The Seduction Request Read Online Free

only question was, how?
    He was pretty sure there would be groveling involved.
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    â€œLook at you,” Emily scolded. “If you don’t pull it together, you’ll never get out of this place. There’s a sunny window somewhere out there just waiting for you.”
    The Abutilon hybridum, commonly known as a Canary Bird Flowering Maple, sat on the isolation table near the rear of the nursery, looking wilted and sick, its leaves pale and drooping pathetically. Emily plucked an errant brown leaf. “It’s not aphids and I don’t see a fungus.”
    She checked the undersides of the leaves for signs of mites. “Your brothers and sisters are healthy. What’s the deal?”
    â€œDo they ever answer you?”
    At the unexpected voice, Emily let out a squeal of surprise and spun around. She knew who it was even before she saw Matt standing behind her. Her heart gave an appropriate flutter at the sight of him.
    Damn him for always looking so good, for bringing back memories that were better off forgotten.
    â€œIn a manner of speaking, they do,” she said. “It’s been scientifically proven that plants respond positively to verbal stimuli.”
    He nodded thoughtfully and gestured toward the sickly plant. “Maybe this one is hard of hearing.”
    She had to stifle a smile. He always did have a good sense of humor, and the ability to make her laugh. He’d been the brightest point in her life. Her life had grown dim since then, but she was used toit. She liked it that way. It was tough for people to hurt you, to disappoint you, if you kept them at arms’ length.
    â€œWhat do you want, Conway?” she asked. “I thought we agreed to stay out of each other’s way.”
    â€œYou have my binder with the restaurant specs and I need it for tomorrow. The decorator has my only other copy.”
    He’d only wanted his folder. Why would she even think he would want to see her for any other reason than business? Why would he be interested in someone like her when he could have a thousand other women? Beautiful, feminine women.
    And why did she feel disappointment instead of relief?
    â€œI get it for you and you’ll leave?” she asked.
    â€œScout’s honor.”
    â€œStay here, I’ll be right back.” She brushed past him, far too aware of the energy vibrating from his body, and headed toward the front of the building. The man was a walking powerhouse, and even worse, he knew it. Stepping into her miniscule office, she grabbed the binder off her desk, but as she spun around to leave she slammed hard into Matt’s chest. The heat radiating from his skin scorched her and she jerked away, bumping the backs of her thighs against her cluttered desk. “What are you doing in here?”
    He reached behind him and closed the door. “Giving us some privacy.”
    â€œYou said you would leave. You did the Scout’s honor thing.”
    He gave her a wide, toothy grin, looking just like the old Matt. “I was never a Scout.”
    That was exactly the kind of stunt the old Matt would have pulled. He looked like the old Matt, and he was acting like the old Matt—
    No. No way she would let herself even consider that. She didn’t want to like him. If she started to like him a little, that might grow into liking him a lot. Then he would leave and she would never hear from him again. No thanks. “What do you want from me, Conway?”
    â€œI just want to talk to you. I’ve…missed you.”
    â€œYou missed me? That would explain why you stopped calling. Never once visited. Yeah, you sure seemed broken up about it.”
    â€œYour parents came out to visit me. You could have come with them.”
    She’d wanted to. It had torn her to pieces to watch her parents leave, knowing they would see Matt. Knowing how badly she’d wanted to see him, too. And knowing it just wasn’t an option. Not if her