Embraced by Fire Read Online Free PDF

there again, an empty house was preferable. She sighed and scooped up her pens, tossing them in the draw. She was going home. To prove to herself she could, if nothing else. She simply couldn’t stand being trapped here with her thoughts. She would go home, have a relaxing bath… No, before she left, she would see if Johnny was still around. The DJ was an employee so she wouldn’t consider dating him, but he was a long-time friend.
    Right now she needed a friend. If he was free tonight she would arrange to meet up at a bar later. Maybe her favourite party clothes and a couple of drinks would cheer her up. So what if she was knocking off early? She didn’t care. If anyone asked, they could talk to Victor about work-life balance.
    She grabbed her bag. As she headed out, she passed the chair Ryu had been sitting in earlier and her nose twitched. That couldn’t be his scent. Victor had been in here since then. She was imagining things. Still, unable to resist, she took another breath before heading for the door.
    Would Ryu be going out tonight? She’d never bumped into him before… Maybe she could suggest to Johnny they try a bar outside their usual haunts.
    Or would Ryu stay in tonight, his strong body sprawled in front of the TV? Would he be alone? She couldn’t imagine anyone with a smile as sweet as his being single. What sort of woman would he have curled up next to him on the couch? Did he like statuesque blondes or delicate, dark-haired elves? Her image of the sprawled Ryu morphed as his shirt disappeared and a glass of wine appeared in his hand. A feminine hand rested on his chest—
    She halted the thought before it could go any further. Closing her office door harder than necessary, she wished she could slam the door in her mind as easily. Darn it, she didn’t want to think about him anymore. Thinking about things she couldn’t have made her mood worse. Single or not, she was his boss. The last thing she wanted was to be caught up in employment court for sexual harassment. She strode over to reception and tapped on the glass desk to get Carol’s attention.
    “Have you seen Johnny?”
    Carol’s eyes flickered toward the door. “Sorry, you just missed him. He had his bag with him so he’s gone for the day.”
    “Never mind I’ll catch him later, thanks Carol.” Kait fumbled for her cell phone as she walked toward the door. Like most of the performers, Johnny didn’t work the regular office hours Kait and the other desk jockeys did.
    As she opened the door, the heat from the parking lot hit her in a sweaty blast. She drew the hot air deep into her lungs hoping to burn away her malaise. Finding her phone, she scrolled through her contact list. She dialled and heard the phone ring in stereo. Once from her phone, and once from the far side of the parking lot. She glanced up in surprise, and saw Johnny leaning against his car talking to a man she didn’t recognise.
    The ringing stopped. “Kait, what can I do for you?” His voice was reedy through the phone.
    “Look at the front door.”
    “What?”
    Kait smiled to herself. “Just look.”
    In the distance she saw his head turn slowly, a bit bewildered. She ended the call and waved as she walked over to join him. As she approached, Johnny glanced at the man he was talking to then gestured at her. It wasn’t until the man stepped back and Johnny pushed away from the car that Kait realised how close the two were standing. They must have been talking intensely because they’d been standing so close Johnny hadn’t been able to move until the other man stepped back. She hoped she hadn’t interrupted anything important.
    “Are you leaving early?” Johnny glanced at her bag slung over her shoulder.
    “Yes. I was wondering if you wanted to go out tonight?” As she spoke her eyes darted between the two men.
    Both tanned, both focused on her. The sun shining down on them like it longed to stroke them. She should feel overwhelmed, but after seeing Ryu she