Under the Millionaire's Mistletoe Read Online Free PDF Page B

for him, Anna told herself, but she wasn’t going to let him insult her for her trouble either.
    â€œJust so you know,” she told him with a patient tone she was proud of, “I’m only taking this job because I really need the work. But so we’re clear…I don’t like you.”
    His eyebrows winged up. “And yet, you’re staying. So money talks?”
    Make that even more irritating than he was gorgeous. He’d already told his younger brother to dump her because he thought she was after his money. Now, he was no doubt convinced that he’d been right about her, which just made her furious.
    â€œEasy to say money doesn’t matter when you have plenty of it,” she pointed out.
    â€œYeah, it is.” Then he said, “Not the point of this, though. The point is, even though you hate me personally, you’re more than willing to take my money.”
    â€œLess willing every second,” she muttered.
    â€œThat I don’t believe.”
    Anna narrowed her gaze on him and asked, “Are you trying to make me quit before I’ve even started?”
    â€œNope, just waiting to see how long you could hold on to your temper.”
    â€œNot much longer,” she admitted. Taking a breath, she said, “If it’s all right with you, I’ll start tomorrow.”
    â€œFine. I’ll expect you at eight.”
    â€œFine.”
    â€œFine.”
    â€œWell,” she said after a simmering few seconds, “this is childish.”
    â€œI’m sort of enjoying it.”
    â€œColor me surprised,” she told him. “But believe it or not, some of us have other, more important things to do.”
    He grinned and Anna took a breath. Why was it this man who got to her so easily? Where was the indifference she’d felt for his brother? Why did the wrong brother feel so right?
    If this was some sort of test of her morals, Anna thought, she was already failing badly. It was taking every ounce of will she possessed to keep from finding more mistletoe and dragging this man under it. She didn’t want to be interested, but she couldn’t seem to help herself.
    How was she ever going to be able to hold her ground against Sam Hale?
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    She had It’s a Wonderful Life playing on the TV, and the lights on the tree were the only illumination in the room. Anna took a sip of her cold, white wine and told herself to relax already.
    Unfortunately, it wasn’t working. Her mind kept turning to Sam Hale and what he might be up to. Since leaving his house that afternoon, she’d been trying to figure him and his plan out. So far, she had nothing.
    When the doorbell rang, she groaned, pried herself off the couch and went to answer it. One glance through the peephole had her briefly resting her forehead against thedoor. Then she surrendered to the inevitable and opened it. “Hi, Clarissa.”
    Her father’s wife scurried inside, fingers clutching at her shoulder bag. She glanced around the room, frowned, then reached over to flip the light switch. Anna blinked at the sudden blast of light.
    â€œOh, Anna,” Clarissa said, “I just wanted to tell you how sorry I am for behaving so foolishly at the party. I didn’t mean to embarrass you or anything.”
    â€œIt’s okay. I understand.”
    â€œI know you do, dear.” The older woman patted her hair as if searching for a strand out of place. She was doomed to disappointment. Clarissa’s short, bright red hair was, as always, perfect. “I’m just so worried about your father.”
    Which was the only reason Anna was willing to overlook Clarissa’s panicky attempts at matchmaking. “Dad will be fine. The company’s had rough times before.”
    â€œNot like this.” Clarissa reached out, snagged Anna’s wineglass from her hand and downed what was left of it in one long gulp before handing it back. “Thank you. But now that I