All That I Desire Read Online Free Page A

with
     Paige. Blade and Shane were talking with Rio a short distance away. Had Sierra meant
     Rio? Skylar felt her face heat. Had she been that obvious?
    “The house will run as smoothly as if you were here,” Eli, the house manager, said.
     “Don’t worry about the auction merchandise. The staff won’t reveal anything.”
    Skylar breathed easier. Sierra had meant the auction. Her secret was safe.
    “I know, Eli,” Blade assured the older man. “Let’s go, Shane. Rio, I’m depending on
     you. You’ve never let me down.”
    “And I never will,” Rio replied.
    Skylar stepped back as Blade and Shane got into the SUV with the tinted windows. She
     waved good-bye. Behind their vehicle was another identical black SUV. She watched
     until the first one started across the drawbridge, then she turned for the house.
     She wanted to look at the Web site again. As she’d expected, bids were already coming
     in when she’d checked it after getting out of bed. The regent’s granddaughter might
     be disappointed. Rolling Deep’s bid was already at twenty-five hundred dollars.
    “Ms. Dupree, I need to see you.”
    Skylar was so annoyed at Rio for still being so formal with her after scorching her
     with his eyes last night that she didn’t let her mind think he meant anything but
     business when he said need. She faced him with cool eyes and a cooler voice. “Yes.”
    He held out a key and inclined his head toward a black BMW SUV in front of the nine-bay
     garage. “You’ll need transportation.”
    “Thank you.” She took the key and continued into the house, wishing she could look
     back and see his face. Two could play his game.
    *   *   *
    Shortly after twelve, Skylar was on her way to meet with the president and board of
     regents of St. John’s College along with Mrs. Grayson, the chair of her Music Department,
     and other professors in that department. Thankfully, the BMW had an excellent GPS
     system. Twenty-five minutes later she waved at Ruth standing on the sidewalk in front
     of the music building and continued to the parking lot across the street.
    As she drove in, a young man waved and beckoned. Skylar parked in the spot he indicated,
     directly across from the music building. She climbed out and extended her hand to
     the smiling man. “Hi, that’s what I call service. Skylar Dupree.”
    He blinked, stared. Skylar kept her hand extended. She got that look sometimes from
     men because of her hazel eyes. If she was all that, as her sorority would say, she
     wouldn’t have so much trouble getting Rio’s attention.
    “I believe they’re waiting for us,” Skylar said, trying to get things moving.
    “Oh.” He flushed and grasped her hand, pumping it a couple of times before releasing
     it. “Ah, I’m Greg Harris, I’m to escort you to Professor Grayson.”
    “Hi, Greg. Thanks for meeting me.”
    “My pleasure.” Greg grinned. “All I can say is I’m glad I’m a music major.”
    “I’m sure she’s glad to have you as a student as well,” Skylar replied and took the
     paved path across to the street, then crossed to meet Ruth. She was dressed in a beautiful
     dove-gray suit with silver earrings and high heels instead of her casual clothes.
     She’d been dressed similarly when she’d visited Skylar and asked for her help. She
     could be as fashionable as her daughter when she wanted.
    Skylar extended both hands and hugged the other woman. “You look fabulous.”
    “Sierra, Morgan, and Pierce’s doing. They think I have to have as many outfits as
     they do.” Mrs. Grayson leaned closer. “Days like this are the only time I need them.”
    Skylar lifted a brow. “A tough crowd?”
    Mrs. Grayson hooked her arm through Skylar’s. “Not in the least. It’s just good to
     remind them that I could always run with the big dogs, even before my children married
     well.”
    Skylar chuckled. “No wonder Sierra is so outspoken and independent. My mother and
     grandmothers are the same