Desire Me Now Read Online Free PDF

her seating
     section—were a mix of ivory chintz and floral patterns to balance the dark walls and
     wood trim. It was a richly appointed room. Every detail looked carefully selected,
     and nothing looked neglected, not even the curtains. In the house where she’d grown
     up, the curtains had been filled with holes from moths over the years.
    “It does not appear as though anything is broken,” the doctor said, drawing her attention
     away from her surroundings and back to his kind brown eyes. “May I ask how you hurt
     it?”
    She bit her lip. It was embarrassing to admit what happened, so she opted for a much
     shorter version of the truth. “In my haste to cross a busy street this morning, I
     managed to trip over the curb separating the lane and the park. My ankle twisted when
     I fell.”
    He looked at her silently, assessing her injuries. She knew her lip had a split at
     one corner; she felt the constant sting, especially when she talked. Mr. Riley had
     confirmed that Sir Ian was successful in bruising her where he had struck her.
    “You will need to stay off your foot for a few days, preferably a week if you can
     spare the time.”
    She needed to work, not laze about like an indulgent cat. “Is there not a salve I
     can use to heal it quicker? What if I wrap it so I can better support my weight?”
    “I’m afraid neither will be sufficient. You need rest to bring down the swelling,
     and time will heal the rest.”
    She looked away from the doctor, her vision blurring. She hated the tears that filled
     her eyes at her predicament. She was stronger than this. “I’m not in a position to
     do any such thing,” she said, hearing the break in her voice.
    “You most certainly are.” Mr. Riley spoke from the door, startling her. The tone of
     his voice was commanding and brooked no argument. “You will sit at a desk to deal
     with my correspondence over the next week, if that’s how long it takes to heal.”
    “I could . . . ” She wasn’t sure what she could do. And this was not a conversation
     or argument for the kind doctor to hear. She would deal with Mr. Riley in due time.
     She ducked her head. “Thank you for coming to see me on such short notice, Doctor.
     I am grateful for your services.”
    “I am always available when Mr. Riley calls.” He packed up his bag, stood, and bowed
     to Amelia. His smile was warm as he placed his hat on his head. “Call for me again
     if it worsens, though I think you’re in good hands now.”
    She nodded, not sure how to respond to the doctor’s assurance of Mr. Riley’s character.
    Mr. Riley spoke with the doctor before he left. They were too quiet for Amelia to
     overhear what they discussed before the doctor shook Mr. Riley’s hand and left.
    Silence descended upon the room when she was left alone with her rescuer. She understood
     cruelty, unkindness. She understood the demands of men bent on humiliating her. Any
     of those things she could easily skirt around and make an escape for the nearest exit.
     But Mr. Riley bewildered her on so many levels that she was at a loss in determining
     her next step. He was kind, and he seemed genuinely interested in helping her.
    Still, she couldn’t help but wonder: Why me?

C HAPTER F OUR
    T here was an awkward moment of silence as Amelia stared at Mr. Riley. She wished she
     knew what he was about. Wished she could grasp the fundamental nuances of his character
     so she could understand his determination to hire her as his secretary. What could
     she possibly offer him that an experienced secretary could not? Right now, she had
     no references for her character or ability. Touching her tongue to the tender part
     of her split lip, she assumed her appearance suggested that her background was dubious
     at best. That wasn’t to say she couldn’t learn exactly what the role entailed, but
     she had not escaped the clasp of one devil to find herself in another kind of hell.
    Mr. Riley revealed something in his hand