The Seduction Request Read Online Free Page A

heart was ever going to heal. “I don’t remember getting an invitation.”
    â€œYou were always welcome.”
    â€œOh, was it one of those mind-reading things us women are supposed to be able to do? I probably should have told you, I was absent the day they taught that in home economics.”
    Matt gave her a scrutinizing look. “I don’t remember you being this cynical.”
    â€œI’m being realistic.” The phone on her desk rang and she turned to snatch it up. Her mood plummeted even lower when she answered the phone and recognized the voice on the other end.
    â€œEmily, dear,” Alex’s mother said sharply. “I need to speak with my son.”
    â€œI’m sorry, Mrs. Marlette, but Alex stepped out for the afternoon.” And tomorrow afternoon, and the one after that.
    â€œThis is the third time I’ve called this week. Haven’t you been giving him my messages?”
    Emily hated this. She hated lying to save Alex’s rear end time and time again. “He’s been so busy, he probably just forgot to get back to you.”
    Busy slathering on the suntan oil and sipping exotic fruit drinks, she wanted to add. He hadn’t answered his cell phone or responded to the dozens of pages she’d sent the past three days. She was no stranger to the pressures of a demanding, critical family and understood his need to escape. But without his participation, she wouldn’t be able to hold his life together for him much longer.
    â€œCould you please let my son know that the accountant will be out next Wednesday at nine sharp for the quarterly audit and I expect him to be there.” The woman’s tone was so bitterly cold, Emily was sure she could feel icicles forming on her ear.
    â€œI’ll pass the message along, Mrs.—”
    There was a click, then the line went dead.
    â€œNice to talk to you, too,” she mumbled as she dropped the phone back in the cradle. If she didn’t know the woman better, she might have taken the harsh treatment personally. But Alex’s mother regarded everyone, including her own family, with equal contempt.
    Emily turned to find Matt leaning against the door, hands tucked loosely in his jeans pockets, watching her.
    She gave him her best exasperated look. “Are you still here?”
    His grin widened until the hint of a dimple dented his left cheek, raising the boyish-charm-level tenfold. “I haven’t asked you out to dinner yet.”
    â€œDinner? You’ve got to be kidding me.”
    â€œIt’s the least I can do.”
    She handed Matt the binder. “Goodbye, Conway.”
    He took it, and something warm in his expression, a glint in his eyes, had shivers crawling up her spine.
    He opened the door. “When can I expect an estimate?”
    â€œGive me a week.” Maybe by then she would have shaken off this nagging attraction.
    â€œI have one more question,” he said.
    â€œI won’t go out to lunch with you either.”
    He grinned and her insides flipped. “How certain can I be that Marlette will complete the job if I accept your bid?”
    His question threw her for a moment, then she recognized, like any good businessman, he’d done some digging. Not that he’d have to dig very deep. Marlette’s financial difficulties were common knowledge among competing nurseries, several of whom had lowballed them out of many a contract this season. She hadn’t yet figured out how, but as low as Marlette kept their bids, there was always someone lower. Though she hoped she was wrong, she was beginning to suspect they had a rogue employee on the loose.
    One more thing she didn’t have time to worry about.
    â€œThis could be the account to save our butts,” she said. “If we win the bid, we’ll come through for you. You have my word.”
    â€œThat’s good enough for me.” Emily’s honesty impressed Matt. And what he