Luring a Lady Read Online Free PDF Page A

him across the room. “Do you have the bid, Mr. Stanislaski?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œYou work fast.”
    He grinned. “Yes.” He caught a scent—rather a clash of scents. Something very subtle and cool and another, florid and overly feminine. “You have company?”
    Her brow arched. “Why do you ask?”
    â€œThere is perfume here that isn’t yours.” Then with a shrug, he handed her the papers he carried. “The first is what must be done, the second is what should be done.”
    â€œI see.” She could feel the heat radiating off him. For some reason it felt comforting, life affirming. As if she’d stepped out of a dark cave into the sunlight. Sydney made certain her fingers didn’t brush his as she took the papers. “You have estimates from the subcontractors?”
    â€œThey are there.” While she glanced through his work, he lifted one of the neat triangles of bread, sniffed at it like a wolf. “What is this stuff in here?”
    She barely looked up. “Watercress.”
    With a grunt, he dropped it back onto the plate. “Why would you eat it?”
    She looked up again, and this time, she smiled. “Good question.”
    She shouldn’t have done that, he thought as he shifted his hands to his pockets. When she smiled, she changed. Her eyes warmed, her lips softened, and beauty became approachable rather than aloof.
    It made him forget he wasn’t the least bit interested in her type of woman.
    â€œThen I’ll ask you another question.”
    Her lips pursed as she scanned the list. She liked what she saw. “You seem to be full of them today.”
    â€œWhy do you wear colors like that? Dull ones, when you should be wearing vivid. Sapphire or emerald.”
    It was surprise that had her staring at him. As far as she could remember, no one had ever questioned her taste. In some circles, she was thought to be quite elegant. “Are you a carpenter or a fashion consultant, Mr. Stanislaski?”
    His shoulders moved. “I’m a man. Is this tea?” He lifted the pot and sniffed at the contents while she continued to gape at him. “It’s too hot for tea. You have something cold?”
    Shaking her head, she pressed her intercom. “Janine, bring in something cold for Mr. Stanislaski, please.” Because she had a nagging urge to get up and inspect herself in a mirror, she cleared her throat. “There’s quite a line of demarcation between your must and your should list, Mr.—”
    â€œMikhail,” he said easily. “It’s because there are more things you should do than things you must. Like life.”
    â€œNow a philosopher,” she muttered. “We’ll start with the must, and perhaps incorporate some of the should. If we work quickly, we could have a contract by the end of the week.”
    His nod was slow, considering. “You, too, work fast.”
    â€œWhen necessary. Now first, I’d like you to explain to me why I should replace all the windows.”
    â€œBecause they’re single glazed and not efficient.”
    â€œYes, but—”
    â€œSydney, dear, the lighting in there is just ghastly. Oh.” Margerite stopped at the doorway. “I beg your pardon, I see you’re in a meeting.” She would have looked down her nose at Mikhail’s worn jeans, but she had a difficult time getting past his face. “How do you do?” she said, pleased that he had risen at her entrance.
    â€œYou are Sydney’s mother?” Mikhail asked before Sydney could shoo Margerite along.
    â€œWhy, yes.” Margerite’s smile was reserved. She didn’t approve of her daughter being on a first-name basis in her relationships with the help. Particularly when that help wore stubby ponytails and dirty boots. “How did you know?”
    â€œReal beauty matures well.”
    â€œOh.” Charmed, Margerite allowed her smile