Celestial Desire Read Online Free PDF Page B

files, email, and so on. Same stuff I did for NASA,” she added without a trace of arrogance.
    “This is wonderful, Celeste,” Mitch told her.
    She grinned at the praise. “Oh, and I integrated it with your home security system, so you’ll always be aware and in control of what’s going on even when you’re not here. That is a really sweet set up you have. I’ve been thinking of getting one myself. Can I ask who did it for you?”
    “My nephew. He’s something of a security expert. I can have him give you a call.”
    “That would be great, thanks.”
    “How much do I owe you?”
    Celeste reached into her back pocket for a slip of paper clipped to a couple of receipts. “This should be tax deductible if you count it as a business expense.”
    Mitch looked at the handwritten summary of parts and the prices she’d paid for them. His eyes widened when he saw the total at the bottom. “This can’t be right. I saw some of those things on sale for at least twice what you have here. And there’s no labor cost.”
    Celeste looked away, embarrassed. “Yeah, well, I know where to get the components at a reasonable price. Those electronics places always have an indecent markup.”
    “You built this?”
    Her face flushed and she shrugged as if it was no big deal. “Not from scratch or anything. Just started with the basics and tweaked a bit.”
    Mitch stared at her, dumbfounded. “Then I definitely owe you more than this. How long did you spend on it? What’s the going rate for this kind of thing?”
    Her flush deepened and she seemed truly embarrassed. “I’m not going to charge you for my time , Mr. Fagan, after all you’ve done for me. And…I enjoyed it, actually. It gave me something fun to do. The security system was a challenge; your nephew knows his stuff.”
    “I don’t know what to say, Celeste. Thank you.”
    “You’re welcome.” The grin was back. From this angle, Zane could see the prettiest pink flush gracing her cheeks.
    He continued to watch from the shadows as Celeste had Mitch log on to the new machine, reset his password, and showed him how to use it with infinite patience. Brilliant lawyer his uncle might be, but he was nearly hopeless when it came to digital gadgetry. When she was satisfied he had the hang of it, she picked up her small bag and left.
    Only then did Zane emerge from the shadows. Mitch frowned at the look on his nephew’s face. His features, soft and kind in the woman’s presence, hardened slightly as he looked pointedly at his watch. “Thought you weren’t supposed to be back for another hour or two.”
    Zane kept his expression mildly curious, ignoring the stab of unease in his chest. “Finished early. Got a new system, huh? Looks pretty slick.”
    “It is. That was Jessica’s daughter, by the way. I could have introduced you. Why didn’t you want her to see you?”             
    Zane said nothing, but he didn’t have to. Mitch was exceptionally skilled at reading people. “Oh, hell no, Zane. Please tell me she’s not the one you were talking about last night.” He winced when he saw the truth in his nephew’s eyes.
    “ Fuck .” He paced back and forth across the room before speaking as Zane followed him with his eyes. “Okay, look. I’ll just call Jess and tell her something came up, that you can’t make it tonight.”
    “Don’t bother. I’m still going.”
    Mitch looked at him as if he was crazy. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
    “It’s a perfect idea,” Zane said, liking the idea more and more. He’d tried several times to get Celeste to go out with him, but she’d always had some excuse not to. A casual dinner at her mom’s was the perfect opportunity to discover more about the enigmatic Celeste.
    “No. End this, Zane, before someone gets hurt.”
    It was unlike his uncle to use such an authoritative tone with him, especially where his personal life was concerned. Mitch might give him disapproving, even pitying looks