When He Was Bad... Read Online Free PDF Page B

had—
    â€˜No references. Your address and phone number?’
    Her gaze whipped up to his face. That tiny muscle twitched in his jaw again but his eyes betrayed nothing. Not a thing. The heat continued to rise, suffusing her cheeks. She twistedrestless fingers around the locket at her neck. ‘Look, I really don’t see that this is any of your concern. I’m Belle’s employee, not yours.’
    â€˜Belle can be a little too naive sometimes. I’m making sure she’s taken care of. Address? Phone number?’
    â€˜Belle has them.’
    â€˜She’s incommunicado. What if something comes up? I need to be able to contact you.’
    Holding his gaze defiantly, she snapped out the information.
    â€˜What days do you work?’
    â€˜Wednesdays and Fridays and I alternate Mondays and Tuesdays, but—’
    â€˜I value responsibility. Belle values responsibility. You call yourself irresponsible. So I’m wondering where that leaves us. Or more to the point, where it leaves you. I’d like you to think about that while you’re working here.’ He leaned back in his chair and placed his hands on the table. Interview over .
    Thank goodness his unfathomable dark eyes didn’t drop below her face. Thank goodness her chest was hidden beneath her overalls, because no way her skinny T-shirt would have been enough to hide the sudden way her nipples begged for more of that attention he’d given so generously Saturday night.
    But then the cool business facade disappeared. His eyes thawed to a warm chocolate, lips curving into that lazy smile she’d seen across a crowded nightclub. ‘Now we’ve got that out of the way,’ he said in that deep sexy tone she’d been fantasising about in her daydreams. ‘Have dinner with me tonight.’

CHAPTER THREE
    D INNER ? She stared at him, incredulous. He looked genuinely serious. ‘Excuse me? You expect me to go to dinner with you?’
    â€˜Why not?’
    â€˜After that…that inquisition ?’
    â€˜You need to understand my first concern is for Belle. But we’ve discussed the terms of your work here. I’m satisfied—’ plucking a violet from the little vase in the centre of the table, he twirled it between his fingers ‘—with the business aspect of our relationship.’ He flashed her a look that had her heart rate picking up again.
    â€˜But we haven’t talked about the personal. We need to. If we don’t, it’s going to get in the way.’ He leaned towards her, tucked the violet behind her ear, just beneath the edge of her cap. ‘Never mix business with pleasure, Ellie.’
    Her insides rearranged themselves at the intimate tone of voice. She didn’t want business or pleasure with this man.
    Liar . Okay, it wasn’t wise or sensible to have anything more to do with him—certainly not pleasure. Already un -sensible thoughts were racing through her head.
    Which reminded her of Belle’s comment over a coffee break one day. Matthew’s always been a bit of a playboy when it comes to the ladies , or some such. Ellie hadn’t taken muchnotice—until now. Well, she did not intend to play second fiddle to anyone, ever again.
    â€˜I’m thinking I’ll give this job a miss until Belle returns,’ she said slowly. She placed her hands flat on the table and forced herself to meet his eyes. ‘It’s probably best for everyone concerned.’ Particularly Ellie. ‘I don’t think the employee-employer relationship bit’s going to work for us.’
    His jaw firmed; his gaze turned thoughtful, then speculative. ‘In which case, there’d be no reason not to have dinner with me, would there?’
    She shook her head. ‘I still can’t have dinner with you.’
    â€˜If you’re worried about your hair…mishap, we can dine in.’
    Oh, way to charm the girls, Mr Ladies’ Man