Winning Streak Read Online Free PDF Page B

different.
The words were on the tip of his tongue, but she was right. He’d said them so often they’d lost meaning. “What can I do to prove it to you?”
    “I don’t know. I think proof only comes with time.”
    “Then at least give me the chance to show you. Please?”
    She stared at him, expressionless, for a minute but finally nodded. “Okay. But I’m serious. I have to do what’s best for the baby.”
    “I know. I won’t let you down. Either of you.”
    • • •
    Saralynn sat behind her desk with her head in her hands. What had she done? She didn’t jump first and ask questions on the way down. Not anymore. But she’d just thrown away the best thing that had ever happened to her, and why? What did Allie say? Madden was the perfect challenge. Except challenges were about winning, and she’d potentially lost everything.
    Next on the list of motivations?
    She wanted to believe the best about him because she wanted to believe the best about herself. Nah. Her best self wouldn’t dive under a bus for a guy she barely knew.
    Moving on.
    Madden had some redeeming quality and deep down was a good man. Well, he hadn’t lied. This time. And …
    The door swung open, and her heart fell into her Jimmy Choos. Not the boss. Just the devil. With a smile like a toothpaste ad. He closed the door and leaned against the knob for a second like he was afraid someone else would come in. “Uh … I can’t believe you—”
    “I know. Neither can I. Out-of-body experience is the best I got. I should probably start boxing my things.”
    “No. It’s okay. I mean, it’s not. You can’t go behind Jace’s back like that in the future, but you’re not fired.”
    “I’m
not
?” Before she could formulate another question, the answer danced in front of her with a baton. “You asked her not to.”
    “Least I could do after everything you did for me. What
did
you do anyway? How’d you get that footage?”
    Heat flooded her cheeks followed by shock socking her in the gut. When had she ever been embarrassed about using her wiles to get what she wanted? What did it matter if he knew? “I explained the importance the video had to the team.”
    “And when that wasn’t enough?”
    “I might have thrown in some front row tickets.”
    He arched his brows.
    “And left a few buttons undone. Happy?”
    His gaze dropped to the cleavage exposed by those buttons, and the corner of his mouth quirked up. She was two seconds from smacking him when he met her eyes. The vulnerability there, the openness, froze her to the spot. “Thank you. Seriously. You don’t know how much it means. You defended me before you even knew for yourself I was innocent.”
    Her guard wavered, lowered, and she dipped her head. That gaze was too intense. “I knew. You don’t have to thank me.”
    “Yes, I do.” The intent was right there in his voice, but somehow she was still surprised when he stepped around the desk, lifted her chin with one finger, and kissed her softly, sweetly. When he leaned back, he looked as surprised as she was, but he covered it with a grin.
    She licked her lips and tried to regain control of her pulse. “You have a pretty high opinion of yourself if you think that covers it.” But dear God, it just about did.
    He laughed, and seeing the weight leave his broad shoulders cleared his tab. Not that she’d ever tell him that. He backed up a step. “You’re right. I owe you dinner at least.”
    “Oh, no. You don’t have to—”
    “Want to. Wednesday night, you name the place.”
    A million reasons to say no tumbled through her mind. What came out was “Lotus of Siam—meet you at eight.”

Chapter Seven
    Wednesday, February 26th
    A strip mall. Of all the high-end, over-the-top places to eat in Vegas, Saralynn Reese had chosen a strip mall. The same Saralynn who came to work in so many labels the designers should’ve paid her an advertising fee. Madden sat in his Escalade and slid a hand over his jaw. It had to be a