Echoes of Summer Read Online Free Page A

if she stayed there a moment longer, she’d let him have it.
     
    ***
     
    Stephen turned around to discover he was alone. Madison hadn’t even said goodbye. He shrugged and wandered around the room for a minute, testing the height of the chair, moving a few things around on the desk for easier access, and turning on the computer to familiarize himself with it.
    He found the file Madison had sent and looked it over. She had a knack for design, and that would help them as they pitched this afternoon.
    After making sure he had what he would need and jotting down a note of what to get from the supply room, he grabbed his laptop and headed to her office. Since the door was open, he knocked on the doorframe then walked in. Madison’s eyes narrowed at him, and he made a mental note to wait next time until she gave permission to enter.
    She was a woman with rules, and if he wanted to get to know her, he needed to learn them and follow them.
    “Are you available to go over the proposal?” Stephen asked.
    Madison looked back at her computer. “I have a couple other things to take care of first. How about we meet in an hour? That should give us plenty of time.”
    Stephen nodded. “Sounds good.” He grabbed one of the mini chocolates in the glass bowl on her desk, noting she’d refilled it from last night. When he moved the Snickers, he saw a Butterfinger. He snagged that one too, and when she didn’t comment or respond in any way, he put that little bit of info in his mind. Knock and wait for permission, but candy is okay.
    “Shall I come back here, or would you prefer to come to my office?” he asked as he reached the door.
    Madison kept her eyes on her computer. “Here would be fine.”
    Stephen put another clue to her in his mind. She prefers the familiar.

 
     
     
     
    Chapter Four
     
    The nerve of that man. Madison fumed that he had taken her candy. Two of them, and he hadn’t even asked. Her clients were polite enough to ask first, even though they were there for eating. It was just common courtesy. She forced thoughts of Stephen out of her head again.
    If she didn’t get this done soon, he’d be back again, thinking his project was the only thing worth working on. And if Mr. Carlson expected her to take over for Robert while he was gone, why was she still running the accounts? Doing all that extra work had been just to help out Robert, but she figured it was only for this project. She needed to catch up on all her clients’ accounts and make sure everything was on schedule for the shoots and ad launches.
    She immersed herself in the cereal company account and got everything lined up for the next few weeks. A knock on the door forced her to pull her eyes away from the computer screen. She shifted her gaze to see Stephen through the glass door. Why didn’t he just come in? They had an appointment. She glanced at her clock to make sure it was time and waved him in.
    As he opened the door, she finished a few minor things then opened the folder with their pitch for Doewin. She was torn between just handing it over to him or maintaining control of the pitch since she’d worked so hard on it. She didn’t want to just give it away. Especially to him. She wanted to show Mr. Carlson she’d brought in this contract.
    Adjusting her business smile on her face, she turned to him.
    “So, who will head this discussion?” Stephen asked before she could speak.
    Madison’s eyes widened. Was he really asking her opinion, or just trying to stake his claim. Oh, she wished she knew him better. Or not at all. The past was eating at her, and she hated the way it made her feel lost.
    “You’re supposed to be the expert. What do you suggest?”
    “I say we do this together. You present your ideas since they’ll be expecting you, and I can build on it and wrap up the presentation. Fill in anything you might miss. It will also give me a chance to watch how your company works with potential clients. That way I’ll know if we