Read Online Lady Be Bad by Elaine Raco Chase - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Elaine Raco Chase
Tags: Romance, Contemporary, Romantic Comedy, funny, divorce, Interior Design, Architecture, Arts & Photography, Historic Preservation, funny secondary characters, american castle, models, 1000 islands location, sensual contemporary romance, sexual inuendos, fast paced, witty dialogue, boats, high fashion, cosmetics
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"I'm a little concerned. Paul Wingate has yet
to act on the new contract that I've offered you. By the way, in
everyone's room is a copy of Vogue . Sales reports are
already coming in and they are staggering."
If there was any one single thing that had
put Marlayna off Arthur Kingman, it was the cruel twist to his lips
when he didn't get his own way. Cruel. Yes, that was the perfect
word to describe the cosmetic king.
Marlayna was smart enough to know that this
man needed to be handled with the "kiddest" of gloves. She did not
want to be insulting, so she decided to be charming and evasive.
"Now, Arthur," her husky contralto strove to soothe, "since when
did you start mixing business with pleasure?"
She knew that she had gained the advantage
when his military stance suddenly drooped and his eyes no longer
stared into hers. She continued, "I'm sure you didn't know that
just two weeks ago I was on a hot, dusty, exhausting assignment in
the Mojave. And last week I did double duty, just so I could spend
some extra time here." Marlayna gave an inward wince and tapped her
index finger in the deep cleft of his chin. "Paul and I haven't
even had time to discuss the new contract."
Quickly he caught her hand and pressed a
warm kiss into her palm. "I apologize. You must think me an
insensitive brute." His eyes darkened and hungered over her every
feature. "But I am very, very determined not to let you slip
away."
Her attempt at a smile was feeble. There was
no denying the threat underlying his statement Marlayna turned the
conversation back to her surroundings. "Arthur, what a magnificent
carpet."
"Thank you. I picked that up in Dubai last
year. The soft blending of red and gold is warm and welcoming, and
I do like the 'tree of life' motif." Arthur suddenly slapped his
cheek. "God, what a fool! Here I am making you stand around. Let's
go into the lounge area and relax with a drink. Or perhaps you'd
like to go to your room and freshen up? Maybe change and take a
swim? Or…"
He was interrupted by the opening of an
elevator door at the far end of the entry hall. "Hi, Daddy." A
dark-haired young woman wiggled her hand in greeting. "Noah and I
are headed for the pool. There's a half dozen phone messages for
you and . . ."
Marlayna was no longer listening to the
rapid-fire exchange between father and daughter. Her eyes were
riveted on the tall dark-haired man standing next to Gwen
Kingman.
A man she had not seen in six years but
still knew intimately. A man named Noah Drake.
Chapter 5
She took him by surprise. In fact, he hadn't
really noticed her until she took a step out of Arthur Kingman's
shadow and made herself completely visible. Even then Noah Drake
found himself unsure.
Perhaps it was only an optical illusion. A
mix of his imagination and the sun's rays slanting through the
stained glass ovals that flanked the main door. His brown eyes
concentrated on a figure that was cast in a hazy, colorful
retrospect. He kept staring at her face, anxiously trying to
corroborate all the evidence.
Then the elevator door began its languid
sweep to the right. Slowly and steadily the metal block began to
wipe her from his view, but, undaunted, Noah flowed with the
movement. Leaning from the waist, he slid just as slowly and
steadily until the door bounced shut. Then his right shoulder
slammed into the wall, his damp palm slipped from the handle of his
cane and he found himself flailing to regain his balance.
"Noah!" Gwen made a grab for the raglan
sleeve on his yellow beach jacket. "What happened? Are you hurt?"
She expended considerable energy trying to help him straighten up.
"Did ... did you break anything?"
"No. I... uh ..." He took a deep breath and
realigned both his body and his fractured thoughts. "It was
nothing. Really." Noah exchanged embarrassment for annoyance.
"Gwen, I've repeatedly told you that I'm neither a piece of Dresden
china nor an invalid."
"I'm...I'm sorry." Her whispered apology was
barely audible when the
to act on the new contract that I've offered you. By the way, in
everyone's room is a copy of Vogue . Sales reports are
already coming in and they are staggering."
If there was any one single thing that had
put Marlayna off Arthur Kingman, it was the cruel twist to his lips
when he didn't get his own way. Cruel. Yes, that was the perfect
word to describe the cosmetic king.
Marlayna was smart enough to know that this
man needed to be handled with the "kiddest" of gloves. She did not
want to be insulting, so she decided to be charming and evasive.
"Now, Arthur," her husky contralto strove to soothe, "since when
did you start mixing business with pleasure?"
She knew that she had gained the advantage
when his military stance suddenly drooped and his eyes no longer
stared into hers. She continued, "I'm sure you didn't know that
just two weeks ago I was on a hot, dusty, exhausting assignment in
the Mojave. And last week I did double duty, just so I could spend
some extra time here." Marlayna gave an inward wince and tapped her
index finger in the deep cleft of his chin. "Paul and I haven't
even had time to discuss the new contract."
Quickly he caught her hand and pressed a
warm kiss into her palm. "I apologize. You must think me an
insensitive brute." His eyes darkened and hungered over her every
feature. "But I am very, very determined not to let you slip
away."
Her attempt at a smile was feeble. There was
no denying the threat underlying his statement Marlayna turned the
conversation back to her surroundings. "Arthur, what a magnificent
carpet."
"Thank you. I picked that up in Dubai last
year. The soft blending of red and gold is warm and welcoming, and
I do like the 'tree of life' motif." Arthur suddenly slapped his
cheek. "God, what a fool! Here I am making you stand around. Let's
go into the lounge area and relax with a drink. Or perhaps you'd
like to go to your room and freshen up? Maybe change and take a
swim? Or…"
He was interrupted by the opening of an
elevator door at the far end of the entry hall. "Hi, Daddy." A
dark-haired young woman wiggled her hand in greeting. "Noah and I
are headed for the pool. There's a half dozen phone messages for
you and . . ."
Marlayna was no longer listening to the
rapid-fire exchange between father and daughter. Her eyes were
riveted on the tall dark-haired man standing next to Gwen
Kingman.
A man she had not seen in six years but
still knew intimately. A man named Noah Drake.
Chapter 5
She took him by surprise. In fact, he hadn't
really noticed her until she took a step out of Arthur Kingman's
shadow and made herself completely visible. Even then Noah Drake
found himself unsure.
Perhaps it was only an optical illusion. A
mix of his imagination and the sun's rays slanting through the
stained glass ovals that flanked the main door. His brown eyes
concentrated on a figure that was cast in a hazy, colorful
retrospect. He kept staring at her face, anxiously trying to
corroborate all the evidence.
Then the elevator door began its languid
sweep to the right. Slowly and steadily the metal block began to
wipe her from his view, but, undaunted, Noah flowed with the
movement. Leaning from the waist, he slid just as slowly and
steadily until the door bounced shut. Then his right shoulder
slammed into the wall, his damp palm slipped from the handle of his
cane and he found himself flailing to regain his balance.
"Noah!" Gwen made a grab for the raglan
sleeve on his yellow beach jacket. "What happened? Are you hurt?"
She expended considerable energy trying to help him straighten up.
"Did ... did you break anything?"
"No. I... uh ..." He took a deep breath and
realigned both his body and his fractured thoughts. "It was
nothing. Really." Noah exchanged embarrassment for annoyance.
"Gwen, I've repeatedly told you that I'm neither a piece of Dresden
china nor an invalid."
"I'm...I'm sorry." Her whispered apology was
barely audible when the
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