Snowflake Kisses Read Online Free PDF Page A

himself back on task. An instant later, allure burned off on a roll of infrastructure diagraming and bandwidth design.
    Just the way he wanted.
     
    ****
     
    “Tomorrow’s Saturday. You can’t possibly be working on Saturday. Not even for my wicked and ruthless brother.”
    The low vibration of Jackson’s chuckle tickled Vanessa’s ear and made her tummy flutter. She wanted to catch his eye because she loved the way it felt to draw his attention. She propped a hip against his desk; his temporary home while executing the Harrods job was the ground floor security center. When he looked away from his computer monitor, he offered a grin that left her knees weak. Something mysterious and unexpected continued to move through her.
    “I’m not working tomorrow. Actually, I intended to catch up on some sleep. Your so-called wicked and ruthless brother failed to mention what a spinning vortex I’d enter when visiting London.”
    Vanessa tilted her head and folded her hands against the crisp linen of her black skirt. She had taken extra care dressing this morning, pairing long, chunky silver necklaces beneath the collar line of a pink silk shirt. “Which is precisely why I’m at your service. You don’t need sleep; you need time away from the job. You need to have fun, relax, and enjoy the city. I happen to be a wonderful London tour guide. Have I mentioned?”
    “No, but that fact doesn’t surprise me in the least.” Jackson stretched back in his rolling chair. “I’m also not surprised by the fact that just a few hours ago you paid for groceries for a destitute woman, and handed her a stash of your own money as well.”
    “W…wh…” Vanessa’s eyes went wide and she sputtered. “How did you—?”
    “Your expression is priceless. Tell me, honestly, how often are you caught by surprise?”
    “Not very.” She perched fully on the corner of his desk and crossed her legs neatly. She was most definitely on an unapologetic mission of enticement. “Tell me, honestly, were you spying, Mr. Merritt?”
    Her pleased retort had Jackson responding with a lengthy and extensive survey that Vanessa felt from the crown of her head to the tips of her leather pumps. “Can you blame me, Miss Colby?”
    The brush of butterfly wings against her arms and legs enlivened Vanessa’s senses. A fast rising wave of attraction swept through her body. Breathing deep didn’t help, for she came upon the subtle woodsy trace of his cologne along with something else—something indefinable in his aura that continued to pull at her relentlessly.
    Jackson twitched the pen he held, directing her attention toward the bank of view screens. “You caught my eye when you swept through the food hall.”
    “Did I, now?” Vanessa tilted her head to check out the monitors. She noticed the way his gaze caught and held as her hair slid against her shoulders. Feminine delight built and flowed. Growing out her hair? Definitely a good idea.
    “Don’t be smug, now.” The words were a tease. He tapped the pen restlessly against his palm. “You were…you are ...a vision.”
    Vanessa absorbed the compliment, taking in the direct, penetrating eyes that had haunted her from the first moment she had seen him. His smoke and satin smile left one word reverberating through her head. Compelling.
    She regained herself as quickly and smoothly as possible given the sweep of tingles. “You caught me. I admit it. That was Cordellia. Cordellia is a bit of a fixture for me. Every once in a while, when things run tight for her and her baby boy, Richie, she finds me, and I help her out as I can.”
    “How on earth did that begin?”
    “One morning, just less than a year ago, I was on my way to work when I spotted Cordellia basically cowering on a street corner not far from the store. I passed by. She was so shattered and timid, but she found it within herself to ask for help.”
    “And you offered an assist?”
    “Absolutely.” For Vanessa, the action was simple