The Curse of a Single Red Rose (Haunted Hearts Series Book 7) Read Online Free PDF Page A

am I?”
    She had the presence of mind to take his lead. “Mr. Wakefield and I were just finishing up our meeting.”
    Collin held out his hand to the man. “I’m Collin McVey, the foreman on the hotel project.”
    Les appeared to be confused for a moment. His hand remained at his side, his attention on Elsa. “You’re seeing someone else?”
    Collin dropped his arm, but left the fake smile on his face. “Really? She never mentioned it?”
    Elsa grabbed her bag from the floor and shoved the paperwork at Les. “Let me know if you have any changes you’d like to make to the final plans.” When Les took the papers, she slipped her hand into the crook of Collin’s arm. “I’m ready to go.” She turned her gaze toward Les. “Have a good evening.”
    The man pivoted on his heel and marched off toward the elevators.
    Elsa waited until Les was out of sight before she spoke. “I think you pissed him off.”
    “I’m not worried about him. Did I piss you off?”
    “Not unless you came here on purpose to interfere with my meeting.” She smiled at him, clearly amused at what she must have thought was an unlikely possibility. When he didn’t respond, the smile dropped from her face. “You knew I was meeting him tonight, didn’t you?” She removed her hand from his arm. “Were you listening to my conversation with him on the phone?” She didn’t wait for Collin to respond. “You were outside my office door eavesdropping.”
    He stepped back from her, afraid she’d punch him. “He was about to force you to go with him.”
    She slipped the strap of her bag over her head. Her eyes narrowed. “I can take care of myself.”
    “Sure, you can.” He wasn’t being sarcastic, but somehow his comment came out wrong.
    “I’ve worked around men since I was fourteen years old. My dad’s construction crew could get kinda crude. Some of them put a move on me. If Dad had found out, those guys would have been dead, so I never told him. What he didn’t know didn’t hurt anyone.” She paused to catch her breath. “I’ve been pushing guys away from me since I was twelve. For some reason, they all think I’m easy just because I’m outgoing and I’m blonde. I’m not stupid, you know. I wasn’t going anywhere with him that I didn’t want to go.”
    His heart faltered. Maybe she had wanted to go out with Les Wakefield. If that was the case, he was doubly glad he’d interrupted them.
    “Oh, don’t get that look on your face, Collin McVey. I don’t want to go out with Les Wakefield. That’s just…” She cringed as if the thought nauseated her. “He’s implied before that he wanted to…get better acquainted with me. Whatever the hell that means. He probably just wants sex. I think he was about to come right out and say so. I don’t know what I would have said or done, but that isn’t happening.”
    “Not unless he overpowers you and makes you.”
    “What? Are you serious?”
    “He’s a man. You’re a woman. And… You’re such a little thing.”
    “Sure, Collin. I’m such a little thing.” Her loud sarcasm attracted the attention of a few people in the lobby. She reached into her bag and withdrew a stun gun. “But I pack one of these.”
    He pushed her hand down and shoved the weapon back into her bag. “Put that away. It’s illegal to have that here.”
    She lifted her eyebrows. “Are you going to call the cops?”
    He pulled his hand back and rubbed his neck where the tension had coiled tight.
    She smiled sweetly. “I didn’t think so. Where do you think I got this? You can’t go down to the sporting goods store and buy one, you know. I know a cop. He got it for me.”
    Collin shook his head. “Okay, then. You can take care of yourself. Excuse me for interfering. I’m gonna head on.” He turned to walk away.
    “Wait a minute.” She grabbed his elbow.
    He paused and glanced over his shoulder.
    “I thought you were taking me to dinner.”
    Was he?
    “That’s what you told Les.”
    That,