A Gentleman’s Offer Read Online Free Page A

ease her anxiety with a smile. “I’m not alone.” He gestured to the two dogs near his feet. “I have King and Queen to keep me company.”
    “Still…are you sure you don’t want to come with me?” She stopped pacing and stared at him. “I could get a sitter.”
    “Diana, I’ll be fine. Stop worrying about me.”
    She returned to pacing, this time flexing and unflexing her fingers. “Don’t forget Queen’s appointment. It took me forever to get on Yvette’s schedule. She runs the salon and usually lets her assistants do the work, but I asked for her specifically because she’s the best.”
    “Fine.”
    “I would have gotten Jenny to take her, but it’s her day off.”
    “Fine.”
    “So remember—”
    Nate got up from the couch and seized Diana’s wrist as she passed him, forcing her to stop and look at him. He grinned. “I’ll remember.”
    She hesitated. “Kim was asking about you.”
    He released her wrist and his grin fell. “You didn’t tell her where I was, did you?”
    “No, but she wants to talk to you.”
    “So what?”
    “Last year was—”
    He sat back down and stretched out his legs, nudging King, who rolled onto his back for a belly rub. Nate obliged him using his foot. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
    “I know it was hard for you, but it was hard for us, too.”
    He bent down and rubbed King’s belly with his hand.
    Diana sat next to him. “Where were you anyway?”
    “Tormenting Aunt Penny.”
    “Leave her alone.”
    “Why?” He sat back and folded his arms. King remained on his back a few moments then, realizing his massage was finished, rolled over and went to sleep. “I don’t come to visit often.”
    “Why do you enjoy making her uncomfortable?”
    He winked at her. “Because I can.” He shook his head. “You should have seen her today trying to eat up some little dog groomer.”
    Diana lifted a sly brow. “Was she pretty?”
    “Sure, but she’s not my type.”
    “Why not?”
    “I don’t go for blond streaks and artistic outfits.”
    Diana jumped. “That’s Yvette! And she’s more than pretty, she’s gorgeous.” Diana frowned. “I hope you were nice to her.” She held her hands together as though pleading. “Please tell me you were nice to her.”
    “ I was nice to her. It was Aunty Penny who could have ruined things for you. As I said, she was trying to bully her just because she had an opinion.”
    Diana waved a dismissive hand. “Yvette can handle Aunt Penny, that’s why I recommended her for the job.”
    “Aunt Penny would have eaten her for dinner if she could have.”
    Diana crossed her legs and smoothed her skirt. “You stopped her of course.”
    “Of course. She made sense. She seems to be a smart woman.”
    “You sound surprised.”
    “Let’s just say I didn’t expect someone with that many piercings, who likes to clean dogs, to sound that educated. But I was wrong and I’m glad I made Aunt Penny listen.”
    Diana shook her head. “You shouldn’t keep doing that.”
    “Doing what?”
    “Coming to a woman’s rescue. Haven’t you ever heard of the white knight?”
    “I’m no white knight.”
    “Remember how you met Kim?”
    Nate stood and turned on the radio. “I don’t want to talk about her.”
    Diana lifted the remote and turned it off. “You helped her brother’s company out of bankruptcy.”
    He shoved his hands in his pockets. “So what?” He kept his back to her and looked out the window.
    “One day you’re going to rescue a woman and find yourself in deep trouble.”
    He shrugged. “I’m not afraid.”
    “I’m serious, Nate. Stop rescuing women.”
    “Don’t worry. I’m on vacation.” He turned to her with a smug grin. “What could happen?”
     
    Yvette sat next to two hundred and fifty pounds of moving flesh, wishing she’d run up the stairs when she’d had a chance. Mrs. Cantrell’s son, Arthur, smiled at her as Yvette pretended to examine a small dog—a mutt to be exact—that was in