Read Online Bid Me Now by Rebecca Gilise - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Rebecca Gilise
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kid caught sneaking out without permission.
“So, Miri,” said Marcus with a raised brow, sweeping a disapproving gaze over her dress. “I thought you would be too busy finishing the sculpture to leave your studio.” His manner was cordial enough, but Nick caught the brittle sarcasm. Curiosity and resentment were eating the guy alive.
“Yes, it’s just that tonight something came up…” she started to quaver, turning frantic eyes to Nick, looking for all the world like a startled deer caught in a pair of headlights.
Nick cleared his throat, looking first at Mariette and then at Marcus. “It’s great to meet you guys, but you’ll have to excuse us. Miri and I are in the middle of a business discussion.”
Marcus’ astonishment had Nick almost laughing. “Business discussion? Oh…well, I guess we’d better leave you to it,” he sputtered, although he didn’t sound like he wanted to go anywhere.
Mariette coughed. “It is very nice to meet you both. Marcus…?”
“Yes, well… see you guys.” Marcus reluctantly escorted Mariette away to find a waiter.
Nick sat back down. Miri had her napkin scrunched in a tight roll, and she was staring at him with almost palpable gratitude.
“More wine?” he asked with a grin, tilting the bottle in anticipation.
“Thank you for bailing me out. I didn’t know what to say.”
“Busted, eh? No problem. Happy to help a woman in distress. So…?”
She drew a slow, deep breath. “Actually, it’s no big deal. It’s just that Marcus asked me out last week to this restaurant. I turned him down, saying I was too busy working on his sculpture—the Egg Beater. The thing is, I’m always busy with a commission, so I hardly ever go out. It’s just that me being here…with you…seems a bit…you know, tactless.”
Nick couldn’t stop his grin of satisfaction, encouraged by her over-worked explanation. “Well, he did make it pretty obvious what he wants, or should I say, who he wants, so I guess it’s not surprising.”
She looked blank. “Sorry, what do you mean?”
Surely she knew. “He wants you . It’s written all over his face.”
“Oh, no, no. That’s not true at all. Marcus is a friend. He did his surgical training under my father, and we’ve kept in touch. Now he’s a client, that’s all. He asked me out to discuss the commission—nothing else.”
Yeah, she was in damage control all right. Trying to reassure him that Carter wasn’t important to her other than as a friend. He liked it. Hell, he really liked it. “Take it from me, Ms. Jamieson, he’s only got eyes for you.”
She frowned at that, making Nick wonder whether she really was as naïve as she seemed. “Right, well, here’s your dessert.”
While the waiter set the mousse and coffee on the table, Nick caught a glimpse of Marcus and Mariette seated at the far side of the restaurant. Marcus was doing his best to listen to his date’s conversation, but his gaze continually swept across to them. For just a friend and a client, Dr. Carter looked pretty pissed.
Nick turned back to watch Miri carefully remove the cherry from the top of the mousse and set it to one side. “What is it with women and chocolate?”
She thought for a moment, her eyebrows drawn together. “A guilty pleasure, perhaps. Like having too many pairs of shoes or not wearing pajamas to bed.” She dolloped a spoonful of mousse into her mouth, licking the tip of her spoon as she flicked a glance over him.
Nick felt his brow go up. Apparently, Dr. Carter was forgotten.
“No pajamas, eh?” Nick tried to quell an image of Miri in a pair of old-fashioned pajamas, but there she was, all flannel, elastic, and buttons. Jesus. “So what do you wear, then?” This was dangerous, but he had a sudden urge to know. At least, his libido did. Damn its curiosity.
She laughed, and Nick felt instant heat as she edged her tongue along her top lip. Was this just wishful thinking on his
“So, Miri,” said Marcus with a raised brow, sweeping a disapproving gaze over her dress. “I thought you would be too busy finishing the sculpture to leave your studio.” His manner was cordial enough, but Nick caught the brittle sarcasm. Curiosity and resentment were eating the guy alive.
“Yes, it’s just that tonight something came up…” she started to quaver, turning frantic eyes to Nick, looking for all the world like a startled deer caught in a pair of headlights.
Nick cleared his throat, looking first at Mariette and then at Marcus. “It’s great to meet you guys, but you’ll have to excuse us. Miri and I are in the middle of a business discussion.”
Marcus’ astonishment had Nick almost laughing. “Business discussion? Oh…well, I guess we’d better leave you to it,” he sputtered, although he didn’t sound like he wanted to go anywhere.
Mariette coughed. “It is very nice to meet you both. Marcus…?”
“Yes, well… see you guys.” Marcus reluctantly escorted Mariette away to find a waiter.
Nick sat back down. Miri had her napkin scrunched in a tight roll, and she was staring at him with almost palpable gratitude.
“More wine?” he asked with a grin, tilting the bottle in anticipation.
“Thank you for bailing me out. I didn’t know what to say.”
“Busted, eh? No problem. Happy to help a woman in distress. So…?”
She drew a slow, deep breath. “Actually, it’s no big deal. It’s just that Marcus asked me out last week to this restaurant. I turned him down, saying I was too busy working on his sculpture—the Egg Beater. The thing is, I’m always busy with a commission, so I hardly ever go out. It’s just that me being here…with you…seems a bit…you know, tactless.”
Nick couldn’t stop his grin of satisfaction, encouraged by her over-worked explanation. “Well, he did make it pretty obvious what he wants, or should I say, who he wants, so I guess it’s not surprising.”
She looked blank. “Sorry, what do you mean?”
Surely she knew. “He wants you . It’s written all over his face.”
“Oh, no, no. That’s not true at all. Marcus is a friend. He did his surgical training under my father, and we’ve kept in touch. Now he’s a client, that’s all. He asked me out to discuss the commission—nothing else.”
Yeah, she was in damage control all right. Trying to reassure him that Carter wasn’t important to her other than as a friend. He liked it. Hell, he really liked it. “Take it from me, Ms. Jamieson, he’s only got eyes for you.”
She frowned at that, making Nick wonder whether she really was as naïve as she seemed. “Right, well, here’s your dessert.”
While the waiter set the mousse and coffee on the table, Nick caught a glimpse of Marcus and Mariette seated at the far side of the restaurant. Marcus was doing his best to listen to his date’s conversation, but his gaze continually swept across to them. For just a friend and a client, Dr. Carter looked pretty pissed.
Nick turned back to watch Miri carefully remove the cherry from the top of the mousse and set it to one side. “What is it with women and chocolate?”
She thought for a moment, her eyebrows drawn together. “A guilty pleasure, perhaps. Like having too many pairs of shoes or not wearing pajamas to bed.” She dolloped a spoonful of mousse into her mouth, licking the tip of her spoon as she flicked a glance over him.
Nick felt his brow go up. Apparently, Dr. Carter was forgotten.
“No pajamas, eh?” Nick tried to quell an image of Miri in a pair of old-fashioned pajamas, but there she was, all flannel, elastic, and buttons. Jesus. “So what do you wear, then?” This was dangerous, but he had a sudden urge to know. At least, his libido did. Damn its curiosity.
She laughed, and Nick felt instant heat as she edged her tongue along her top lip. Was this just wishful thinking on his
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