IK3 Read Online Free Page B

back to
    Vortigern trying to build his castle and Merlin telling him it would continue to
    crumple because two dragons fought below the surface. A red dragon and a
    white one.” Mr. Smith practically beamed now. “Isn’t that just the most
    exciting possibility ever?”
    Chloe stared at him, not sure whether Mr. Smith was just an eccentric
    billionaire with odd interests—she’d seen the whole medieval weapon
    collection lining his walls—or someone who should have been carted off to
    the psycho ward at John-Peter Smith Hospital in Ft. Worth long ago. She
    glanced sideways at Gavin, but his expression was impassive. Surely, he
    wasn’t buying this? “Uh—are you talking, like, King Arthur’s Merlin?”
    “Of course! There’s only one Merlin.” Mr. Smith practically giggled. “After all,
    we were looking for Excalibur.”
    “Excalibur.” The man was definitely loony-tunes. No one in his right mind
    would think someone in the 21st century was looking for Arthur’s sword. But
    it might be good fodder for a romance—she was always looking for
    inspiration. And Gavin would make a perfect hero. She could almost see him
    in armor on a huge, black destrier.
    She glanced at him again only to find him leveling that dark, penetrating
    stare at her again. It was disconcerting and she lost her train of thought.
    What had they been talking about? Gavin was all virile male—How could any
    man look so dangerously sexy in a suit? Of course, he’d taken the jacket off,
    leaving a perfectly-tailored, dazzingly white shirt that managed to hint at
    really nice pecs and biceps. Chloe didn’t need to use her imagination to set
    him in a hot, sexy scene where that shirt would peel off— Geez, she was
    practically drooling.
    Gavin frowned slightly. “Are you feeling all right, Miss Whitney? You have an
    odd look on your face.”
    An odd look. He thought a passionate look that practically oozed estrogen
    out of her pores was odd? With an effort, she managed to rein in her erotic
    thoughts. “I was just—um, what were we speaking of? Oh! Excalibur.” For a
    moment, she thought Gavin looked annoyed. She turned to Mr. Smith. “I’ve
    always wanted to write a romance. Maybe I could use these dragons in an
    urban-fantasy story?”
    “Oh, my dear! That would be wonderful!” Mr. Smith clapped his hands,
    looking pleased. Gavin didn’t look pleased at all.
    Chloe glanced at her watch and then jumped up. “It’s almost 2:00 am! If I’m
    going to get this story in by the time the presses roll at 3:00, I’d better get
    going.” She looked down at Mr. Smith’s notes. “I would really like to take a
    better look at your research. Could I come back tomorrow?”
    “Of course you may! I’d be delighted!”
    “Thank you.” Chloe turned to Gavin who was nearly glowering at her. “And I
    intend to work with you too.”
    “I work better alone,” he said, “but if I find out anything about your friend, I
    will let Mr. Smith know. Ye can check with him.”
    She smiled sweetly. He wasn’t going to get away that easily. “Have you
    forgotten that I told you I’m not letting this go? You may be able to get all
    the police help you need, but as a reporter, I have leads that are—ummm,
    perhaps a bit shadier, if you know what I mean. I can ferret out
    information—”
    “I will not allow you to put yourself in danger, Miss Whitney. I will take care
    of this situation.”
    For a moment, she wasn’t sure she’d heard correctly. Gavin wanted to
    protect her? OMG, it was like he really had stepped out of a romance novel!
    Her fanciful imagination won out over her practical side. “Are you some kind
    of knight-in-shining-armor come to save helpless damsels?”
    Gavin looked startled and then a corner of his mouth lifted up. “I suspect
    you are hardly helpless, in spite of your swoon earlier.”
    Her swoon? Swoon? Who used words like that in real life? She was hardly
    helpless either, having taken care of herself while her