Going Overboard Read Online Free PDF Page B

disappointment, one hand pressed to her burning stomach as failure flashed ugly before her. She didn't want to consider the results of losing an account this important.
    “You're pale.” His eyes narrowed. “When was the last time you ate?”
    “I don't know.” Even as Carly considered hunger sent a stabbing reminder. Two cups of black coffee at dawn, hunched over a pile of disappointing photographs. A small carton of yogurt before she'd gone in search of Daphne. “What does it matter?” Her hand worked up and down over her stomach.
    “If you don't eat, you can't think. Take this.” He held out a plate of cream puffs stuffed with fresh strawberries.
    “You're good at giving orders, aren't you?”
    “When it's necessary. These were delivered less than an hour ago. You look like you could use one.”
    The sun was behind him now, haloing his impossibly chiseled shoulders. Carly imagined him in a tuxedo, reclining against the deck railing. Or in a swimsuit, his taut body gleaming with oil that she would smooth on herself.
    When she didn't move, he shoved a rich pastry into her hand. “Eat, blast it.”
    Surprised by his concern, she balanced the pastry and licked off a strawberry as it started to totter, then sighed in pleasure as her tongue closed delicately around a scoop of whipped cream. It took her a moment to realize he was staring at her. “I'd prefer if you didn't watch me right now. This cream puff and I are having a spiritual encounter here.” She licked a piece of strawberry off her palm, frowning at his continued scrutiny. “What?”
    “Hell if I know.” Sunlight poured through the windows as McKay watched her finish the pastry, then lap a final bit of white froth from her lips. She wasn't beautiful in any conventional sense. She wasn't even close to being his type. Her mouth was too wide, her hair too short. She was too edgy and too stubborn.
    But there was something ruthlessly interesting about watching her dive into that cream puff, ignoring everything else around her. She probably made obsession an art form. McKay wondered what she'd look like without that frown knifing down her forehead.
    Not that she was on his agenda for any personal involvement. He was a man who could stand his ground, even if a woman's perfume distracted him and her restless body goaded him to find out what it would take to make her relax.
    He took a sharp step back. Damn, this was official. There couldn't be even a second of anything personal between them.
    Especially when she wanted to capture him on camera like a champion steer.
    He was all set to tell her that her idea was impossible when something in her eyes cut him off.
    Regret.
    Entreaty.
    Stubborn pride.
    He saw exactly how much it had cost her to ask.
    “I'll think about it,” he said gruffly feeling like a fool. Hating the fact that he would use her to accomplish his mission, even if he would instruct any man under his command to do exactly the same in a similar situation.
    “You will?” She looked stunned.
    “It's not a yes,” he warned.
    “But it's not a no. Thanks again for the food.”
    As she turned he flanked her with silent steps and cut around her to the door. “You might still find someone else.”
    “No. When you see the best, you want it. And that's not because I'm desperate, but because it's true.” Her voice was level.
    Damn, she almost had
him
convinced. “You're pushing.”
    “I never said I wouldn't.” She smiled and closed the door softly behind her, leaving McKay to rub his neck in irritation.
    Modeling
, he thought in disgust.
No way.
It was absolutely out.
    The phone chimed from the nearby table. “What?” he barked, certain who was at the other end.
    He heard Izzy's dry chuckle. “You told her no, didn't you?”
    “Damn right I did.”
    “Get ready to tell her yes. I just heard from Washington, and you are good to go, McKay. Whatever she wants, whenever she wants, however she wants. Consider it an order.”

C all Armando