The Mistress Deal. Sandra Field

Читать онлайн.
Название The Mistress Deal
Автор произведения Sandra Field
Жанр Контркультура
Серия Mills & Boon Modern
Издательство Контркультура
Год выпуска 0
isbn 9781408940976



Скачать книгу

her side. “Here,” he ordered, “let me see.”

      “It’s nothing!”

      He took her by the wrist, putting the plug in the sink with his free hand. “You haven’t broken the skin—you’re better off immersing it in cold water.”

      The cold water did relieve the pain. Biting her lip, Lauren said, “There’s a moral here—I shouldn’t start fights before I’ve had my caffeine fix.”

      “You’re still in love with Sandor.”

      Her wrist jerked in his hold like a trapped bird. “It was over years ago, Reece.”

      “Which isn’t an answer—as you well know.”

      “You’re not getting any other.”

      He moved closer to her, his eyes roaming her face. “No makeup,” he said. “The real Lauren Courtney.”

      “You’re unshaven,” she responded in a flash, “but do you ever show the real Reece Callahan?”

      With sudden deep bitterness he said, “Is there a real Reece Callahan?”

      Shocked, she whispered, “If you have to ask the question, then of course there is.”

      “Oh, sure,” he said, moving away from her and drying his hands. “Let’s scrap this conversation. Did you say you wanted some toast?”

      “Yes, please.” Only wanting to lighten the atmosphere, she added, “This is a very intimidating kitchen—I’m what you might call an erratic cook.”

      He didn’t smile. “Pull up a stool and I’ll bring you a coffee. Cream and sugar?”

      “No cream. Three spoonfuls of sugar.”

      “To sweeten you?”

      “To kickstart the day. Creativity is enhanced by glucose—at least, that’s my theory.”

      He gave his papers a disparaging glance. “With the negotiations I’ve got the next few days, maybe I should try it.”

      “Honey’s better than sugar, and maple syrup’s best of all.”

      “So you’re a connoisseur of the creative process. You should write a book,” he said dryly, putting her coffee in front of her.

      “No time… Do you know what, Reece? We’ve just had a real conversation. Our first.”

      “Don’t push your luck,” he rasped, “and don’t see me as a challenge.”

      She flushed. “A useless venture?”

      “Right on.”

      She said deliberately, “I don’t believe you bought every one of the paintings and sculptures in this condo strictly as an investment.”

      “You can’t take a hint, can you?” Reece said unpleasantly, taking the bread out of the toaster.

      “The Madonna and child? An investment? You bought that statue because in some way it spoke to your heart.”

      His back was turned to her; briefly, his body shuddered as though she’d physically struck him. Then he pivoted, closing the distance between them in two quick strides. Towering over her, he dug his fingers into her shoulders. “Stay out of my private life, Lauren. I mean that!”

      His eyes were blazing with emotion, a deep, vibrant blue; his face was so close to hers that she could see a small white scar on one eyelid. She’d hit home; she knew it. And found herself longing to take his face between her palms and comfort him.

      He’d make burnt toast out of her if she tried. Swallowing hard, Lauren said with total truth, “I’m sorry—I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

      He said harshly, “I’m going to be late for work. If your hand needs attention, the first-aid kit’s in my bathroom cabinet. I’ll see you this evening.” Gathering all his papers in a bundle, he left the kitchen.

      Thoughtfully Lauren started to eat her toast. The ice in his eyes had melted with a vengeance. And he’d bought the Madonna and child for intensely personal reasons that she was quite sure he had no intention of divulging.

      One thing she knew. She wasn’t going to be bored during the next few days.

      Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

      Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».

      Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.

      Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.

