Read Online Born to Be Wild by Donna Kauffman - Free Book Online Page B

off-hours.”
    “Which I learned after listening to the recording. So I started dialing your car phone as I headed this way, figuring I’d either get you here or catch you in your car somewhere.”
    “I won’t even ask how you got this number. When I see Dane—”
    “Can’t collar him with that one. I memorized it from our ride the other day.”
    “Oh.” Why did she feel sort of flattered by that tidbit of information? Dangerous thoughts, Dara. “What if I hadn’t been working?” she asked, wanting—needing—to knock him down a peg. “I might have been out with someone else. I mean, it is a nice day. I could have been on a picnic.”
    “You could have been. But you weren’t. You were working.”
    “And now I’m not,” she said evenly. “So tell me why you’re here, so I can enjoy the rest of my day off.”
    His expression made it clear he didn’t think she had the first clue about enjoying herself. “Actually, I was hoping I could convince you to put in a few more hours. Only I promise it’ll be a whole lot more fun, and you won’t have to be indoors.”
    “Bottom line, Zach. What do you want with me?” she asked.
    The humid air suddenly seemed too thick for breathing. Zach’s expression went from teasing to predatory in a heartbeat.
    “Dangerous question, Dart. Sure you want to know?”
    Dara nodded.
    His gaze locked on hers. “I think that what I want from you would take hours, maybe even weeks, to discuss.” Then he laughed quietly and shook his head. “For today, I’d just like to request the pleasure of your company—in a professional capacity—to look over the area I’ve designated for the trip.”
    Hours, weeks … Dara’s imagination ran wild with images of what Zach would do with her for hours, weeks … Beads of perspiration trickled down her neck. It took a moment to remember his actual proposition.
    “I … uh, you want to show me the area you’ve chosen? Is it a very long drive?”
    “We’re not going to drive.”
    Confused, she said, “Then you have a map or something?”
    “It’s sort of a surprise.”
    “A surprise?”
    “Yeah, you know, that’s when something happens that isn’t expected or planned.”
    “I usually call them accidents or problems. I’m not much on either of them.”
    “Well, I can see you just haven’t had the right sort of surprises.” He grinned. “Dara, could I ask you just totrust me on this? It will only take a couple of hours. Please?”
    His plea was too plaintive to ignore. He looked like a little kid, all his hopes right there in his big brown eyes. “And I get to stay outside?”
    Zach breathed a sigh of relief, restraining the sudden urge to kiss her. She was going to go with him. He hadn’t been sure he’d pull it off. “Yeah, this is the perfect way to enjoy a day like today.”
    Her wariness visibly increased. “Enjoy? And what do you mean by ‘way’? I thought you said—”
    “There isn’t a law saying all business has to be conducted in an office, or for that matter, has to be boring and dull, is there?”
    She flushed. He loved that.
    “My work isn’t dull and boring,” she defended. “But—”
    “No buts. You’ll need to change clothes, though.” He gestured to the simple skirt and blouse she wore. Only Dara would wear office clothes to work alone on the weekend. “Do you want me to follow you home?” Dilated pupils now accompanied her flushed cheeks. “Why Dart,” he admonished. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you might prefer an indoor … meeting.” Zach easily deflected the punch she delivered to his shoulder. “Okay, I’m easy. You want to be outside, I could find a nice secluded spot.” He wasn’t quite fast enough to avoid her elbow before it jabbed into his ribs. His wince quickly changed to laughter.
    After a last-ditch effort at frowning at him, she gave up and laughed too. “You are completely incorrigible, you know that?”
    “Yeah, so I’ve been told. But I can