Read Online No easy way out by Elaine Raco Chase - Free Book Online
Authors: Elaine Raco Chase
Ads: Link
sigh, and hung up. "That
was the receiving dock, Mr. Braddock. Another equipment truck just
arrived, and they would like you to come down and assist in the
setup."
"I'll head right over." Alex nodded, reaching for the rolled
schematic on the packing crate. "I was wondering though when and
where I could reach Ging-"
"Mr. Braddock," Diane's sweet, melodic voice interrupted him,
"would you please scrawl your name on these insurance forms. I have
to process them today." She pushed the rescued, now neatly packaged
papers under his nose, flipped the pages, and pointed to the
appropriate dotted lines.
When Alex had signed in five places, Diane neatly juggled the
folder under her arm and escorted him to the door. "You really are
a pet." She smiled up at him. "I'm sure you'll enjoy working with
us at AVELCOMP, but one important rule here is never keep the boys
in shipping and receiving waiting." She unlatched the metal portal
and deftly shoved Alex into the air lock.
Diane collapsed against the closed doorway, shut her eyes, and
exhaled a musical breath. "That was a stroke of genius, if I do say
so myself." Her lashes fluttered open, her lips curling into a
cocky grin. "Now, don't thank me, it-"
"Thank you! I was thinking more of murder!" With narrowed eyes
and intent, purposeful strides, Virginia advanced on her.
"Wait just one minute!" Diane scooted behind a low, wide crate,
anxious to separate intended victim from assailant. "I'm the one
who just saved that 'memorable anatomy' of yours."
"Saved it?" The words split on a high note of hysteria.
Virginia's clenched fist hit the crate, nearly splintering a wooden
slat. "It seems to me you've thrown it right into a raging inferno.
Whatever possessed you to make up such a story? How could you have
created another person? I may have been guilty of some big lies in
my time, but this . . . this .. . this . . ." Words evaded her; her
head collapsed into her hands.
"I don't know why you're so upset" Diane sniffed in an injured
voice. "I was only trying to help. I remembered all the times your
lies saved me."
Virginia looked up, opened one eye, and focused it on her
slump-shouldered friend like a malevolent cyclops. "We are not
teenagers, and this is not high school," she growled, then became
more demonstrative. "Lest you forget, Diane, we are nearly thirty,
much too old to play such games."
"Men and women have been playing games since the dawn of time;
you just haven't participated," she countered with haughty
self-righteousness. Then, as if to salve her conscience, she added,
"It wasn't actually a lie-we just economized the truth. You were
another person at the party and on that balcony."
"That was one night, after too many drinks," Virginia grated,
her lips thinning in anger. "You're trying to perpetuate a myth.
You're trying to mix fantasy and reality. That only works in
romances. This is real life!"
Diane favored her with a blithe smile and seemed totally
ignorant of the narrowed, intimidating glare cast in her direction.
"It also seems that you, as Ginger, made quite a memorable
impression on Alex Braddock."
Virginia opened her mouth, then closed it, unable to think of a
suitable retort.
"You obviously fascinated the man. Doesn't that tell you
something about yourself?" Diane's petite features turned serious.
She grasped Virginia's cold hands and gave them supportive warmth.
"With just a little initiative you can grab the gusto that is life.
Aren't you tired of sitting on the sidelines? Your job may be
mentally and professionally rewarding, but what about. . .
sensually? Believe me, an encounter with a flesh and blood man
beats a clunking, metallic robot any day!"
"What do you want from me?" The words were uttered from deep
within a lacerated, exhausted soul.
"I want you to take an interest in yourself for a change; to
stop being so insecure and appreciate what you've accomplished. You
have so much to offer. What makes you think you can't attract and
hold a man just
was the receiving dock, Mr. Braddock. Another equipment truck just
arrived, and they would like you to come down and assist in the
setup."
"I'll head right over." Alex nodded, reaching for the rolled
schematic on the packing crate. "I was wondering though when and
where I could reach Ging-"
"Mr. Braddock," Diane's sweet, melodic voice interrupted him,
"would you please scrawl your name on these insurance forms. I have
to process them today." She pushed the rescued, now neatly packaged
papers under his nose, flipped the pages, and pointed to the
appropriate dotted lines.
When Alex had signed in five places, Diane neatly juggled the
folder under her arm and escorted him to the door. "You really are
a pet." She smiled up at him. "I'm sure you'll enjoy working with
us at AVELCOMP, but one important rule here is never keep the boys
in shipping and receiving waiting." She unlatched the metal portal
and deftly shoved Alex into the air lock.
Diane collapsed against the closed doorway, shut her eyes, and
exhaled a musical breath. "That was a stroke of genius, if I do say
so myself." Her lashes fluttered open, her lips curling into a
cocky grin. "Now, don't thank me, it-"
"Thank you! I was thinking more of murder!" With narrowed eyes
and intent, purposeful strides, Virginia advanced on her.
"Wait just one minute!" Diane scooted behind a low, wide crate,
anxious to separate intended victim from assailant. "I'm the one
who just saved that 'memorable anatomy' of yours."
"Saved it?" The words split on a high note of hysteria.
Virginia's clenched fist hit the crate, nearly splintering a wooden
slat. "It seems to me you've thrown it right into a raging inferno.
Whatever possessed you to make up such a story? How could you have
created another person? I may have been guilty of some big lies in
my time, but this . . . this .. . this . . ." Words evaded her; her
head collapsed into her hands.
"I don't know why you're so upset" Diane sniffed in an injured
voice. "I was only trying to help. I remembered all the times your
lies saved me."
Virginia looked up, opened one eye, and focused it on her
slump-shouldered friend like a malevolent cyclops. "We are not
teenagers, and this is not high school," she growled, then became
more demonstrative. "Lest you forget, Diane, we are nearly thirty,
much too old to play such games."
"Men and women have been playing games since the dawn of time;
you just haven't participated," she countered with haughty
self-righteousness. Then, as if to salve her conscience, she added,
"It wasn't actually a lie-we just economized the truth. You were
another person at the party and on that balcony."
"That was one night, after too many drinks," Virginia grated,
her lips thinning in anger. "You're trying to perpetuate a myth.
You're trying to mix fantasy and reality. That only works in
romances. This is real life!"
Diane favored her with a blithe smile and seemed totally
ignorant of the narrowed, intimidating glare cast in her direction.
"It also seems that you, as Ginger, made quite a memorable
impression on Alex Braddock."
Virginia opened her mouth, then closed it, unable to think of a
suitable retort.
"You obviously fascinated the man. Doesn't that tell you
something about yourself?" Diane's petite features turned serious.
She grasped Virginia's cold hands and gave them supportive warmth.
"With just a little initiative you can grab the gusto that is life.
Aren't you tired of sitting on the sidelines? Your job may be
mentally and professionally rewarding, but what about. . .
sensually? Believe me, an encounter with a flesh and blood man
beats a clunking, metallic robot any day!"
"What do you want from me?" The words were uttered from deep
within a lacerated, exhausted soul.
"I want you to take an interest in yourself for a change; to
stop being so insecure and appreciate what you've accomplished. You
have so much to offer. What makes you think you can't attract and
hold a man just
Similar Books
