One Perfect Night Read Online Free Page A

shot had just zoomed straight to her heart.
    Feeling stupid to be so affected by his mere presence, hoping he hadn’t seen her jolt or noticed the sweatiness of her palm and, hating the awkwardness of silence, she said the first thing that came into her head. “No briefcase?”
    He glanced down at his bag and then raised one eyebrow. “It’s Christmas,” he replied, as if that said it all.
    Not exactly able to tell him that in his short time with Lyrique he’d earned the reputation of being a complete workaholic and therefore the idea of him taking any notice of such an occasion surprised her, she simply nodded and tried to keep up with his brisk pace as he strode toward their waiting car.
    Reprieve and the chance to give her hormones a stern talking to came when Cameron chatted to the chauffeur as if they’d been friends since high school. She slid into the back unnoticed, relishing the support of the luxurious leather seat. Its coolness alerted her to her near-bare thighs. Tugging at the hem on her tutu, she rested her head briefly against the window, grateful for the cold glass on her hot forehead.
    “Champagne?” asked Cameron, his voice booming.
    She startled and knocked her head against the glass as she wondered how he’d slipped into the cabin so quietly. A tall, muscular body like that would surely make some kind of noise when folding itself onto the seat. She turned and wet her lips, trying to regain some semblance of control as she settled back into the leather and flashed Cameron a smile. A smile that said she traveled in expensive cars with hot men on a regular basis. “Sure, why not?”
    And indeed, why not? A shot of Dutch courage might be exactly what she needed to survive the evening ahead.
    Leaning forward from his own seat, Cameron filled two crystal glasses meticulously, untroubled when the driver pulled out into the traffic. Not one to usually notice small details of a person’s hands, Peppa found herself practically gawking at his. Long tanned fingers; short, clean nails; a kind of roughness that made her wonder if he partook in climbing or some other extreme sport in his spare time.
    He handed her a glass and those hands brushed briefly against hers. She lifted the drink to her lips and took a swig. Hmm…The kind of hands that made her wonder what they’d feel like traversing the planes of her naked body…
    Stop!
    “Are you okay?” Cameron’s hand settled once again on her skin. This time on her upper arm as he leaned forward in apparent concern while she choked on a mouthful of the finest bubbles ever.
    She nodded profusely, coughing and cursing silently at her inability to tell him to remove his hand. He didn’t appear to be fazed at all, which only unnerved her further. The last thing she needed was a severe case of unrequited lust.
    “Do you want some water?” Cameron asked, turning away to locate a bottle of ice-cold spring water and then unscrewing the lid.
    She took it, careful not to land her fingers anywhere near his. “Good. Idea,” she managed when the spluttering had subsided. This time she drank slowly, cautiously, glancing around the interior of the limo and reasoning it was time to turn her attentions to its exquisite decor and banish the ridiculous thoughts about her boss.
    “Nice upholstery,” she murmured, sliding her free hand along the smoky-colored leather. “Pretty Christmas lights.” A delicate string bordered the windows and doors. “Plush carpet.” She tapped her fairy shoes on the thick shag as her eyes came to rest on what looked to be a plasma television.
    “Yes.”
    She could hear the amusement in his reply, yet realizing she must sound like a child marveling over a new doll’s house—babbling was a terrible habit of hers—she dared not check his actual expression.
    “And that there is a high-tech karaoke system linked to the internet, meaning you can choose practically any song ever written.”
    “Oh.” Her heart stammered at the thought.