Read Online Risky Business by Melissa Cutler - Free Book Online Page B

was the God’s honest truth—“so we might as well dive right in.”
    â€œEnough with the water analogies.”
    It hadn’t been intentional, but now that she’d brought it up, he had to admit it was kind of funny how many English phrases referenced water. French, not so much. He wasn’t a jokester by nature, but the degree to which it aggravated Allison was quite motivating, which was why he added, “No sense in wading in slowly.”
    â€œOh, ha-ha.” Her attempt at sarcasm was overwhelmed by the quiver in her voice.
    He swept his hand toward the canal stairs in invitation. “After you.”
    She looked over her shoulder at the office. “I guess Katie will be okay in her activity center without me there.”
    â€œDuke and the guys will keep an eye on her. There’s only two types of boats, so this won’t take too long.” Just long enough to prove his point.
    With a determined nod, she marched past him and stood at the top of the stairs. “It looks like there are four little boats and four houseboats, not counting yours.”
    â€œLanette.”
    â€œHmm?”
    â€œMy boat. Her name is Lanette.” He shocked himself with that. Sure, her name was painted on the hull, but he couldn’t speak of Lanette without affection warming his words. Why would he reveal that intimate piece of himself with her?
    â€œDid you name her?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œIs she named after someone?”
    â€œA lover.” Another joke? What had gotten into him? He was not that man, but flustering Allison seemed to come naturally to him.
    â€œSo, Lowell brought his lover upstairs and you brought yours to your boat? What kind of hedonistic place is this? Am I going to need to take a lover to fit in around here?”
    Priceless. He covered his mouth with the side of his fist lest she saw him smile as he debated whether to tell her the truth, that Lanette was named after his childhood pet. He decided against it.
    â€œWe’re wasting time,” he said, affecting his grouchiest voice. “Let’s get moving on this tour. I don’t have all day.”
    She eyeballed the stairs. “These stairs need an outer railing. This is dangerous.”
    â€œThey’re safe enough. You climbed up them last night just fine.”
    â€œI didn’t have any choice to get back to solid ground.”
    â€œAre you going to act this scared around the customers? Because that would be bad business.”
    She ignored him. “Tell me the interiors of the boats are nicer than they seem from here, because what I’m seeing through the windows is depressing. Gray walls, no frills. Boring.”
    â€œFind out for yourself.”
    She squinted at the boats for another few beats, then shook her head. “These are going to need a major overhaul before the season starts.”
    â€œDay one and you’re already criticizing the way I’ve been doing business all these years? That’s presumptuous.”
    â€œI was meaning to criticize the way Lowell had done business, not you.”
    â€œHe was, to put it politely, a silent owner.”
    â€œBut he came here a lot over the years to stay on top of the business. He—”
    A cruel and mocking choice of words, if that was the exact expression the scumbag had used with Allison. Away from the other men and their pitying looks, this time Theo allowed his internal cringe to show on his face.
    â€œAh,” she said. “Shawna.”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œHe didn’t help at all?”
    â€œNo. His accountant handled the bills and payroll, and Whitley signed off on the paperwork that required the owner’s signature, but he left the rest to me, which is why the business has stayed viable. He had enough sense not to interfere since he didn’t know the first thing about running a boat rental company.” He let that last part drip with subtext.
    â€œYou’ve made your