A Gentleman’s Offer Read Online Free

A Gentleman’s Offer
Book: A Gentleman’s Offer Read Online Free
Author: Dara Girard
Pages:
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supposed to be.” She glanced at the small notebook on Margaret’s lap. “I thought only men carried little black books,” she teased.
    Margaret suddenly looked sly. “Little black books are powerful things. I keep lots of notes. Are you married?”
    Yvette considered lying. She didn’t want to be set up with anyone. “I’m married to my work.”
    “So you like what you do?”
    Yvette nodded. “Very much.”
    “And do you want to get married?”
    Yvette picked up a pen. “I’d rather be rich.”
    “Money can be cold comfort.”
    She began filling out a form with James’s information. “Money can buy you comfort.”
    Margaret frowned. “You really believe that?”
    Yvette placed her pen down. “Yes. I don’t mean to sound shallow, but money gives you privileges that ordinary people don’t have. A man may give you status, but money gives you power.”
    “What about love?”
    “My family loves me. That’s enough.”
    Margaret looked thoughtful, then nodded and wrote some more notes in her book before tucking it away in her purse. “I have to be somewhere in a few minutes. Can I pick James up later?”
    “Yes, or we can have him delivered.”
    “No, that won’t be necessary. I trust you with him.”
    After Margaret left, Greg, Yvette’s main assistant, looked at James with pity. “Want me to do him?”
    “No, he gets the special treatment.” Yvette immediately went about doing what she did best—washing, trimming and hand blow-drying James. At the end he looked like a new dog. His black-and-white coat gleamed.
    “A true gentleman,” she proudly announced as she placed him in a cage nearby. All of a sudden she found herself thinking about Nate standing in the doorway, the commanding way he spoke and moved. He’d look devastating in a tuxedo. She brushed the thought aside. She didn’t think about men, didn’t have time for them. Besides, he hadn’t shown any interest in her. She was used to men looking at her, and giving the once-over, but he hadn’t done that. Unlike so many of the handsome, rich men who couldn’t take their eyes off her, he didn’t seem to notice that she existed. She patted James on the head. “Just wait until Margaret sees you.”
    Unfortunately, Margaret hadn’t returned by the close of business, so Yvette left herself a note to call the next day. She took a moment to make sure James was comfortable by putting a soft blanket and some doggie toys in his cage. She didn’t have to worry; he was fast asleep. She turned off the lights and left. Yvette lived in an old two-story brownstone with three other tenants. The moment she entered the foyer she saw that the landlady, Mrs. Cantrell, had her apartment door open. Yvette groaned. Rarely could she pass by undetected. She raced up the stairs, but stepped on a board that creaked and Mrs. Cantrell—a woman with a small mouth and a loud voice—appeared in the doorway.
    “There you are! I was hoping to see you.”
    “Really?” Yvette said without surprise.
    “It’s my poor Lancelot. I think he has an eye infection.”
    “Then you should take him to a vet.”
    “I’d rather you see him first.”
    “I’m not a vet.”
    “But you know a lot about dogs.”
    Yvette glanced longingly up the stairs. “I really have to—”
    “Just one look. I saw some clear liquid coming out of his eye.”
    Yvette sighed. They were probably tears, because the poor creature knew there was no escape. She turned around, started back down the stairs, and followed Mrs. Cantrell into the apartment. Knickknacks and pictures choked the apartment from the living room to the kitchen. Then she saw a man sitting on the couch. The moment Mrs. Cantrell closed the door Yvette knew she’d fallen into a trap.

Chapter 3
     
    “I don’t like leaving you alone.”
    Nate Blackwell sat on the couch in his sister’s elegant apartment and watched her pace in front of him. She rarely paced and she rarely worried about anything—except him. He tried to
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