Unexpected Read Online Free PDF Page B

bag?”
    â€œThere’re two changes of clothes.” Ray turned away to contemplate the building. “That’s all I need.”
    The bag was very light, making Eli curious. “What about shampoo and soap and . . .”
    â€œYou don’t have those things?”
    â€œOf course I do. But don’t most women have their own brands? Mine might smell a bit masculine.”
    She made a show of mild disgust. “We’re going to a tiny, nothing village in Central America, not a formal ball. Does it matter what I smell like?”
    In his defense, he’d never before met a woman who wouldn’t care. At the moment, she smelled like . . . warm, soft woman, and that was about as good as it got.
    To lighten her mood, he said, “You do have your own toothbrush, don’t you?”
    â€œI have my own toothbrush,” she agreed. Then she turned toward him. “You don’t live here.”
    Eli stared into her eyes, so opaque they seemed fathomless. Her lashes weren’t real long, but they were inky dark and thick. He saw a tiny scar near the corner of her right eye and another near her temple. How had she gotten them? Did he even want to know?
    She stared at him, unblinking and defiant. Eli shook off his preoccupation with her appearance. “I have an apartment upstairs.”
    â€œMaybe, but it isn’t your home.”
    Playing along, he asked, “Why not?”
    â€œBecause no one who could afford me would live in a complex this simple.”
    â€œIt’s a nice place,” Eli defended.
    â€œNice. But not nice enough. Where are you taking me?”
    Eli gave up. “I have several offices, and I keep an apartment close to the locations I visit most often. My home—that is, where I prefer to be—is in Kentucky. I have a ranch there.”
    That appeased her. “It would have been too much of a coincidence for us to both live in Illinois.”
    â€œTrue. I’m staying here now because you’re here.”
    He waited for some sort of reaction to that, but Ray only nodded and started into the building. “You own a chain of department stores?”
    Technically, they were his grandfather’s, but that was probably more information than she wanted. “That’s right.”
    A gentleman by nature, it was difficult for Eli not to take her arm as they walked. But she’d been quietly obvious in her wishes not to be touched. It was one more thing to add to her mystery. “We can do the shopping you think is necessary in my Chicago store tomorrow.”
    â€œNo. We’ll do the shopping at the local thrift shop. I don’t want you standing out or I’ll be rescuing you and your brother both.”
    Behind her, where she couldn’t possibly see him and take offense, Eli grinned. She was a bossy little thing, giving orders without thought and fully expecting them to be obeyed. It was a novel sensation for him, since he was usually the boss, commanding hundreds of people.
    She had a slow sassy walk, too. She may have thought wearing the dark clothing would make her less noticeable, but Eli doubted anything could make her fade into the woodwork. Her confident, take-charge aura was too out there and in-your-face.
    Even the shortness of her shiny, coal black hair appealed to him. It had a slight natural wave and curled over her ears and nape. Her wispy bangs were longer and she fiddled with them a lot. Eli wondered if that’s why she’d left them long—to give her fingers something to do.
    Despite the mannish swagger, her hips swayed gently as she made her way up the hallway to his door. Eli pulled his gaze away from her derriere and fished in his pocket for his door key.
    He wasn’t disappointed that the moment he had his keys in hand, she reached for them.
    He lifted them over her head. “I think I can manage.” His words were gently teasing.
    She actually flushed, then forced a nonchalant shrug.