Read Online More Than You Know by Jennifer Gracen - Free Book Online Page B

ease and passion . . . he felt like someone had punched him in the gut.
    He’d never been the groupie type, but suddenly he understood the phenomenon. Julia’s natural talent made her even more attractive to him. He wanted her to sing to him, seduce him personally with that voice. What a gift.
    She stopped as she’d started, quickly and without warning. “It’ll work,” she said simply, and stepped down from the stage.
    â€œYes. It. Will.” Dane felt a bit hazy. “What was that song? I don’t know it.”
    â€œAnnie Lennox. ‘Dark Road.’ One of my favorites.” She passed him to head back toward the bar.
    â€œAdd it to your set list,” he commanded.
    â€œAlready on it, Boss.”
    He watched her stroll around the space, examining details and taking it all in. His eyes greedily rolled over her curves. “Think Kelvin will like it here too?” He didn’t really care, but had to keep the conversation flowing before he did something stupid with his newest, red-hot employee.
    â€œAbsolutely,” Julia said. “He’s very easygoing. He only comes off like a diva.”
    Dane laughed. “So who’s the diva, then? You?”
    â€œNooo,” she said, unable to hold back a grin. “I’m no diva. You don’t have to worry.” She took a seat on one of the barstools, covered in the same dark brown leather as the booths.
    â€œGood to know,” Dane said, taking a seat beside her. He leaned an elbow on the bar, mirroring her. “Okay, so you’re not a diva. You’re tough as hell, though. How come?”
    â€œHow come?” she echoed, looking at him strangely. “Um . . . life?”
    â€œOkay.” Dane let that go. For now. “I meant to ask you last week, forgive me—is there anyone you want to invite to the grand opening?”
    â€œI’ll be working, won’t I?” Julia asked, confused.
    â€œYes, you will. Doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy some of the party before you start. You don’t go on until ten. You should mingle, work the room.” He kept his grin easy as his gaze sharpened. “So no one you want to invite? Family? Friends? A boyfriend?”
    Julia snorted out a laugh. “Really?” She shook her head and said, somewhat bemused, “ That’s your idea of a fishing expedition? Jeez.”
    He stared at her in mild disbelief. “Excuse me?”
    â€œIf you want to ask about my personal life, just freakin’ ask.”
    Her way of cutting right to the point threw him, and he wasn’t a man who was easily thrown. He’d have to get used to being on his toes around her. Which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. “Fine. Do you have a boyfriend?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œAre you married?”
    â€œNo,” she said, with more of an edge.
    â€œDo you have any family locally that you’d like to invite?”
    â€œNope.” She met his eyes. “You’ve got money and means. You’ve probably checked out my entire life history already. What are you looking for?”
    Affronted, he frowned. “You’re right, I could have done that if I’d wanted to. I didn’t. I only checked what was necessary for your professional life, not your personal life. That’s your business, not mine. I’m not like that. Okay?”
    She pressed her lips together and nodded.
    His head cocked to the side as he studied her. “Do you believe me?”
    She regarded him in silence for a long moment before saying, “I don’t trust anyone until they’ve proven to me that I can. Don’t take it personally. It’s not you.”
    Watching her keenly, he only nodded, filing that away.
    â€œI’d like to invite my best friend, Randi, and her husband,” Julia said, closing the tense gap. “Is that all right?”
    â€œOf course. Give me the names and address, consider it done. Anyone