Playing For Keeps (Emerald Lake Billionaires 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

about yourself, do you?”
    Ryan picked up his mug. “I could say the same thing about you.”
    She looked away from him and stared at the piles of paper on his desk. “Have you always been this untidy?”
    “I’m a work in progress. Jamie can never find anything, so he doesn’t come in here anymore. The bills mostly get paid on time and we’re on budget, so I can’t be too bad. Are you going to tell me you’re super-organized?”
    Sophie was one of the most organized people she knew. “I inherited my tidy genes from my mom.” She straightened a stack of folders before they fell to the ground. “I’ve got a proposition for you.”
    An amused gleam filled Ryan’s eyes. “You might want to rephrase that statement.”
    “Jamie didn’t seem too impressed that I didn’t know how to use a spray gun. What if I helped put the rest of the plastic sheeting over the windows and doors and then tidied your office? I could sort all of your bills in order of payment date, organize all of the letters and emails that you need to respond to, and answer any phone calls that come through. Once I’ve finished, I could go back to helping you in the house.”
    “Why would you want to do that?”
    Sophie pointed to the jumble of papers in Ryan’s office. “I probably feel the same way about what’s in your office as you do about your art gallery. I like everything to be tidy. If I tried to use the spray gun, I’d probably end up being fired by the end of the day. But this way, I can make a difference to your office and hopefully to your project. Jamie will be happy, you’ll be happy, and I’ll still have a job.”
    “And what would a super-efficient secretary cost me?”
    Sophie crossed her fingers, hoping Ryan was serious. “Thirteen dollars an hour and the use of your Internet connection out of work hours.” Sophie didn’t want to make a fortune. All she needed was enough to pay her campground fee, have a hot shower each morning, and wash her laundry each week. She’d worked out the cheapest way of buying food and didn’t need much of anything else.
    Ryan’s Internet connection would give her access to the files and addresses she needed. And, if she was careful, another way to contact her sister.
    “Are you sure that’s enough? Jamie keeps telling me that nothing short of a bulldozer will fix the mess in this room.”
    “Thirteen dollars an hour is more than enough. I won’t start in the office until all of the rooms are ready for painting.” She hesitated before adding her final condition. “I need to be paid in cash. Have we got a deal?”
    “Cash?”
    Sophie nodded. “I don’t have a bank account that I can access.” It seemed like a lame excuse, but it was the only one that made sense.
    Ryan held out his hand. “We’ve got a deal. But if you find anything dead and furry amongst the papers, you’d better get Danny to throw it out. I’m not good with rodents.”
    “You won’t need to worry about that. It’s the living ones that make me nervous.” Sophie shook Ryan’s hand. “Congratulations. You’ve got yourself a super-efficient secretary.”
    His grip tightened around her fingers. “Whatever happens, just remember that I’m the same guy you met on the side of the road.”
    “Are you going to turn into a werewolf at the next full moon?”
    Ryan let go of her hand. “If you believe what’s been written in the media, I’ve already turned into a monster,” he muttered.
    Sophie stared at him. He must be more famous than she thought. “At least you’re not a hairy monster.”
    A grin replaced Ryan’s frown. “I think we’re going to get along just fine, Sophie. Welcome to chaos.”
     
    ***
    Four days later, Ryan frowned at the convoy of vehicles driving toward his home. At the front of the line was a bright red convertible. He knew who was driving it just by the white scarf wrapped around the woman’s head. Dorothy Patterson never did anything by halves.
    He stuck his hands on his