One Night in A Bar Read Online Free PDF Page A

concentrated all her attention on her fish, hoping he’d take the hint, at the same time knowing she had to get over it and deal with him—as professionally as possible.
    “Hi there, Karen,” his raspy voice rolled over her. She looked up into his dark eyes and forced a smile.
    “Hi.”
    “You ran out on me.” He sounded half amused, half accusing. “You went to the bathroom to clean up.” The spark in his eyes had heat rushing to her face as she remembered exactly why she’d needed to clean up. “And never came back.”
    “I—my friend had to leave,” she muttered. “She was my ride.”
    He leaned towards her, the male scent of him stirring sensations she’d desperately tried to squash down since that night.
    “I would have driven you home,” he told her softly, “or anywhere else you wanted to go.”
    She swallowed, clawing desperately for composure. I am a professional.
    “Well, it’s a moot point now,” she said briskly. “I went with Mandy and you—did whatever you did. What’s important now is that we put it behind us and concentrate on our professional relationship. Now, about the last three pieces—”
    “I don’t want to put it behind us. In fact, what I want to do is drag you under this table, peel off that suit you’re wearing and lick you all over. I want to taste your skin, your tits, your—”
    “Stop!” Karen sucked in a deep breath as her outburst made other diners look around curiously. Daniel lounged back in his seat, mouth quirked in amusement, dark eyes hot and focused only on her.
    “Stop,” she repeated, more quietly. “This is ridiculous. What happened was a mistake. I’d had a really bad day—a bad month. My friend took me out for a few drinks. If I hadn’t been buzzed it never would have happened. I don’t do things like that. So now I just want to chalk the whole night up to experience and move on.”
    He tipped his head to one side, stroked his goatee.
    “No.”
    She hissed, a sound of extreme stress. “What do you mean—John’s coming,” she interrupted herself, seeing her boss out of the corner of her eye. “He can’t know about this, it’s personal, please.”
    The sly look on his face worried her. She didn’t want to lose him as a client because her boss thought she was a skank.
    “I’ll make you a deal,” he drew the words out, seeming to savour every syllable.
    Hurry up!
    “I’ll keep this between you and me.” He sat up from his slouch. “If you spend Saturday with me.”
    “Saturday? Why—okay, okay!” she agreed, as he looked around for John. “Saturday it is.”
    “Good.” His smirk was firmly in place when John rejoined them.
    “So.” John picked up his napkin. “What have the two of you been talking about?”
    “Work, of course,” Daniel said smoothly. “Karen’s going to come and see the pieces for the exhibit.” She nearly choked on her mouthful. What the hell was he up to now?
    “That’s an excellent idea,” John’s eyes were lit with approval. “When were you thinking, Karen?”
    “This afternoon,” Daniel interjected before she had a chance to swallow. “Are you going to join us?”
    John shook his head. “Unfortunately, I have another appointment. But I’m sure the two of you can handle it. I’m glad you’re getting along so well.” He turned his attention back to his wine, and she took advantage of the moment to glare at her sexy dark client. Her stare promised retribution.
    He didn’t look worried.
     
    * * * *
     
    “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” She rounded on him furiously as the taxi bearing John pulled away.
    “What do you mean?” He sounded innocent, but his victorious grin proclaimed him otherwise.
    “Telling John we’re going to look at the pieces for the exhibit! You can’t just manipulate things to get your own way! I have work to do—”
    “That’s right.” His face had turned stony, his rumbling voice clipped. “You do. I’m part of it. So as part of your