What Love Sounds Like Read Online Free

strange yearning that her smile wouldn’t have faded the instant their eyes met. ‘Mia it is. You had no trouble finding us?’
    ‘Apart from some kangaroos playing Russian roulette with my car, I had a clear run. I must apologise again for the confusion of last Friday, Dr. Sheldon’s email arrived along with all of his file notes. You can be sure I’m up to speed.’
    ‘Excellent.’ He glanced at Tilly who’d returned to the lounge to watch television. ‘It’s crucial my niece benefits as much as she can from your two weeks here.’
    If possible the temperature of Mia’s gaze dropped. ‘You do remember what I said in my office, don’t you? There’s no quick-fix for a speech delay.’
    ‘How could I forget?’ He allowed a brief smile to cross his lips. ‘But surely after a fortnight there’ll be an improvement in how Tilly speaks and she’ll be easier to understand?’
    ‘I’ll make no guarantees. Each child’s therapy experience will be different. What I will say is we’ll work hard toward the goal of Tilly using ‘k’ and possibly the ‘g’ sound correctly.’
    Mia mightn’t be wearing any heavy-framed glasses to look over the top of, but her stare was none the less lethal. He didn’t know whether to smile or scowl. In the corporate corridors of Matchtec he was king. He’d forgotten what it was like to be regarded with anything but deference. The novelty would soon wear off.
    ‘Well,’ he said, ‘to help you reach such a goal I’ve had the music room prepared for your use.’
    ‘Thank you.’
    ‘Don’t mention it. I’ve always found an organised and clutter-free work space crucial in maximising output.’
    Yes.’ Laughter illuminated the golden shards of her brown eyes. ‘That pesky middle management can be prone to distraction.’
    He rammed his hands on his hips. It also had been a long time since someone had laughed at him. ‘Middle management, it sounds like you know your way around an office?’
    ‘Something like that.’ The sparkle in her eyes dimmed. ‘Now, just to make everything clear, the work I’ll be doing with Tilly will be play-based.’
    ‘Play-based?’
    ‘Yes. Through play Tilly will learn, model and practise the new sounds. It is a documented fact that children learn better when they are having fun.’
    ‘Fun?’ He tried, and failed, to stop his lip from curling.
    ‘Yes. Fun.’ She swept a hand toward another plastic crate he hadn’t noticed on the floor beneath the table. ‘I know how you feel about toys but a share portfolio just won’t reap the same benefits as, say, Play-Doh.’
    Foreboding flooded him. The second crate was filled to the brim with more items than just whatever Play-Doh was.
    ‘So knowing you want results, I brought every toy in my arsenal.’ Her saccharine tone suddenly had him craving sugar.
    ‘Every toy?’
    ‘Yes. Every. Single. One. Actually, there are another two crates in the car if you would be so kind as to bring them in?’
    Frustration burned the back of his neck. Since when did a perfunctory quick meet-and-greet turn into a battle of wills? A battle he was fast losing.
    ‘Anything to help you get your job done.’ He contented himself with a fierce frown. ‘It goes without saying all toys will stay in the music room.’
    Displeasure fired in her eyes but when she spoke her voice remained as silky as the melted caramel in his favourite dessert. ‘Again, I won’t make any guarantees. Tilly’s therapy will be conducted in formal as well as informal settings. But what I will say is we’ll do our best when out of the music room to not…distract you.’
    ‘I appreciate your thoughtfulness,’ he said, lips twisting. ‘Of course, it goes without saying I’m not prone to distraction. I’m upper management.’
    ‘
Of course
.’
    He knew he should check his watch. His five-minute deadline had passed. He had a contract to finish. But he couldn’t look away from Mia’s unwavering gaze or suppress the suspicion that