Read Online One Real Man (Entangled Bliss) ) by Coleen Kwan - Free Book Online Page A

made herself more presentable. Her sleek black trousers, figure-hugging crossover top, and black high heels were too elegant for a housekeeper, and her upswept hairdo and diamond earrings were probably going too far, but she needed the boost to her confidence. She wanted to look on top of the situation, not conquered by it.
    Footsteps sounded in the corridor before Owen entered the kitchen. He stopped short. “Oh.” He stared at her chic appearance. “What happened to you?”
    “I changed.” She tucked a stray wisp of hair behind her ears. “I feel more comfortable like this.”
    “Comfortable? You’re better dressed than all the guests, including me.”
    She examined his chinos and plaid shirt. Hmm, he’d gotten the colors and textures right, but he plainly hadn’t put much thought into his clothes, and once again he was wearing those disreputable canvas sneakers. If Owen bothered to get some stylish threads, he’d look more like the successful company executive he was, and less like a…well, a builder… Not that there was anything wrong with looking like a builder, and Owen did the construction worker look very well. The shirt stretched tight across his well-built shoulders, highlighting the broadness of his chest, and the chinos hugged snugly to his narrow hips and long legs. And there was a rugged appeal to his rough hair and stubbled chin…
    Paige caught her breath. She was ogling Owen. Right in front of him, too. How awkward. She gestured nonchalantly. “I was tired of looking like a frump these past few days.”
    “You weren’t a frump. You looked just fine.” A line appeared between his eyes. “Now you look like Princess Paige again.”
    “Really?” She smiled. Being Princess Paige was good; that was what she wanted, despite Owen’s disapproval.
    “You’re the housekeeper now. Remember?”
    “How can I forget when you remind me all the time?”
    He continued to frown at her. “Have you got the champagne ready? Nate and Ally should be here any minute. I want everyone with a glass before they arrive.”
    “Everything’s set.” She gestured to the two trays of crystal champagne flutes on the counter before walking to the refrigerator and extracting two magnums of champagne. “Do you want to do the honors?”
    He wrestled with the bottle, eventually opening it with brute force. “I usually drink beer,” he said as he handed it to her and reached for the second magnum. “I’m not used to opening champagne bottles.”
    He wasn’t telling Paige anything new, but there was something…endearing about watching Owen manhandle the expensive French champagne. They filled the glasses and each lifted a tray.
    “Okay there?” Owen asked as the glasses on her tray clinked together.
    “Sure.” She nodded, firming her grip on the tray. It wasn’t the weight concerning her, but the crowd in the other room. They were waiting for her, it felt. She followed Owen down the hall, falling behind as he entered the living room.
    Guests gathered around him, each taking a glass. “There’s more champagne coming,” he said before twisting his head toward him. “Paige?”
    Sucking in her stomach muscles, she moved into the room, shoulders back, spine straight, tray held perfectly still in her hands. It seemed every head in the room swiveled in her direction as the hubbub died down for a few seconds.
    Owen was looking at her, his face expressionless. “This is Paige, my housekeeper,” Owen said to everyone.
    Someone at the back of the room coughed. Paige glanced around, bracing herself against recognition. None of these people seemed familiar, but there was no way of knowing if she’d inadvertently snubbed any of them, and maybe they just resented her because of who she was. The bones of her fingers ached as she gripped the tray tighter.
    “Hello, Paige.” A red-haired woman in tight purple jeans stepped up and lifted a champagne flute from the tray. “You remember me—I’m Tyler?”
    Paige’s heart