The Problem with Paddy (Shrew & Company) Read Online Free PDF

most attractive women he’d ever encountered in real life, and that was with almost no enhancement, make-up or otherwise.
    “I imagine you sleep until noon most days, so I guess not.”
    He laughed. “I wish I could sleep until noon. You’ve seen my kitchen manager. Would you let him have free reign of the place during the busy lunch hour?”
    “Damn, that reminds me.” She patted her various pockets then leaned back to wedge her cell phone out of her pants. She dialed and put it up to her ear and stared at Patrick while she waited.
    What’s she up to?
    “Hey, Tamara. Do me a favor?”
    His pulse raced. Hadn’t she said she wouldn’t tell? He found himself leaning in, waiting to grab the phone if necessary, but he kept his hands curled into loose fists to stave off the compulsion. If she was going to trust him, he’d give her the benefit of the doubt, no matter how hard that was.
    “We don’t have a protocol for this, but I guess we need one. I found him. He’s safe. No foul play.” As if anticipating his reaction, she put a finger up to his lips and stilled him. Because she was very bright, she moved her finger away before he licked it, but he grabbed her hand in his two and gave it a gentle warning squeeze.
    “No, do not report to Mr. Drake. Mr. O’Dwyer will deal with the fallout when he returns to Durham.”
    Not out of the woods yet.
    “Don’t worry about the billing.” She narrowed her eyes at him, but didn’t pull her hand away. “Mr. O’Dwyer’s going to compensate me off the books for my expenses, so go ahead and destroy the file.”
    Thatta girl.
    “No, nothing like that. We’ll discuss it later.”
    No you won’t.
    Now it was his turn to hold a finger against her lips. He shook his head and she cocked up one elegant eyebrow.
    “Go ahead and lock up. If any urgent cases come in, you know how to get me. I’ll be on my way home in the morning.” She ended the call and placed her phone on the table.
    “Now, Dana, what was this you were saying about being a mutant?”
    She yanked her hand, rolled her eyes, and shifted on the sofa so her back was against the armrest. “Like I said—not too many people know this about me.”
    “And I don’t plan on spreading it. What kind of pub-keep would I be if I spread my customers’ business around?”
    “A shitty one. Just like I’d be a shitty private detective if I didn’t respect your confidentiality.”
    “Please. Tell me, sweetheart.” ’Cause, boy, do I have a doozy of a secret myself. Try to top it.
    “I’m pretty bitchy.”
    He wasn’t sure he heard her right. The words were comprehensible, but maybe she’d misphrased her thoughts somehow. “I’m sorry?”
    “It’s a simple matter of fact. I’m naturally surly. Always have been. I’m impatient and people who lack common sense annoy the shit out of me. I don’t tolerate foolishness.”
    “Well, that eliminates most men from your acquaintance, I’d imagine.”
    “Ding ding ding!” She rolled her eyes. “Anyhow, the last smooth-talking fool I fell for thought I could use a bit of sweetening up. I’m a Carolina girl, right? I’m supposed to be sweet as tea and compliant.”
    Now that he couldn’t imagine. That little firecracker? Compliant ? Hell, he’d like her less if she were. He liked a woman with spunk. One of his biggest turn-offs was women who seemed to become lobotomized from one date to the next—they’d be these voracious vixens one day, and the next, eager to bend over backward for him—to ensnare him with their charms.
    Fuck charm, he figured. He wanted genuine personality, even if it was snarky.
    “God, family, work, home, everything else, self . That’s supposed to be our priority system. If we bump our needs up a little higher, we get maligned for it.”
    “So, he told you he wanted you to be more selfless, or what?”
    “No. There was this clinical study. He signed me up and I went for it, because they all lied about what the investigation was.