The Seduction Request Read Online Free Page B

hadn’t mentioned was that Marlette was the only company bidding. He didn’t often let sentimentality edge its way into his business dealings, especially with his investors so shaky about the venture, but in this case he was making an exception. Emily was obviously working hard to pull the company into the black. He admired her determination.
    Not to mention that this was about the only way she’d let him within a hundred yards of her.
    â€œI look forward to doing business with you.” He held out a hand for her to shake. She hesitated a second, then gripped his hand firmly.
    Nothing fluffy about that handshake. She was all business, and it was over so quickly he barely had time to relish her soft skin against his fingers.
    The phone rang again. She turned to pick it up, and after a pause snapped, “Where in the hell have you been, Alex? I’ve been trying to get a hold of you for days. Mildred has been all over my back.”
    The mysterious boyfriend, no doubt.
    She listened for a minute, and Matt could swear he heard music over the line. Something Caribbean.
    â€œHold on, Alex.” She cupped a hand over the mouthpiece and turned to Matt. “I need to take this.”
    â€œCan I give you a bit of advice?” he asked.
    She looked to the door, gave an exasperated sigh, then nodded.
    â€œYou’ll get nowhere in business cleaning up someone else’s mess.” With an image of her perplexed expression etched into his mind, he walkedout, grinning to himself. Tugging his keys from his pocket, he headed out to the parking lot.
    He was wearing her down. As hard as she was working to seem irritated, he could sense her relaxing, letting her guard down. He could also sense her conflict. She wanted to like him, but she was afraid to trust him. It wouldn’t be much longer before he had her hooked, and in the meantime, he was enjoying the hell out of himself. For the first time in months he was focused on something other than getting the restaurant built and it was a welcome relief. He would even consider leaving the construction company to its own devices for a day if he could spend the time with Emily.
    He thought of the lake up at the cottage where they’d spent so many summer afternoons and wondered if she still liked to fish. Or they could drive to Metro Park, rent bikes and ride the trails. Hell, they could sit on the hood of his car and talk all day for all he cared. As long as he was with her. And maybe, if things went well he could invite her back to his hotel room….
    The direction of his thoughts startled him. Taking Emily back to his hotel for…well, whatever they might end up doing, was out of the question. For now. Pushing too hard, too fast, would only drive her away. He had to remind himself, he was doing this for Ty and his parents. If this Alex person was really into something shady, it was imperative Matt not screw this up.
    He’d already decided to take Ty’s advice and concentrate on being her friend.

Three
    T he air drifting in the front window, thick and sticky and tinged with the scent of summer rain, zapped the last of Emily’s energy. She stretched out on her love seat, waiting for the pizza guy, relieved the day was almost over. As badly as it had begun, when she was convinced things couldn’t get much worse, they had.
    Alex, it would seem, was having so much fun he’d decided to extend his vacation another few days. She’d tried to explain how difficult it had been holding it together at work lately and he came back with his typical, “Don’t worry about it, Em. It’ll all work itself out.”
    He didn’t have to face twenty-five employees, not to mention the fifteen or so college kids they hired every spring and summer, knowing it might only be a matter of weeks before they were out of a job. Though he was her good friend and she loved himto death, acting as a human shield between him and his mother was