The Remote Seduction Read Online Free PDF Page B

Sullivan Reeves.
Everyone calls me Sully.”
    “Everyone calls me Dorothy.   Would you like a cup of tea, Sully?”
    “No thank you.”
    “But we're celebrating.   My cancer is in remission,” Dorothy
shares with Sully.
    “That's good to hear,” he smiles warmly
at Dorothy.
    “It sure is,” Katrina agrees.
    Sully hands the plant to Katrina.   “For you. It's an evening primrose.   It blooms at night.”
    Dorothy and Katrina share a look, the
blooming comment reminding them of Paolo's email.
    “This is very sweet of you, thank you,”
Katrina says politely.
    “I have a craving for seafood.   Really awesome seafood and I was hoping
I could talk you into having dinner with me, at the Shell Shack, which is on
the coast,” Sully offers.
    “That's over an hour's drive,” Katrina
points out.
    “Once you've tried the Spanish mussels,
conch fritters and the bay scallops baked in garlic, olive oil and mozzarella,
you'll realize the drive will have been worth it,” Sully says with a twinkle.
    Dorothy stands up. “She says yes.”   Dorothy gives Katrina a hug and kiss,
then heads for the door. “Have fun you two.”
    Dorothy leaves.   Katrina and Sully are alone.   Katrina looks directly at Sully.   “I'm not interested.   I'm especially not interested in your hacking job.”
    “The dinner invitation has nothing to do
with the hacking job,” Sully tries to sound sincere.
    Katrina isn’t buying it. “Are you sure
about that?”
    “I'm no longer with Hamilton Dynamics.
They wanted me to pressure you and that's not my scene,” Sully lies through his
teeth.
    Sully steps closer to Katrina.   “I admire you, Ms. Brice.   Even envy you. You're able to make your
own way in the world, live by your own code of honor,” he extends his hand to
Katrina as if it were a peace offering.   “Please.   Have dinner with
me.”  
    She looks at his hand. There’s a moment
of indecision. Will she or won't she take it? Katrina does not take Sully's
hand.
    She does however, reply with only a
slight smile. “If you're going to treat me to Spanish mussels, conch fritters
and baked scallops, you should call me Katrina.”
    Sully beams and it almost looks
genuine.   “Great.   Katrina.”
    “It'll just take me a minute to freshen
up,” Katrina heads for the stairs in the back that lead to her apartment above
the store.   She calls to Sully. “Do
you have a CD player in your car?”
    “I do, why?”
    “I have Lillian Hellman's memoir   ‘Scoundrel Time’ on CD.”
    “Do you have Wuthering Heights on CD?”
Sully asks knowingly.
    This question stops Katrina in her
tracks.   The serious thought that
maybe he’s Paolo pops into her mind.   Between the plant and the blooming at night comment, him knowing the
history of the painting, the weird email earlier today, and now the Wuthering
Heights comment, he very well could be Paolo.   The thought brings a rose red flush to her cheeks and a
smile that blossoms from her heart.   She bounds up the stairs now excited for the evening.
    Outside of the bookstore, the dark SUV is
parked.   Inside the SUV Walter
fiddles with
    The laptop program that controls the
mechanical bug.   “I’m about to bug
Sully so now we can follow them and hear them,” Walter tells the two agents
with him.
    Inside the Chick Lit Bookstore…
    Sully browses the bookstore waiting for
Katrina.   The mechanical bug flies
off of the bookshelf and quietly lands on the underneath of Sully's leather
jacket collar adhering itself out of sight from and undetected by Sully.

 
    *****
     
    On the coast, in the restaurant the Shell
Shack, the host escorts Sully and Katrina to a table on the deck overlooking
the ocean. The setting sun bathes the coast in a warm, romantic glow.  
    Sully pulls the chair out for Katrina,
she takes a seat.   “Thank you.”
    He takes his seat as the waitress
delivers menus.   “Can I start you
with something to drink?” The waitress inquires.
    Sully looks to