Read Online Heart Like Mine by Maggie McGinnis - Free Book Online

are either trying to boss me around, or they’re trying to take away all of my money.”
    â€œSo they’re no longer fighting to bring you coffee in the morning? Are you losing your touch?”
    Josh shook his head. “The free-coffee thing is more out of control than ever. If I could actually function without it, I’d go cold turkey just to stop them from bringing it to me.”
    â€œBut not one of these women is someone you’d ever date?”
    â€œThey’re my employees, Ethan.”
    Ethan nodded. “Okay, I get that. So what about the woman from finance?”
    â€œAwkward, to say the least. I mentioned the part about her trying to trim my budget, right?”
    â€œMarried? Engaged?”
    â€œYou’re kind of missing the point here.” Josh rolled his eyes. “No ring.”
    â€œSo…” Ethan sat back, and Josh could tell he was trying to curb his smile. “She’s young, hot, and you checked for a ring. And she’s not your employee.”
    â€œAll true. But that doesn’t mean I should date her.”
    Ethan shrugged. “Might make her go a little easier on your budget—just saying. A little wining and dining never hurt a tense negotiation, after all.”
    *   *   *
    On Monday morning, Delaney stepped off the elevator and opened the executive suite door, holding it with her foot as she tried to balance her coffee, laptop, and a box of files she’d brought home for the weekend. It was only seven o’clock, so as usual, she was the first one here. She loved the first hour of the day, when no one else was around and she could plow through piles of work before her e-mail started pinging.
    She dropped a couple of files on Megan’s desk on her way by, then turned toward her office, running smack into a solid, male body. She stifled a squeak as she dropped the file box on her toes, then swore.
    Dr. Mackenzie.
    She bit back further curses as she bent down to pick up the box, embarrassed that she’d practically thrown the box at him when he’d startled her.
    â€œWhat are you doing up here?” On my turf , she added internally.
    â€œGiving you a Monday-morning heart attack, I’m afraid.”
    Oh, he was giving her a heart attack, all right. But it wasn’t because he’d just scared the wits right out of her. He looked fresh from the shower—hair damp at his collar, a dark brown shirt and khakis shaping his body deliciously, and God, that sweet, spicy aftershave that she already liked way too much.
    Her pulse started rat-tat-tatting, and she ran one hand up her neck to hide it.
    He took the box from her and opened her office door. “I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
    â€œThen why are you lurking on my floor at seven o’clock in the morning? How did you even get in here?”
    He grinned. “I gave Marco the secret password. And also, I resent the term lurking .”
    Marco, the night security officer, was legendary for his loose interpretation of access privileges, especially at the end of his shift.
    â€œWhat was Marco’s version of today’s secret password?”
    â€œA hot coffee and a donut.”
    Delaney closed her eyes. Some freaking security system.
    She sat down at her desk, mostly to hide her shaky knees. “So what can I do for you?”
    He walked to her window. “Wow. You have quite a view up here.”
    She cringed, remembering how she’d felt about that same view on Friday, but she didn’t speak. What could she say, knowing that the view from his office was a chaotic hallway full of sick kids and busy nurses?
    He turned. “I just wanted to talk about a few things before we get you started on the floor this morning. Thought it’d be easier to do up here in your territory.”
    â€œBecause?”
    â€œBecause the people in my territory are not necessarily fans of the finance office,