/9j/4RO+RXhpZgAATU0AKgAAAAgADAEAAAMAAAABAfQAAAEBAAMAAAABArwAAAECAAMAAAADAAAA ngEGAAMAAAABAAIAAAESAAMAAAABAAEAAAEVAAMAAAABAAMAAAEaAAUAAAABAAAApAEbAAUAAAAB AAAArAEoAAMAAAABAAIAAAExAAIAAAAgAAAAtAEyAAIAAAAUAAAA1IdpAAQAAAABAAAA6AAAASAA CAAIAAgADqYAAAAnEAAOpgAAACcQQWRvYmUgUGhvdG9zaG9wIENTNiAoTWFjaW50b3NoKQAyMDE1 OjA4OjEyIDE3OjE5OjM4AAAEkAAABwAAAAQwMjIxoAEAAwAAAAEAAQAAoAIABAAAAAEAAAXcoAMA BAAAAAEAAAg0AAAAAAAAAAYBAwADAAAAAQAGAAABGgAFAAAAAQAAAW4BGwAFAAAAAQAAAXYBKAAD AAAAAQACAAACAQAEAAAAAQAAAX4CAgAEAAAAAQAAEjgAAAAAAAAASAAAAAEAAABIAAAAAf/Y/+0A DEFkb2JlX0NNAAH/7gAOQWRvYmUAZIAAAAAB/9sAhAAMCAgICQgMCQkMEQsKCxEVDwwMDxUYExMV ExMYEQwMDAwMDBEMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMAQ0LCw0ODRAODhAUDg4OFBQO Dg4OFBEMDAwMDBERDAwMDAwMEQwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAwMDAz/wAARCACgAHID ASIAAhEBAxEB/90ABAAI/8QBPwAAAQUBAQEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAwABAgQFBgcICQoLAQABBQEBAQEB AQAAAAAAAAABAAIDBAUGBwgJCgsQAAEEAQMCBAIFBwYIBQMMMwEAAhEDBCESMQVBUWETInGBMgYU kaGxQiMkFVLBYjM0coLRQwclklPw4fFjczUWorKDJkSTVGRFwqN0NhfSVeJl8rOEw9N14/NGJ5Sk hbSVxNTk9KW1xdXl9VZmdoaWprbG1ub2N0dXZ3eHl6e3x9fn9xEAAgIBAgQEAwQFBgcHBgU1AQAC EQMhMRIEQVFhcSITBTKBkRShsUIjwVLR8DMkYuFygpJDUxVjczTxJQYWorKDByY1wtJEk1SjF2RF VTZ0ZeLys4TD03Xj80aUpIW0lcTU5PSltcXV5fVWZnaGlqa2xtbm9ic3R1dnd4eXp7fH/9oADAMB AAIRAxEAPwDjOjmMiz/i/wDvzVrbzELI6RpkWf8AF/8AfmrWidVqw+VrZK4l5Uhwh91MJ60s2Dc4 D5lKwbHQDoQoRBSJ114SUkqJ3bQYlJwLXbTx2Kk6vbWLGn3DXThDLnvMnUpJZMI3jd9FSsaGu9uo KlUK3MDXaO8O5UW1hlkP+i4aE+KSUZOqkDoo2bQ8hpkdinZA54SUv3Unsc0SeCk0sDwX/RMqdj2u 9rfot1SUi3t/dSTbikip/9Diulfz9n/F/wDfmrV3QNFldK/n7P8Ai/8AvzVpdtdFqw+Vq5Pn+xkC SfNEbKE0mdEUEQnrZMgmgEq00td08ihlT31NccprmD1QC+WZlF30/TqYWUW1f4H+cspsZb6iIzpr j003ei/1XMOU2780VMPp/Z/61tXrZn/W6U0zA3014V8cUj8uvp42kC76AmDwPEqUbSWuEOHYq27C AxMe7H1yWVOtewH+dYH2guq/4emtn0f8NT/xKL1K6qo3GmmkluZZT+lrbZ7WsY9rGb/oM935qHHr Q8fwXDGasnSgf8dzyHDUp3BwAL9QeCtDFxhdL8eultmRj1vqqvh1bLDf9msZV6/q/wA96f6vu/0v pKAbVnZddNTRYytgtyPRBa1xrbuyG49b9rmMts249f8AwliXGNf6u6faNR1viPp8XNHKIONOVPPx zjZZb6ZqZa1t1dZ5a2zX0f8ArFnqUf8AW1FvgE8GxY6rJAxJB6M3Oa6sN2w4clQ5PgQnc1zXEO+U pmiSihjI/gkpbR/FJJT/AP/R4npn88/+p/35q2bshljGgNhw5PyhYvTf55/9T+LVpgjatWGzVy/M sEZugQmgzxoe6K1PWSKf7S8Y5YK6w4sNHr7T6npu+nV9L0/c0+n63pev6X6P1FAZlpzvtsNbe1zX NgQ0BoDGVhv+hbW30tn+iVjpIZb1XEptY2ytz3AscAWn2PcNzT9L3BWKqM1+VgjP6fXjVvyKmkjH bVuJPuqeR9Njm7v0aYSASKG1n6/+is0BKUAbNcVRofLKPD6pf+GNF+fftpawiv0BtrLJBADnWs1O 76Dnoxzn2B5vppv9W03n1Gu0e4Bjy30rKvpbfoq1iUXHAsfiYdeXcMx7HbqRaW1hjXNaN30G70N1 VxOacvGZj2sxA5lbaxWG/pamttbWPz3Nc9vqIXEnYb9/UnhkADZ1F7ejQNa7NueLQ+P0zWVw0bQ1 tbm2VMoayPSaxzFC7Kuubf6jWB2SWG9zWwXmvWTrt/S2fpr9v85d+kVvpj2NOUbK2W+ljW2sFjQ9 u5uzbLHf1kqLcbPuZh3Y9NNl52U5FDPSLbD/ADXqsYfTupe/9G/2I2AT6dI/y/7lQsgXLWegv+P+ HJoCxxproIGypznV+I37d7P+L3M9T/jERoPz/FCaZ5EHuPAo9b9jg/wT2Mm2R3ucXP5CniuHquDu CIB8FE2h5JOk9uyjW5zCdqXRVpNv/Vbfkkheo/x7z80klP8A/9LiOnfzz/6n8QtELN6f/Ov/AKv8 Qr4dotWGzWyi5N911bscNH0tBHhCCYDdVXa6CrAMtjlODDIUQ6PSDj15mLfY5rGsLi6xxiCWPb7v 85N0rH+z3YbnloLbaXWOdoGta5rn