Rumor Has It Read Online Free Page A

turned and started for the steps, determined to end her little visit with Mr. Leone before she could become any more attracted to him. Nick caught her from behind, his hands closing on her shoulders. She tensed beneath his touch, her whole body exploding with an awareness she didn't welcome but couldn't deny. Looking over her shoulder at him, she arched a brow in warning.
    “Let me go first,” he said. “I don't trust these stairs. I wouldn't want you to fall.”
    Not sure whether she was relieved or annoyed at his reason for touching her, she watched him descend ahead of her. This was a no- win situation. Her back had begun to ache in earnest. If she had gone down ahead of him, he would have seen how awkwardly the pain forced her to negotiate the steps. Following behind she had no way of controlling the pace of their descent. Gritting herteeth she started down behind him, determined to keep up.
    “Are you interested in the job?” Nick asked.
    “I'll have to discuss it with my partner and see if we can work you into our schedule. Are you certain you want to hire us? You haven't seen any of our work.”
    “Are you any good?”
    “Yes. We're very good,” she said, pride in her work ringing in her voice. She and Maggie had a wall full of awards and commendations to back up the statement.
    Nick liked her confidence. “I'll take your word for it.”
    Reaching the landing above the last flight of stairs, he turned to smile at her just as Katie stepped wrong. Blinding pain shot through her. Her right leg buckled, and she lurched forward— right into Nick's arms.
    “Are you all right?”
    “I'm fine,” she said through clenched teeth, blinking back tears. She was furious with herself for her weakness, and she tried in vain to push away from the rock- solid wall of his chest. “I justtwisted my ankle, that's all.” It was half of the truth.
    “Damn these steps! I'm fixing them right away.” He swung Katie up in his arms, a little frightened at how light and fragile she seemed, and started down the last flight of steps.
    “This really isn't necessary, Mr. Leone,” she said, protesting the way she felt in his arms more than the free ride to the ground floor.
    Nick ignored her. “Do you want me to drive you to the hospital?”
    “I don't need to go to the hospital. I'm fine. I just stepped wrong, that's all.”
    “Do you want me to get you an ice pack? Some aspirin?”
    “I want you to put me down.”
    They had reached the bottom of the stairs, but Nick made no move to set Katie on her own two feet. His gaze had fastened on her mouth. It was wide and expressive, and he wanted very much to kiss it. Suddenly his breathing seemed labored, even though he was in good enough shape to run up and down the stairs all day without losing his breath.
    “Mr. Leone.”
    He glanced up at her eyes. They were the color of storm clouds and held just as much warning. Deciding not to push his luck he eased her down, noting with a frown that she backed away from him as soon as her feet hit the floor. He wouldn't have minded keeping his arms around her for a few more minutes.
    “You're sure you're okay?”
    “Yes,” Katie said, composing herself as she straightened her clothes and tried to ignore the erratic thumping of her heart. “Thank you for your concern. I'll be going now. Good- bye.”
    She started for the door, willing herself to walk normally and quickly. In the doorway she met Peter Ramsey from the police department, and Lee Henry Bartell. Katie nodded to the men but didn't stop to make conversation.
    “Katie,” both men said, nodding back. Ramsey's gaze followed her a second longer before he moved inside the building to take a look around.
    Nick stepped into the doorway and watched Katie cross the street, noticing for the first time that her hair was held in a thick braid, the end of which twitched just above her waist as she walked.
    “Pretty to look at, if that's all you want to do,” Lee Henry said in a