Read Online FightingforControl by Ari Thatcher - Free Book Online Page B

with them.
    The meeting was brief as most of the work had been done
already, and any changes needed were minor. In all, she felt as though she
probably wasn’t needed, but was glad no one else seemed to agree.
    After disconnecting from the call, she stood and stretched.
Most of her panic about being able to function with her changed relationship
with Marc and Brad had left. Her head clearer, she mentally listed what she
needed to work on the rest of the afternoon. She would definitely be going into
the office on Tuesday and wanted to be current with her projects.
    * * * * *
    Lori’s phone rang shortly after five p.m. with Brad’s ID
displayed. She answered quickly, before it could go to voicemail. “Hey, Brad.
What’s up?”
    “How are you feeling?”
    “Better, thanks. I got a lot done this afternoon.”
    “That’s good.” Beeps and dings sounding through the phone
told her he was getting in his car. “I’m bringing dinner over just to be sure
you’re taking care of yourself. Are you at home?”
    Her jaw opened, but words failed. He was bringing over
dinner. No offer, no invitation, just announcing the fact. “Look, you don’t
need to do that—”
    “Yes, I do. And I’m not going to talk about it on the phone.
We’ll talk when I get there.”
    “Okay. We’ll talk. I’ll see you in a bit.”
    Admitting to herself she was glad she’d showered and gotten
dressed rather than sat around in her pajamas, Lori went to the kitchen to see
what drinks she had to offer. She had no idea what food he was bringing, but
she always had wine in the house, and probably could dig up a beer or two in
the back of the fridge. Did beer have an expiration date?
    Brad arrived so quickly she wondered if he’d been stalking
her at some point, but she realized he probably had GPS in the car, and they
had access to the department members’ addresses through work. When she opened
her door, his smile lit his entire face and Lori felt less irritated at his
commanding manner.
    “Come in.” She stepped back so he could, and took the
offered reusable grocery sack as he passed.
    “I bought some ready-to-eat chicken soup and fresh rolls
from the grocery store’s deli section.” Brad took off his jacket and draped it
over his arm. Lori reached for the jacket, hanging it on the hall tree as she
led him to the dining table.
    “Sounds perfect.” She set out the soup and opened the paper
bag containing the rolls, then got bowls and utensils from the kitchen. “What
will you drink? Coffee? Iced tea? Wine or beer?”
    “Wine is fine.”
    When she had everything in place, she sat opposite Brad at
the table and offered him the ladle. While dying inside to ask why he had come,
she thought she’d wait him out and see what he said on his own.
    He did, while they sat sipping wine after their meal. “I’m
guessing you were put off by my telling you I was coming over, rather than
asking if I could.”
    She smiled. “You could say that.”
    “Yet you let me come.”
    Nodding, she waited, watching how his eyes studied her. He
wore a steel-blue shirt with a paler tie tugged loose at his neck. The shade
heightened his eye color perfectly and set off his tan. He must have handfuls
of young women chasing him at any given time. Why was he there with her?
    “When was the last time a man planned your evening for you,
outside of our time at Unfettered?”
    She had to think too long and too hard to find an answer. “I
don’t remember. I know no one has picked up dinner without my prodding first.”
    “Did you enjoy the meal?”
    “Of course. The food was good. It’s nice to be pampered
without making a big production about going to a fancy restaurant.”
    Brad leaned his forearms on the table and his voice dropped
to a seductive volume. “You deserve to be pampered. Every night.” His gaze
locked with hers. His words stroked her nerves.
    Realizing she had expected a confrontation, Lori let go of
the protective cloak she had apparently put up