Whatever He Wants Read Online Free PDF Page B

other sound. He
started at a moderate jog and steadily picked up the pace to a full out run.
With the cardio machines being located on the second floor, he could see the
other patrons working out below him. He rarely paid attention to them but one
woman caught his eye when she tripped over a dumbbell and face-planted. For a
second she lay on the ground, unmoving and he debated cutting his run short to
see if she was okay. The decision was taken from him as several people
including some staff members rushed over to check on her.
            She looked more than a little dazed as she
was helped to her feet. He felt sympathy for the unfortunate woman but quickly
pushed her out of his mind as he focused on his run. Afterwards he stretched
and headed downstairs to tackle the weights. On his way to the free weights
something slammed into his back. 
            “I’m so sorry,” a frantic voice cried from
behind him.
              It
wasn’t the first time a woman “accidentally” bumped into him although not this
much force was usually applied.  More than a little annoyed, he turned
around to see who his assailant was and came face to face with the woman he’d
spied earlier. He planned on telling her to watch where she was going but
stopped at the sight of her stricken face. This was no ruse to gain his
attention. Judging from the tumble she’d taken earlier, the woman was nothing
more than a klutz.
            “I wasn’t watching where I was going. I’m
really sorry,” she apologized again. “Are you okay?”
            There was something about this woman that
kept James rooted to the spot when he would have dismissed her by now. She was
by no means a conventional beauty. At most, she was passably pretty but her
face was arresting nonetheless. Possessing large, doe-like dark brown eyes
crowned with long curly lashes, the mystery woman gave off an air of innocence.
She was of average height, yet even beneath her bulky sweat suit he noticed her
curves. She held an air of mystery—hidden depths that challenged him to slowly
peel away each layer and discover the treasure beneath the innocent demeanor.
            Her hair was pulled back in a short messy
ponytail accentuating a heart-shaped face and an expanse of dark cocoa brown
skin. Her nose was wide but still feminine and her lips were overly generous,
but James couldn’t stop staring. The sudden urge to lean forward and sample her
inviting mouth, hit James all at once and caught him off guard.
            He’d ended his arrangement with Megan two
weeks ago and hadn’t had sex since. It was the only explanation he could think
of for reacting to a woman who in most circumstances wouldn’t garner a second
glance from him. But still, he couldn’t bring himself to walk away. The lady in
question was the one to speak first. “Well, uh, again, I’m sorry,” she said as
she slowly edged away from him, cheeks stained maroon from her apparent
embarrassment.
            “Your name,” he demanded.
            She looked around as if to see if anyone
else witnessed their exchange. “Noelle. Noelle Greene.”
            His lips twitched involuntarily at the
wobbliness of her voice. He made her nervous. It had been a long since he’d
been in the presence of a female who didn’t have a contrived reaction to his
presence. James held his hand out to her, “James Rothschild.”
            She looked at his outstretched hand before
taking his in a surprisingly firm grip. “Nice to meet you. Your eyes are amazing.”
            He raised a brow. “Excuse me?”
            She yanked her hand away and slapped it
against her forehead. “I’m sorry. That was awkward wasn’t it? It’s the artist
in me. I notice things like that.” She looked at her feet while she spoke to
him. “I’ve taken up enough of your time. Enjoy the rest of your workout.” She
backed away but James was reluctant to see her go.