Read Online Natural Selection by Amanda Lance - Free Book Online Page B

had she tuned her ears in to hear those steps in Iram Manor’s library or even in the kitchen when she fixed herself a snack? Though the sound was similar now, the feeling wasn’t the same—the anticipation was there, but lacking the joy.
    The footsteps stopped just short of her, and she tried to pretend she didn’t feel his eyes on her neck, the sliver of skin showing on her lower back. After a few moments however, when she couldn’t stand it any longer, she coughed awkwardly, pounding her fist deep into the dirt. “What are you doing back here?”
    “How did you know it was me?” She wasn’t sure, but she thought she heard a smile in his voice.
    “Anyone who could afford those shoes would go to a breeder, not adopt.” She sighed and stuck one of the purple dahlias into the soil. At least everyone had agreed that the front of the building needed some sprucing up. “Contrary to popular belief, I’m not a complete dumb blonde.”
    “You are neither dumb nor blonde, my little peach. I think you know that.”
    “Don’t call me that .” She worked to create another hole in the dirt and overlooked the concealed compliment.
    “If you wish.” Emilia watched his sh adow move from side to side. “But if you must dispute me, must you do it out here? It is so blistering hot—”
    “Listen. ” She stood up without hesitating and shook the dirt from her knees. “I don’t know what you think you’re doing, but I can promise you that if you go back on your word, hurt these people to get back at me, I will make you regret it.”
    Emilia saw a smile beneath the mask. “You people around here seem to have a great deal of communication problems. Perhaps you need a Mrs. Levkin in your employment—”
    “Kasper— ”
    “I have no intention of withd rawing my donation and every intention of going through with this fundraiser.”
    “Why?”
    He looked both ways before shaking his head. Was it not obvious? “Why?”
    “Yes,” s he emphasized. “Why? You dislike people, you hate going out, and you really hate animals. I don’t understand.”
    “I may hate all of those things, but I love you. There is nothing else to understand.”
    “What if I don’t love you?” she asked softly.
    Sighing, he chose to stare at the ground for the first time. “Then I will deal with that in due time.”
    “Mr. Weber, right on time, so good to see you!”
    Emilia cringed at the phrase, knowing full well it was one of Kaspe r’s most disliked. Paula didn’t flinch and gestured for the both of them to come inside, shushing once again at the contractors and dogs.
    Kasper grimaced from underneath his mask and waved Emilia forward. “Shall we?”
    She stomped through the front door, not stopping to see why Kasper hesitated just inside the lobby and feigning indifference to how uncomfortable he was.
    If Emilia could, she w ouldn’t let on how much she cared for him. It may not have been much, but she was intent on making sure he had no idea how much of her time was devoted to thinking of him.
    Instead, she washed her hands at one of the grooming sinks , taking the time to scrub everything out from under her fingernails and the dirt caked in her palms.
    When she looked back again, Elaine and Paula were trying to subject hi m to handshakes and thank-yous—other things that she knew he despised. She didn’t like how bluntly they seemed to ignore his discomfort, but she knew he probably deserved it, too. The fact of the matter was that she loved Kasper, but he couldn’t be trusted and was ignorant as to why that was an important aspect of a relationship. After watching her mother and so many others wither away from unscrupulous connections, Emilia wasn’t going to make the same mistake—not without doing everything in her power to prevent it, anyway.
    Emilia stepped over in the middle of their conversation.
    “So the local VFW is available in two weeks—”
    “Or there is that Chinese buffet with the great fried