Fearless Maverick Read Online Free PDF Page B

about that night. Not about what
a different girl Annabelle was now from the lively chit she’d once been.
                 Alex
lowered into his high-back leather chair, only half hearing Eli’s last remark.
                 ‘…
I’m sure Libby Henderson explained that to you.’
                 Alex’s
thoughts slid all the way back. Eli was talking about the increased chance of
incurring a similar injury to his shoulder in the future.
                 ‘I’ll
keep up the exercises,’ Alex said, ‘and whatever else she prescribes.’
                 ‘As
long as you don’t screw it up permanently in the meantime by going back to the
track too soon.’
                 Alex
tossed a wry look around the walls, covered with victory memorabilia. ‘I think
I’ve done fairly well so far.’
                 But
when Eli’s dark blue gaze dropped and he rubbed the scar above his temple the
way he did whenever he had something more to say, Alex blew out a breath and
set the document down on the desk with a slap.
                 ‘Spit
it out.’
                 Eli
edged a hip over the corner of the polished rosewood desk and gave a shrug that
said he was perplexed. ‘I guess I’d expected Libby Henderson to put up at least
a half-decent fight.’
                 In
truth, Alex had expected that too. She’d almost agreed too easily to his generous offer. Nevertheless, ‘Money’s a strong
motivator. With that kind of dosh on the table and the endorsements I’ll flick
her way, she’d be a fool not to jump at this chance.’
                 ‘I
wouldn’t have thought she’d be motivated by money any more than you are.’
                 ‘Why’s
that?’
                 ‘You
seriously don’t recognise the name?’
                 Alex
rolled it over in his mind and came up a blank. ‘Sorry.’
                 ‘Elizabeth
Henderson was World Surfing Champion a few years back.’
                 Alex
recalled her radiant can-do glow, the determined look in those swirling amber
eyes, not to mention the alluring beach-babe hair and tan. Elizabeth Henderson,
world champion surfer? He grinned. Sure. It fit.
                 ‘I
had no idea,’ he admitted. ‘Water sports aren’t my thing.’ He and Libby had
even had that discussion.
                 ‘I
don’t much follow female sport either. Do they televise women’s surf
championships?’
                 With
a sardonic grin, Eli collected the document Alex had set aside. ‘For a smart
man, you’re one hell of a chauvinist.’
                 Alex
held his heart. ‘You’ve wounded me.’ Then he offered up a conciliatory smile. ‘Don’t
worry. I’m on top of it. When Libby Henderson sets her mind to something, she
does it her way and leaves the rest for dead. Which can only bode well for her
performance as a physio.’
                 Dark
brows knitted, Eli was flicking through the document, sifting through data. Eli
was a hound for tracking down and assimilating facts. Which begged the question
…
                 Eyes
narrowed, Alex swung his chair one way, then the next. Finally he asked, ‘Why
didn’t you tell me about Libby Henderson’s past first-up?’
                 Eli
continued analysing the pages. ‘I wanted you to meet her without any
preconceptions.’
                 ‘I
don’t see how knowing about her sporting acumen could hurt.’
                 When
Eli kept his focus on the document, Alex’s antennae began to prickle. Had being
cooped up without driving privileges brought out a paranoid streak? Or was
there something more to Libby Henderson? Something that Eli, for some curious
reason, preferred his boss not discover?
                 He’d
set out to hire someone who would be malleable to