Read Online Come Away With Me (The Andrades) by Ruth Cardello - Free Book Online Page A

he once again stood so close that all she had to do was lean forward ever so slightly to be flush against him. Tip her head up just a fraction to make their lips would touch. “What would it take to get you to come with me?” His words hung between them, their dual meaning raising the heat in the room. He ran a light finger down the curve of her cheek and caressed the outline of her lips.
    Julia shook her head free and backed up. Cornered, she blurt ed, “I’m not that kind of woman.”
    A corner of his mouth curled in a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “What kind of woman are you?”
    “The kind who is smart enough to know this is a bad idea. I want to say yes.” She took another step back. Being near him had her body humming with a need that scared her. As it often did when she was nervous, her mouth got ahead of her brain. “I mean, look at you. Who wouldn’t want to say yes?” She bumped into the table with the lamp from their first encounter, and those memories only agitated her more. “But if I sleep with you once, I’ll sleep with you twice. And then I’ll get attached to you. You’ll want to move on to the next woman and I’ll be all clingy. Trust me, it’ll get awkward.” She touched her lips and imagined his kiss. “I can’t do this.”
    With that , she bolted out of the room.

     
     

Chapter Seven
     
    Gio watched Julia spring away from him and surprised himself by smiling. He was done trying to talk himself out of wanting her. He felt more alive around her than he could ever remember feeling.
    Let her run.
    It’ll only make having her that much sweeter.
    And I will have her.
    A bright red object near one of the chairs caught his attention. She’d left her purse. He picked up her bag and headed out of his office, choosing his strategy as he walked. He deposited the bag on his secretary’s desk and said, “Rena, Julia Bennett’s address is in a folder on my desk. I want you to send her this and something nice . . .”
    “No .” Rena sat back in her chair.
    Even though their conversations sometimes crossed into personal territory, Rena never argued with him. She may not have always agreed with how he handled his personal life, or that he involved her in it, but she had never refused him before.
    The world was absolutely off -kilter that day.
    “I wasn’t asking.”
    Rena folded her hands in her lap. “I am not getting involved in this one. You’re making a mistake. She’s not your type. I actually like her.”
    “ Weren’t you lecturing me earlier on finding someone nice?”
    Shaking her head, Rena pushed the bag back across his desk at him. “That was before I saw your cousin storm out of your office in tears. You’re not ready for a nice woman. I’ve spoken to Julia. She’s as sweet and trusting as they come , and someone may teach her a harsh lesson because of it—but I won’t help that happen.”
    Picking up her bag, Gio found himself in the rare position of defending his actions. “I was merely asking you to return this.”
    “No,” Rena said with finality.
    With heat rising up his neck, Gio said, “Then I’ll return it myself.” Heading down to the lobby, he passed several of his employees before he realized the second looks they were giving him were due to the purse he clutched in his right hand. The realization didn’t slow his long strides down to the security desk.
    “Where is s he?” he demanded of the two men behind the security desk.
    “Who, sir?” the older of the two asked.
    “Julia Bennett. Is she still here?”
    The guard looked uncomfortable as he said, “ She just left. I have someone coming in to cover her shift.”
    Left? “Do you know where she went?”
    “ I saw her outside talking to a . . .” He checked his log and continued, “Mrs. D’Argenson. They left together in a limo.”
    Madison and Julia?
    How could they know each other?
    In his office, it certainly hadn’t appeared that they were acquainted. He didn’t like surprises.