Read Online Double Dare by Melissa Whittle - Free Book Online

volumes. “Let me wash my hands and I’ll get them for you.”
    Emma took the time to pull herself together. This wasn’t the type of man to fantasize about after one full-bodied laugh. Her friends may think she was conservative and it would make sense for her to be attracted to a man who fell into the same category, but Emma wanted one of those fun men. Men who didn’t mete out laughs like they were rationed commodities. A man who wouldn’t only understand the immature dares she did to make her friends happy, but one who would contribute ideas.
    Tobias, a man who had a black tee shirt fetish, did not fit into the fantasy. Keeping it all business between them wouldn’t be a problem. Discounting the kiss, Tobias was a little rigid.
    The description reminded Emma of her ex-boyfriend, Sean. Being with him had taught her a life-changing lesson. With him, she’d seen the dapper and serious man and thought he’d turn fun. Isn’t that what happened when you fell in love? The man in the three-piece suit who worked, worked, worked would take an afternoon off to dance in the park and sing in the rain.
    She’d loved the man Sean could be, not the one he was. On the flip side, Sean never looked past her reliability and steadfast manner. He was completely baffled by the side of her that willingly participated in the dares. He crushed her heart and life crushed her soul. Only for a little while because after that she had refused to let it. In the end, they’d both been criminally young, and there were light years between that girl who loved Sean and the woman she was now.
    May have been glass between them, but there was just as much distance between Tobias and herself. The conclusion eased the expectant tension in her body. “How are things going?”
    “Smooth.” He had his thumbs stuck in the pockets of his jeans. He drummed his fingers along his thighs. “I’ve been up to twelve people sitting at one time. Three were writers. I’m thinking I should charge them a fee.”
    Emma’s eyes widened with horror at the bloodthirsty tactics, until she noticed the light in his eyes again. Blanking her face, she said, “Charge them by the hour, not the words.”
    She added some Raspberry Swirls and Caramel Drops to the cookies. At the cash register, she handed the box to him without ringing it up.
    “How much?” he asked.
    “I don’t have to charge you.” Then she remembered. “I need to get your coat back to you.”
    “That’s…fine. Get it to me when you can.” He lifted the box. “Thanks. And don’t go easy on my brother. Make him earn his keep.”
    “Why wouldn’t I? I’m paying him.”
    “Emmaline,” he paused and his gaze raked her from head to toe, leaving a trail of heat behind. “You didn’t even check his ID when you hired him. What are his duties?”
    He had to stop saying her full name. Her heart refused to settle back into a normal pace when he did. “What does that even mean? You didn’t check his ID,” she mimicked his dour tone. “People hire all the time without checking someone’s ID first.”
    “It means you had no intention of hiring an assistant. He looked at you with sad eyes and you caved.”
    “You say it like it’s a personality flaw.” She threw up a hand in exasperation.
    “Not my intention. It’s an observation.” He seemed to consider something and a ghost of a smile played at the corner of his mouth, then it flattened. “You’re a marshmallow.”
    “I am not.” Indignation filled her tone.
    “How many times have you run naked down the street?”
    “Once.”
    He glanced down at Emma and brought his gaze back up to her face as if he could read her history on appearance alone. “How many reckless things have you done for your friends?”
    Defensive, she crossed her arms. “Doesn’t mean I’m a marshmallow. If your coffee was crap I would have turned down your offer.”
    “You would have, but that’s because you’ve got a sense for business. Though I have to