Midnight Under the Mistletoe Read Online Free PDF Page A

and we’ll go for a stroll. As much as I can stroll right now.”
    She laughed. “What a threat,” she said, placing mail in the box
and hurrying out of the room as she received a grin from him. She hoped he
didn’t guess moments like that played havoc with her insides. How tempting to
head back to work just to get him to spend the next few minutes with her.
    She stood in the wide, empty hall and wondered what to do,
finally going toward the kitchen to get a cup of tea. She suspected there was a
very well-stocked pantry.
    “Afternoon, Emma,” Rosie greeted her.
    “It smells wonderful in here.”
    “Roast for dinner. Can I get you something?”
    “Yes, thank you. If possible, I’d like a cup of hot tea.”
    “Of course,” Rosie replied. “Looks as if you might be the one
who stays.”
    “I hope so.”
    Rosie chuckled. “Those others looked frazzled and unhappy from
the first morning. I would have sent one packing faster than Zach did. Have a
seat and I’ll brew your tea—or if you want a breath of fresh air, go outside and
I’ll bring it to you.”
    “Thanks, Rosie.”
    “You can take it back to your desk if you want. Zach isn’t
particular about food in the office if you don’t leave crumbs or make a big
mess.”
    “I won’t,” Emma replied, smiling. “I’ll wait outside,” she
added, stepping out onto the patio and strolling to the pool to look at the
crystal water that was almost the same blue as Zach’s eyes.
    When she finished her tea, she went to her room to retrieve a
small box of family pictures. She had already distributed some pictures in the
bedroom. When instructed to arrive with her things packed she had brought what
she really wanted with her. She stopped to look around again, still amazed at
the size and beauty of where she would stay.
    When she returned to her desk, Zach was on the phone and she
had more work waiting. After placing her pictures on her desk and table, she
focused on correspondence, so lost in concentration she was startled when Zach
spoke to her.
    “It’s half past five. Just because the work is here in the
house, you don’t need to stay all hours. We’ll close the office now. I eat a
late dinner, but you can eat whenever you want—Rosie will be in the kitchen
until eight. After that she’ll have cold or easily heated choices on a
chalkboard menu.”
    “Thanks,” she said, wondering if she had eaten her last meal
with the boss. If she had, it would be the wisest thing to happen. At the same
time, she couldn’t prevent her slight disappointment.
    “You’ve done good work today, Emma. I hope you like the
job.”
    She wanted to laugh and say that he sounded surprised. Instead,
she merely nodded. “Thank you. I think this will be good.”
    He gave her a long look that killed the impersonal moments that
had just passed. Once again her nerves tingled, invisible sparks danced in the
air and she could feel heat rising. In spite of logic, she didn’t want him to
go.
    Turning away, he walked out of the room without saying anything
further. She stared at the empty doorway. The chemistry had not changed. He
seemed to fight it as much as she, which was a relief and made the situation
easier.
    * * *
    Zach continued to pile on a lot of work. While there
wasn’t as much as that first morning, letters to write, papers to proof,
appointments to set, phone calls and various tasks streamed to her desk. Time
passed swiftly as she worked diligently and kept up with what he sent to her.
There were no more lunches together. Sometimes he worked straight through and
then stopped about four. Sometimes he ate at his desk. He continued to make an
effort to keep their relationship impersonal, which suited her completely. No
matter how cool he was, there still was no way to stop that acute consciousness
she had of him as an appealing male.
    Thursday the work he gave her in the morning was done by noon.
When she returned after lunch he sat by a large cardboard box filled