Call My Name Read Online Free PDF

of gold flickering in her eyes, she was a stunning woman.
    “Obviously, she is not.” For the first time his broad smile graced her with a view of those even white teeth that supposedly won hearts over right and left. But Daran’s heart had been won and broken long ago, in another state, by another man. It would take more than a bright smile to win her over this time.
    As she steeled herself for an appropriate response, her adversary moved fluidly from the door and slowly approached her. “You get more beautiful as you get worked up. That takes skill.” He mocked her and she detested it, yet words eluded her. Mesmerized by the eyes that surveyed her face before settling, finally, on her lips, she felt the beginnings of a quiver of something strange within her, then the moment abruptly snapped.
    “Come on. Time’s up.” A large tan hand took her elbow.
    “But I haven’t had a chance to say anything!” she protested, eyes rounding in dismay that the audience was over so soon with nothing to prove for the effort.
    “Oh, you began quite well,” he assured her, drawing her beside him toward the door. Suddenly he halted as sharp eyes scanned the room. Frowning, he asked absently, “Do you have a purse or something that you cannot do without for an hour or so?”
    Bewildered, she merely stared. “Where am I going?”
    Nonchalance ruled his every move as he spotted, then reached for, her pocketbook, not for a minute releasing her arm. “I’m hungry. We’re going out for lunch.”
    “But I don’t understand—” The door slammed shut behind them as he set a steady pace toward the hall.
    From what seemed to be a full head above her, he looked down indulgently. “Lunch. You know, that meal in the middle of the day which one normally consumes to revive oneself?”
    “I know what lunch is—” embarrassment painted a faint rose on her cheek “—but I thought you had only ten minutes to spare. What about that busy schedule you legislators supposedly have? What about that image of the man-about-town grabbing a sandwich on the run?”
    They reached the hall, then the stairs. Daran was all too well aware of the hand that tightened beneath her elbow to compensate for the precariousness of her high-heeled step as they spiraled down the two flights.
    “I need nourishment if I’m going to keep to that schedule. And a sandwich on the run only risks crumbs on my suit. We have an hour.” He went on without a breath. “Where do you suggest we go?” But before she could open her mouth to venture a possibility, Drew Charles answered his own question. “How about—” he cast a glance her way “—oh, I forget that you’re new here. There’s a terrific little place you’ll never have heard of—”
    “Athena’s?” A tight grin of her own escaped as they approached the exit.
    Silver eyes reflected his surprise graciously. “You’ve heard of it?”
    “Even we professional women have to eat,” she retorted pertly. “And it does happen to have the best Greek salad around.”
    “Salad? My God, no wonder you’re so slim. I could go for some baked lamb right about now. Hey, John!” They had arrived, slightly breathlessly on Daran’s part, in the parking lot and the waiting aide came running. “Listen, John. Dr. Patterson and I have some unfinished business to attend to. Why don’t you go ahead to the insurance seminar. Tell them I’m on my way. Stan and Dewey should be there already. Give me an hour.”
    With a mischievous wink in Daran’s direction, John grinned widely at his boss. “Sure thing. Say—” he lowered his voice to a tone of mock secrecy “—do you need any money?” The senator’s game plan was no mystery to his friend. In the instant Daran sensed that she was but one and the latest of many women to be given the rush. Before she could demur, she found herself drawn in the opposite direction from the aide as the tall man beside her called over his shoulder, “No, thanks. The lady is