Corporate Affair Read Online Free PDF Page B

shore of the lake, feeling his hooded gaze on her. She had pushed up the sleeves of her button-necked tunic top which she wore over a pair of white pants and kicked off her sandals. Kalinda felt relaxed on one level, but wary on another. The lunch had been enjoyable but it hadn’t taken her long to realize Rand was hot on the trail he had scented last night. His curiosity was aroused, she supposed. Just as hers was about him.
    "You’re not sure exactly how many days you’ll be here?"
    "I expect I’ll be leaving the day after tomorrow."
    "Why so soon?" he pressed.
    "I have a business to run, remember?"
    "Isn’t the boss entitled to a vacation?" he smiled knowingly.
    "Of course. This isn’t it, though." As he’d already clearly guessed. There was not much point in pretending she was here for her annual holiday, Kalinda had decided early in the game. Damn the man’s persistence! But she had only herself to blame, she admitted grimly. She had wanted to see him again today, even knowing what to expect.
    "Ah, yes. The personal business which brings you to our neck of the woods. It will all be over within a couple of days?"
    "Yes . Now, if you don’t mind, I’d rather talk about something else."
    "Fishing?"
    She laughed. "Hardly!"
    "My plans for us tomorrow night?" he suggested hopefully.
    Her laughter died at once. "I’m afraid that’s out of the question, Rand. I won’t be seeing you tomorrow night."
    He went very still beside her and she bit her Hp in vexation. But it was the truth and there was no sense letting him think she would be free tomorrow night.
    "Tonight’s our last evening together?" he asked quietly.
    "Yes."
    "But you’ll be here in town tomorrow night?"
    She said nothing. Why was she letting him push her like this? It couldn’t be that subconsciously she wanted to tell him the truth, could it? That she needed to talk to someone? She had always been so self-possessed, so confident. But she had doubts about what was going to happen tomorrow night when she confronted David. She’d had doubts all along. And that wasn’t like her.
    "So that’s it," he growled softly.
    "What?" She swung her neat head around to look at him, saw the cool fire in his eyes and wished she hadn’t taken her gaze off the lake. She felt abruptly trapped by the power in him.
    "You’re here to meet a man." The words dropped like stones out on the lake.
    Kalinda didn’t move. "It’s business," she finally said coldly, struggling to break the bonds he’d placed on her. "Personal, private business."
    "You’re not looking for a fling with me because you’re here to have an affair with another man."
    "Rand! Stop it! You know nothing about the matter!" Dear Lord! What was wrong with her to have let him guess so close to the mark? She must be crazy! Or secretly desperate to talk it over with someone, she added grimly to herself.
    "Don’t you mink it might be just a tad dangerous to amuse yourself with me while you wait for Mr.
    Wonderful to arrive? What if he hits town early and finds you’ve spent the time flirting with a local shopkeeper?"
    "Of all the ridiculous things to say! I am not flirting with you!"
    "I’d call it flirting if I arrived at a rendezvous and found my woman had spent a couple of evenings with another man while waiting for me to show up!" he rasped bitterly. "And what happened on my couch last night definitely does not come under the category of casual acquaintance!"
    She realized he was angry, furiously so.
    "That’s the only category it could come under," she grated feelingly. "All we have is a casual acquaintance!"
    "If that’s how you treat your fleeting friendships, I’d like to see what happens after you’ve known a man a couple of weeks!"
    She flinched, pulling her eyes away from his condemning glare. He still hadn’t shifted from the sprawled position he’d taken, one jeaned leg drawn up as he rested on his elbow. Nevertheless, she had the distinct impression he was sorely tempted to wrap his