Read Online A Bargain with the Boss by Barbara Dunlop - Free Book Online Page B

he’s a spy?”
    â€œThat there’s at least something going on that I don’t know about.” Tuck didn’t believe Dixon had a secret life. But he was all out of reasonable explanations. It had been nearly a month since his brother had disappeared.
    â€œIs there anything we could have missed?” asked Jackson. “Some paper record, a secret email account, a different cell phone?”
    â€œI’ve searched his office. I’ve looked through the mansion. I even called Kassandra.”
    â€œYou called Kassandra?”
    â€œYou didn’t?”
    â€œOf course I did. But it’s my job to chase down every lead.”
    â€œIt’s my company,” said Tuck. “And it’s going rapidly downhill without Dixon.”
    â€œWhat was your take on Kassandra?” asked Jackson.
    â€œThat’s she’s a selfish, spoiled princess who gambled and lost.” Tuck couldn’t help a grim smirk at the memory. Clearly, his former sister-in-law had expected a hefty financial settlement.
    â€œShe’s holding a grudge,” said Jackson. “Do you think she’d harm him?”
    â€œShe probably wants to. But that would require risk and effort. She’s lazy.”
    â€œYeah,” Jackson agreed. “I’m starting to wonder if he was kidnapped.”
    Tuck frowned. He’d been picturing Dixon on a tropical beach somewhere. If his brother was in trouble, then Tuck’s anger at him was completely misplaced.
    â€œMaybe he was forced to write that letter to your dad,” said Jackson.
    â€œTell me you’re not serious.”
    â€œWho saw him last?”
    Tuck nodded to his closed office door, his thoughts moving to Amber. She’d kept him carefully at arm’s length since the night in New York, but he was practically obsessing over her.
    â€œHis assistant, Amber,” he told Jackson. “He was in the office for a few hours the day he left.”
    â€œCan you call her in?”
    â€œSure.” Tuck came to his feet. “But I’ve already pumped her for information. She’s the one who gave me his password. He didn’t tell her where he was going.”
    He crossed to the door and drew it open, walking into the outer office.
    Amber was at her desk, profile to him as she typed on the keyboard.
    â€œCan you join us?” he asked.
    She stopped typing and glanced up, her blue gaze meeting his. There was a wariness there, which he chalked up to the kisses in New York. Could she tell he wanted to do it again? He was dying to do it again. He feared it was written all over his expression every time he looked her way.
    â€œSure.” She smoothed out her expression and pushed back her chair.
    As usual, her outfit was straitlaced, a navy blazer over a matching pleated skirt and a white blouse. Her spike pumps were bright blue with a slash of white across the toe. They appeared simple by Amber-footwear standards, but they still struck him as sleekly sexy. Or maybe it was only his fevered imagination.
    As she rose, he caught a glimpse of lace beneath the neckline of her blouse and his desire went into hyperdrive. He warned himself to bide his time until Dixon returned. When things were back to normal, he’d try approaching her again. Amber would no longer be working for him then.
    â€œWhat do you need?” she asked as she passed by him.
    â€œJackson has a couple of questions.” Tuck fell into step behind her.
    â€œWhat kind of questions?”
    â€œAbout Dixon.”
    She twisted her head, pausing just outside the office door. “What about Dixon?”
    Did he detect guilt in her eyes? Was she nervous?
    â€œThe usual questions.” He found himself scrutinizing her expression.
    â€œWhat are the usual questions?”
    â€œShall we find out?”
    â€œI’ve told you everything I know.”
    â€œYou say that in a way that makes me wonder.”
    â€œWords strung into a sentence