Read Online Lucifer's Lover by Tracy Cooper-Posey - Free Book Online

theirs.
    Lindsay found herself suddenly reluctant to remove her coat. If simply her hair and makeup had been cause for comment, what would Luke say when he saw her dress?
    But there was no way to avoid it. Reluctantly, she removed her coat, scarf and gloves and handed them to the waiter and tried to give him a gracious smile. Remember Mom , she told herself.
    She went to turn to face Luke, bracing herself.
    “No! Don’t turn yet,” Luke said, right by her shoulder.
    She froze. “Why? What’s wrong. Is there a stain?”
    “No, I just want to take it in by degrees. A little at a time. The back view is worth a few moments.”
    Lindsay kept still as commanded, while her whole body began to vibrate with a singing tension. “Luke…”
    “Okay. I can stand the rest now. I think.”
    She turned, swallowing dryly. Luke was wearing a very modern dress suit, the jacket one of the longer, fashionable ones that hinted of days gone by. And he was staring at her, the black eyes absorbing every inch of her.
    “Please…” she whispered, trying to articulate how truly uncomfortable his scrutiny made her feel.
    “You’re stunning,” he said, simply.
    The electric blue silky dress was stitched with hundreds of stones and sequins that swirled and swept the length of the dress in waves and ended in a hint of a train that brushed the ground behind her. The tiny straps over her shoulder supported a plunging neckline and the waist and hips of the dress hugged her figure.
    She had seen dresses like this on countless Academy and Emmy award shows and had deliberately gone shopping for something just as glamorous…as distracting…as those she had seen on TV. By Luke’s expression she judged she had achieved the results she’d been aiming for but it didn’t make her feel any more secure. For while she had been preparing to dazzle everyone the way her mother would have, she had forgotten that it would draw attention to her and that she would have to deal with that attention.
    Luke lifted his hands in a small, helpless gesture. “I’m speechless.”
    “That makes a nice change. Shall we just get on with this? I’m already a nervous wreck.”
    “About what? You’ve already made a good impression.”
    “This is a working affair, remember? We’re here to dazzle the clients and keep them happy for another year. God forbid we lose any more major accounts.”
    “Right. Business. You’ll have to keep whispering that in my ear every five minutes, Lynds. Every time I look at you, thoughts of business evaporate.”
    “Don’t,” she snapped.
    “Sorry. Forgot again. See?” He grinned and picked up her hand. His hand was warm, big and comforting, which surprised her.
    He tugged her toward the biggest concentration of people. They stood drinking champagne and chatting, oblivious to their approach and Lindsay could feel her heart thudding heavily and a high singing in her mind. She opened her mouth to get more air in her lungs.
    Luke was pulling her closer.
    They were starting to look at her now. Appreciative glances. Expectant ones.
    Luke was talking to one of them, shaking hands. His other hand let hers go. Adrift, she looked at the man in front of her. He had said something to her but she didn’t hear it. The singing was in her ears and the pounding of her heart was thudding at the back of her brain. She could feel herself gasping.
    The man was looking at her, puzzled. Staring at her expectantly. She was supposed to speak now. She understood that but it was too much. She couldn’t do it. Despite three days of talking herself into it, she couldn’t do it.
    She turned and fled.

Chapter Five
     

    When he couldn’t find her in all the logical and obvious places, Luke slowed down and put himself in Lindsay’s shoes. Where would she have headed?
    Her office, of course. Her home away from home.
    He made his way to the top floor, glad to put the noise behind him for a little while and slipped into the marketing department.
    It was dark