Bound to be Taken (Emergence) Read Online Free

out with you on Saturday. Could there be any more perfect solution? He seemed nice enough, for a guy. He looked fantastic. Smelled like heaven. His smile could melt chocolate. She could think of no better fake date than a gay guy who would pose no threat to her perpetual singlehood.
    “Just getting home from work?” he asked.
    Small talk? They’d never spoken before.
    “Yeah.” Oh, she was so smooth with the words tonight. “You?” She looked down at her feet, trying in vain not to grin. This just might work out after all. What a coincidence that one of the very men she’d often lusted after would actually speak to her today of all days.
    “Oh, I just forgot something at home. Had…have to run back and get it. Luckily it’s not far.”
    He had been just leaving. He’d purposefully turned back so he could ride the elevator up with her.
    The elevator dinged and the door opened. You have to get out. It’s customary for passengers to debark on their designated floors. Otherwise they look idiotic. “Well, have a nice night then.” She stepped into the hall, kicking herself in the ass the entire time.
    “Will do. You too.” He reached for the door and held it open as she passed. “Hey, chin up. You’re off work now.”
    Stephanie jerked her head up at his request and turned to face him as though meeting his demand was somehow imperative. He smiled at her and winked. She felt the flush that raced down her body from head to toe. A spark ignited in her stomach as she watched his calm demeanor. Something about this man made her want to please him.
    She hadn’t anticipated this run-in with Mr. Dark and Handsome. She needed time…to prepare…if she was going to beg him to go out with her. Or his “friend”. As she gazed at him with her chin still raised, the doors closed.
    She stared at her shiny reflection as the smile crept across her face. Even hidden behind her usual bulky attire, a man had just made conversation with her. Never mind he was undoubtedly gay. She felt giddy.
    A deep, dormant longing came rushing to the surface. For as much as she hid under both physical and psychological layers, Stephanie craved the attention of a caring man. She never intended to act on the impulse, fear of losing herself weighing her down, but she could dream.
    She was damaged. Years of watching her mother succumb to a trail of losers who used and abused her had hardened Stephanie against following her instincts. Until this moment, she hadn’t considered that long-buried place inside her that desired not just the idea of having a man around but someone who would care enough to fill all her needs.
    She stepped back from the elevator, shivering as though cold. Two things occurred to her. One, she hadn’t pushed the button for floor ten, which meant Mr. Sexy had known her floor. And two, the elevator was now going down, not up, which meant Mr. Sexy had already gone to his apartment to get the forgotten object before her arrival, confirming her suspicion he’d just taken the ride with her for no reason at all.
    Hmmm. That seemed incredibly promising. Then why was she shaking like a leaf? Because it would be a hell of a lot easier to beg him to go with her to the company party this weekend if he was gay. If he truly were interested in her… Ugh. She couldn’t handle that thought.
    Stephanie spun on her heels and walked down the hall. She needed sleep, a glass of wine, a long soak in the tub and a frozen dinner. Not in that order.
     
     
    “What took you so long?”
    A shit-eating grin spread across Dane’s face. “Our date for Friday night.”
    “What?” Aiden took two long strides to get to Dane’s side in the back of the kitchen. “What?” he repeated in a whisper, backing Dane into the office next to the huge oven.
    “I went to the apartment to get your phone and as I was running back through the lobby toward the front door, Ms. Tenth Floor came around the corner, and I ran smack dab into her. Or, maybe she ran