What Love Sounds Like Read Online Free Page B

lethal weapon. ‘I’ll take the crates from in here also into the music room.’
    ‘Thanks, but there’s no need. I’m using them.’
    ‘Using them?’
    ‘Yes. Tilly and I are about to start working.’ Mia beckoned at Tilly and she danced to her side. She touched the top of Tilly’s chef’s cap. ‘Please tell your uncle what we’re making for morning tea.’
    Tilly grinned. ‘Pop–torn.’
    Kade’s brows shot together.
    Mia looped the apron over Tilly’s head and knotted the bow at her narrow waist. ‘Yes, pop–corn. Pop–corn.’ She repeated the word slowly for Tilly to again hear.
    Mia glanced at Kade. ‘I know you need to return to your office but first could you please tell Tilly what popcorn flavour you’d like?’
    ‘Flavour?’
    ‘Yes. You can have either plain, salted, caramel or buttered. Tilly and I will put a bowl outside your door so as to not disturb you.’
    He planted his hands on his hips. She stood straighter but even then had to tilt her head to hold his hard gaze. He’d soon discover the more he imposed his will, the more she’d ignore him. She was here for his ward, not to garner his approval.
    ‘I don’t eat popcorn.’
    Beside her, Tilly tensed. Mia placed a reassuring hand in the small of her back.
    ‘You do now. Let me put it this way. Popcorn equals achievement. The more we make the greater the chance Tilly’s first therapy lesson will be a success.’ She pursed her lips. ‘Perhaps I misunderstood the urgency of my purpose here? Perhaps I’ve all the time in the world in which to work with Tilly?’
    ‘Okay.’ A muscle worked in the plane of his tanned cheek. ‘One bowl.’
    ‘Only one?’
    ‘
One
.’
    Mia looked down at Tilly to mask a smile. It mightn’t be every day Kade had his wishes thwarted but he’d soon get used to not always having his own way. ‘We’d better make it a big one then, hadn’t we, Tilly?’
    Tilly’s blonde head bobbed.
    ‘Now about that flavour…’ Mia said.
    ‘Just plain popcorn,’ he said, his lips barely moving. ‘And nothing pink on it.’
    ‘Done.’ Mia picked up the closest crate and rested it on her hip. She took Tilly’s tiny hand in hers. ‘Now if you’ll excuse us, we’ve got work to do.’
    He didn’t answer or move. He didn’t have to. His set jaw communicated everything Mia needed to know.
    She hadn’t seen the last of him today.

Chapter Three
    HE WAS LONG overdue for a coffee. At least that was Kade’s excuse for coming downstairs the minute he’d clicked
send
on the contract. He could negotiate a million-dollar deal with a steady pulse but one round with Mia and he needed a double-caffeine hit. He lifted the empty mug in his hand so it would be clearly visible. Upper management or not he didn’t want Mia thinking he was in any way distracted.
    He walked past the empty music room and his grip on the mug tightened. The crates he’d removed from Mia’s car were how he’d left them. So far things mightn’t have gone exactly to plan but he was a man renowned for his tenacity. He’d also yet to meet his match in the stubbornness stakes. It didn’t matter how much Mia might flaunt the rules, he’d ensure Tilly’s ‘play-based work’ contained more work than play. Order would be established.
    He rounded the corner. The smell of fresh popcorn hit him. His blood pressure rocketed. The stakes were too high for Tilly to waste time cooking in the kitchen. At the end of the fortnight she had to be understandable. She’d already been enrolled at a prestigious Sydney preparatory school and he’d short-listed candidates to be her fulltime nanny.
    He pushed open the kitchen door and stepped into chaos.
    A small machine sat on the bench making an inordinate amount of noise as it spat white balls into a large purple bowl held by Tilly. Mia stood beside her, cheeks flushed. Both concentrated on the machine and didn’t notice his approach. Tilly’s bowl reached its capacity but the machine showed no sign of