The Billionaire Date Read Online Free Page A

and he didn’t—as she’d half hoped he might—stop surveying her. “No, you’re certainly not.”
    Kit wished she could believe that was a compliment. Then again, she told herself irritably, if she honestly thought the man was trying to flatter her, she’d be even more furious with him, so she ought to be glad he hadn’t made that mistake.
    â€œIn fact,” Jarrett Webster went on, “I’d say you’re a woman who’s full of surprises. Saturday it was peekaboo blouses and wads of tissue paper, and today—”
    Kit didn’t want to listen to his opinion of her wardrobe. She’d always liked the simple cut of the cream-colored shirtdress she was wearing—until right this moment, when suddenly it felt as plain as a plastic bag and just as transparent “I shouldn’t think you’d be amazed by that sort of thing.”
    â€œOh, I very seldom see tissue paper put to that use,” he assured her.
    â€œI’m quite aware that most of the women you know have chosen figure-enhancing methods more permanent than tissue paper. But as for half-clad females, I’m sure you’re an expert.”
    He considered and nodded. “That’s true. And I must say the first thing I noticed about you was that you’ve got the nicest pair of...”
    Kit gasped, tried to smother the sound and choked with the effort. Her eyes started to water, and she could feel herself turning red.
    â€œShoulder blades I’ve ever seen,” Jarrett finished smoothly. “Why, Ms. Deevers, what did you think I was going to say?”
    Kit managed, finally, to stop coughing, but the lingering tickle in her throat would have kept her from talking even if she’d had something to say.
    â€œToday, of course, you look amazingly professional.”
    â€œThanks,” she managed to say. “I think.” She took a firm grip on herself. “If we can get down to business now, Mr. Webster... I do have other projects waiting for my attention.”
    â€œYou amaze me.” He moved a leather-covered chair out from the conference table and with a graceful turn of his hand invited her to sit
    Kit ignored the gesture and remained on her feet. “It’s very kind of you to—what was your offer? Give me a second chance?”
    â€œAn opportunity to make good where you failed before,” he said helpfully.
    â€œHowever, Tryad is very busy this season, and I’m afraid we don’t have time just now to devote to any more charity fashion shows. You might try us again next year.”
    Not that it will do you any good , she added to herself. But at least I’ll have twelve months to come up with a good excuse for why I still don’t have time.
    Jarrett stood his ground. “You don’t seem to understand, Ms. Deevers. This isn’t optional.”
    Kit frowned.
    â€œBy the time the fashion show was finished and the costs paid, the grand sum left for fighting domestic abuse was eighty-seven dollars.”
    Kit shrugged. “Better than nothing, don’t you think?”
    â€œA somewhat cynical attitude.”
    â€œPerhaps it is—but frankly, I’m astonished there was that much left over.”
    â€œMeaning that if you’d expected it, you’d have increased your fee in order to eliminate the excess?”
    â€œMeaning, Mr. Webster, that the entire affair was mismanaged.”
    â€œYou admit it, then?”
    â€œI’m stating a fact—but it was hardly my fault. Within the constraints of my contract, I did everything I—”
    â€œYou were in charge.”
    â€œNot entirely, and not from the beginning. By the time I got involved—” But why should she try to explain? It was obvious he wasn’t going to take her explanation seriously. He certainly wouldn’t take her word over Colette’s and Heather’s, and Kit would end up sounding as if she was trying to shift