Read Online Beneath the Surface by Gracie C. McKeever - Free Book Online Page A

offense.”
    “None taken.” Hadn’t he just had this discussion a couple of weeks ago with Evelyn before she’d convinced him to hire a personal shopper and get a makeover? Were all the women in his life in cahoots with each other? “All I’m saying is, why should I waste perfectly good money paying someone to do something I can do myself?”
    “Trust me, it wouldn’t be a waste. She’s good at what she does…and while she’s doing what she does best, you can concentrate on what you do best and write.”
    Hadn’t Tabitha said almost the exact same thing to him only days ago? And wasn’t more-time-to-write one of the main reasons he’d hired Tabitha? At least originally. Now he wasn’t so sure how wise hiring her had been, not when he hadn’t written more than a page in his manuscript since he’d met her.
    “Besides, you’d be doing me a favor,” Jade said.
    “A favor?”
    “Well, she’s new to the business…”
    “Ah, I knew it.”
    “She’s good, EJ, really good.”
    “So you said.”
    “She just needs a break.”
    Damn. The magic words. He was a sucker for helping out someone who “needed a break”— and Jade knew this—had had enough breaks along the way to reaching his own goals to realize how important luck and opportunity was to someone just starting out.
    “You’d be helping a newbie reach her dreams.” Jade batted her big baby-blues at him, prodding as if she’d read his thoughts.
    He thought about probing her, discounted it immediately when he remembered how unsuccessful he had been in the past.

    37
    Gracie C. McKeever
    Once in a while he came across an individual who was either naturally resistant to his attempts at a mental scan or, like Jade, so strong-willed and defensive, he couldn’t get past her shields to read her even when he tried.
    He had a feeling Tabitha fell into the latter category, looked forward to testing that theory, and didn’t feel a lick of guilt at his uncharacteristic nosiness.
    Had he been half as nosy with his girlfriend Sinclair back in high school, he might have been able to save her.
    EJ determinedly shook off his depressing train of thoughts, peered at Jade and asked, “What’s in it for you?”
    “Besides the knowledge that I’ve done my part to launch the career of a promising bright young star? Not a thing.”
    “You are so full of it, Ms. Aliberti.”
    “No, but I’d like to be.” The words came out on a low enticing murmur as she winked at him, moved closer and wrapped her arms around his waist.
    EJ eased out of her grasp, took a couple of steps back.
    He needed some distance, some breathing room. He was still recovering from the spell that Tabitha had woven over him with her sultry, whiskey colored eyes and sexy pouting lips. He was nowhere near ready for a round with Jade.
    At least his mind wasn’t ready. His body was another story, cock hardening as if in dissension, making its displeasure with him known as it throbbed in his sweats.
    Jade stepped closer, tilted her head to one side, staring at him. “Is something wrong?”
    EJ shook his head, pivoted and headed for his workstation. He took a seat in the swivel chair and turned to face Jade. “Let’s discuss this publicist.”
    Jade instantly brightened, came over and planted her shapely derriere on the corner of his desk. “So you’ll hire her?”
    “After we hammer out some details first. Like what’s her fee schedule, the scope of her duties, you know, the whole business spiel.”
    “I’ll set up a meeting for you two. How’s that sound?”
    Sounds like I’ve had more meetings set up for me in the last week than I had my entire career on Madison Avenue.
    Wasn’t nearly close to the truth, but the exaggeration helped keep his mind off of his aborted encounter with Tabitha, and how much he wanted her.
    He needed the diversion that his writing just wasn’t providing at the moment.
    Maybe hiring and working with Jade’s protégée and marketing Reaching Out would