Read Online If The Shoe Fits by Judi Fennell - Free Book Online Page B

an infinitely better choice to raise the
boy than Tanya. Which said a whole little about
Tanya.
    “ Not one word, Luke, to any of the
staff I hire. Not a look, a breath, or even a thought in their
direction, got it? One fiasco is enough. If you pull off the next
event without any drama, we’re square. If not...” Reese pulled out
the direst threat he could come up with. “I’ll testify for your
ex-wife.”
    There was some measure of satisfaction in the
color draining from Luke’s face. It was no idle threat; he knew
more about his old teammate’s past exploits than anyone else.
Including Tanya.
    Luke stood and thrust out his hand. “I’ll be
there. On Jared’s future, I’ll be there.”
    Reese nodded, then filled him in about the
auction. “And remember, stay away from the new caterer. She’s off
limits.”
    Words he, himself, needed to live
by.
    “ Uh, Reese?” Kelly poked her head
into his office after Luke left. “Your caterer is here to see
you.”
    That was quick. Reese couldn’t deny the
surge of pleasure her words and that thought brought. Talk about a
hypocrite… “Send her in.”
    When he saw the woman who walked through the
door, he realized he’d gotten what he deserved for considering not
following his own non-fraternization rule.
    Staci Whatshername, Dolly-Parton-wannabe.
Reese grimaced. He shouldn’t call her that. The real Dolly was a
very nice lady; she didn’t deserve the comparison. And he didn’t
deserve this. Fans had tried all sorts of ways to get close to him
before, but posing as a caterer was a first.
    This woman, and he used that term loosely,
thrust out her hand (and her chest), her artificial talons coming
at him like daggers.
    Reese chose to ignore both.
    “ Hello, Reese,” she purred as she
stood before him, a hair’s breadth too close.
    A football field would be too
close.
    “ Bella and I were discussing some
ideas for your party and I thought I should come talk to you about
what, specifically —” the word rolled off her tongue as her
tongue rolled around her lips—”you want.”
    He chose to ignore that, too.
    The silence grew strained. Sort of like the
neckline of that dress, a look that was more tacky than sexy on
her.
    Finally, her gaze shifted from his to dart
around the room. “So… what, um, did you have in mind?”
    Not what she did.
    Luckily, he was saved from answering by Luke
walking back into his office. “And, hey, Reese—” Luke stopped as he
caught sight of Staci who gave him a little finger wave. “Well,
hellooo.”
    Mr. Suave had entered the building.
    “ And who do we have
here?”
    Reese wanted to deck Luke all over again as
the guy sauntered in. Barely restraining himself, he made the
introduction, all the while glaring at Luke to back the fuck off.
“Luke Jamison, meet Staci Fontaine.”
    “ Hi there,” Staci purred as she
cocked her hip toward Luke.
    Oh, hell. These two were two of a
kind.
    Luke kissed the back of her hand. “Hello,
Staci Fontaine. What brings you here?” He purred every bit as
revoltingly as she did, and Staci, like so many before her, fell
for it.
    “ I’m working with Bella on the
hospital thing. I came to talk to Reese about it.”
    “ What a wonderful coincidence.”
Luke tucked her hand in the crook of his arm and led her over to
Reese’s sofa. “I’m also working on the hospital... thing. We can
work on it together.”
    Not if Reese could help it. Ten grand wasn’t
cheap even if Staci was. “Uh, Luke?”
    Luke looked like was about to argue, but when
Reese’s cell rang, Luke just smiled instead and steered Staci from
the office. “Don’t let us disturb you.”
    If Connie DeLeo weren’t the caller, he would
explain to Luke just how much—ten thousand dollars’ worth—the two
of them did disturb him. Instead, he scowled at Luke as they
left. The guy just did not learn.
    Reese blew out a breath before answering.
“Hey, Connie. What’s up?”
    “ Hi, Reese. I’m calling to find
out if you’re