend.
    Molly’s red curls bounced when she nodded. “You want something feminine.”
    Marci smiled. That’s exactly what she wanted. “Yes.”
    “Follow me.”
    Leaving business wear behind, Marci followed Molly across the store. “You want a cocktail dress,” Molly said. “Not black. Maybe something in blue that’ll bring out your eyes. Ooh, yeah, I like that idea.”
    Molly stopped by a round of soft, flowing dresses and quickly rummaged through them. Smiling broadly, she held up a dress for Marci to see.
    “Ta-da! What do you think?”
    Marci gasped. The dress was made of silk, or perhaps a silky polyester. A deep periwinkle blue in color, it would hug her curves to just above her knees. The cap sleeves would show off her arms, the square neckline would show a hint of her breasts.
    Perfect.
    “Do you want to try it on?” Molly asked. “This should be your size.”
    Peeking at the tag, Marci saw that her friend had chosen the right size. “You’re good.”
    “After six years, I should be.”
    Marci also noted the price on the tag. The dress cost more than she would normally pay for one piece of clothing, but what the hell. This wasn’t a day to worry about her budget.
    If she was going to blow her budget today, she might as well go all the way.