Magnate Read Online Free PDF Page B

unfortunately.
    He tilted his head, studied her. “And here I thought you’d be too busy reading the stock reports to pay attention to the gossip columns.”
    â€œI don’t read them. The gossip columns, I mean. But one does hear rumors.”
    â€œRumors are often untrue—whether it’s on the exchange or in print.”
    â€œSo you’re not seeing that actress, Mrs. Rose?”
    His face slackened, mouth parting slightly, but he quickly recovered. “I’m obviously at a disadvantage. It seems you know quite a bit about me, but I know nothing about you. Other than your family and your interest in the stock exchange, of course.”
    â€œWhat would you like to know?”
    â€œAre you going to marry Henry Rutlidge?”
    She took a deep breath and reached for her champagne. It was crisp and sweet on her tongue, the bubbly liquid giving her courage. “There are many who think I should.”
    â€œYes, but what do you think, Miss Sloane?” His eyes, nearly black in the soft light, gave nothing away, no hint as to what he was thinking.
    She shifted in her seat. “I’ll need a lot more champagne before I answer that question.”
    The first course arrived, a plate of fresh Blue Point oysters. After everything was arranged, the waiter asked, “Will there be anything else at the moment?”
    Cavanaugh held her gaze. “Yes. We’ll need another bottle of champagne.”
    * * *
    Emmett threw back more of the sickeningly sweet drink and tried to rein in his lustful thoughts. Sitting across from Elizabeth Sloane had evolved into the worst kind of torture. She wasn’t even the type of woman he preferred; he liked earthy, raw, lusty women who gave as good as they got. But watching her eat oysters, then lick the salty flavor from her plump lips, was so innocently erotic that he couldn’t tear his eyes away.
    Foolish, the idea to sit in the main room. He’d thought the more people who witnessed them together, the better. But now he wished they were alone.
    Where you would . . . what? You’ll never have her, Cavanaugh.
    She wore dark green velvet this evening, the cut high on her neck to contrast with the beautiful pale gold of her hair. They drew stares from all across the room—patrons no doubt curious about why the two were dining together. The golden beauty and the guttersnipe. Let them talk; word would reach Sloane’s ears faster that way. Emmett nearly grinned. What he wouldn’t give to see her brother’s face upon learning the news.
    Everyone came out ahead in this plan. Sloane would be annoyed, Emmett would relish annoying him, and Miss Sloane gained a chance to start her investment firm. Not to mention, Emmett would learn more about the financial stability of Northeast Railroad. There was no drawback, unless one counted his perplexing physical reaction to her presence. He hadn’t expected to feel anything for her, but every time he saw her gray eyes twinkle, every time she smiled at him, it was like a club to the gut.
    He just needed to try harder to ignore his body’s response. There had been an attraction to various unsuitable ladies over the years, and he’d successfully fought it. This one should be no different.
    He forked an oyster into his mouth, enjoying the slick, briny taste as it slid down his throat. When he went to wipe his mouth, he noticed her gaze transfixed on his lips, a flush staining her cheeks. Good Christ, was that . . . for him? His body tightened, pulse pounding in his groin. The room could have been on fire for all he knew because everything had ceased to exist. Everything except her.
    She broke the contact first, lowering her head to stare at her plate, and Emmett gulped the rest of his drink, desperate to cool himself down. What was this woman doing to him?
    She cleared her throat. “Is it true you bought the steel mill where you once worked?”
    Finally, a topic that would squash