Read Online Masquerade by Janette Rallison - Free Book Online Page A

said. “But trust me. You don’t want his autograph.”
    “Why not?” asked the first one.
    “I’m his daughter’s nanny, and I can tell you, he’s the most overbearing, egotistical man you’d ever hope not to meet. He asks the impossible and then acts like a tyrant when he doesn’t get it.”
    All three faces fell. “Really?” they asked together.
    Clarissa nodded. “Really. He’s horrible.” She motioned down the hallway. “If you want to meet someone nice, though, keep looking for Landon McKellips. He’s very friendly.”
    The smiles returned. “Thanks,” the last one said, and then they started down the hallway, heads bobbing close together, already talking about this new information.
    Clarissa shut the door, fastened the safety bolt, and then turned back to face the room.
    Slade stood with his arms folded and glared at her. “I’m horrible?”
    “They left, didn’t they?”
    “I’m overbearing?”
    “See, you’re doing it right now,” she said. “You ask the impossible and now you’re unhappy.”
    “I think the phrase you used was, ‘He’s a tyrant.’”
    She leaned against the door because there was no place else to go. “You said you wanted me to get rid of them.”
    His dark eyes fixed on hers. “Fine. Just don’t say anything else to anyone for the rest of the time we’re here.”
    “That’s a little overbearing, don’t you think?”
    Landon laughed. Slade didn’t.
    Clarissa cocked her head. “So are you firing me?”
    “No. And don’t you dare quit and leave me without a nanny, either. You agreed to work for the whole time we’re here.”
    “All right,” she said. “Then I should go to bed so I won’t be dead on my feet tomorrow.”
    Slade nodded. His eyes still smoldered with anger. “Good night, then.”
    “Good night. I’ll have Meredith bring Bella to you.”
    She opened the door and slipped outside. Just as the door closed, she heard Slade’s voice, still crisp with emotion, say, “This is exactly the reason I’m single.”
    Clarissa headed over to Meredith’s room. “Ditto,” she said out loud.

Chapter 9
     
    Slade woke up early, started thinking about Clarissa, and then couldn’t get back to sleep. He could see her blue eyes blinking in frustration at him, filling with tears. He’d been too hard on her last night. They’d all been tired.
    When Slade dropped Bella off at Clarissa’s room, she greeted Bella with the exaggerated happy voice adults use when they talk to children. She greeted Slade with less enthusiasm.
    He almost—almost—said, “I’m sorry about last night,” but instead he mumbled, “I don’t know how long I’ll be.”
    She took Bella’s hand. “That’s okay.”
    He handed her one of his key cards. “If you need to get into my room for Bella’s toys or clothes, you can use this.”
    “Thanks,” she said.
    “And be sure to take your ID with you if you leave this floor. After last night’s teenage invasion, the hotel has set security guards at the end of the hallway.”
    “Okay .”
    They stared at one another for a moment longer, and then Slade said, “Well, I’ll see you later.” He turned, started down the hallway, and heard the door close behind him.
    In brisk, heavy steps he walked to the elevator. He hated apologies. It was like rehashing the event all over again. And women made it even harder than it had to be. With guys, apologies were easy. You just said, “Hey, you’re not nearly as obnoxious as you were yesterday,” and the other guy said, “And you’re not as ugly!” Then you slapped each other on the shoulders, and the thing was over.
    Women always wanted to discuss their feelings, analyze every word you said, and point out your many flaws along the way. They expected things like candy and flowers; and the prettier the woman, the more things she expected. Clarissa probably pulled in quite a haul after every argument.
    He would have to pick up something for her later, although he wasn’t sure