Read Online Romance for Cynics by Nicola Marsh - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Nicola Marsh
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chin up as the last strains of Bette Davis Eyes faded.
She nodded. ‘Just tired.’
And incredibly drained. It was hard faking it—and to think this was only the first event.
‘Come on, I’ll walk you out.’ He slid an arm around her waist, solicitous and caring, almost as lethal a combination as his devilish, teasing side.
Heck, who was she kidding? After their session on the dance floor she’d find him singing the national anthem appealing.
However, their escape was thwarted by the approach of one of the organisers brandishing an electronic tablet.
‘You two are gold,’ he said, flipping the screen towards them. ‘That footage of you earlier? It’s had over a thousand votes in thirty minutes.’
Lucy almost asked ‘what footage’ but she didn’t need to, as with a sinking heart she watched her sizzling lip lock with Cash replayed in sharp, pixelated colour.
‘You’re in the lead by a mile.’ The guy beamed like a benevolent father. ‘Keep up the good work and you’ll win top prize for sure.’
As the guy strode away Cash turned to her, took one look at her face, and guided her towards the door.
‘Did you see that?’ she hissed, embarrassment warring with anger, the latter winning out. ‘That clip needed an X rating.’
‘Too right.’
Lucy heard a hint of amusement beneath the pride in his tone, an inflection that made her head snap up to see an ear-splitting grin.
‘You think this is funny?’ she shrieked, hating how shrewish she sounded, hating this out-of-control feeling more.
‘I think it’s pretty damn hot.’ He touched her bottom lip, tracing its contour, making her yearn for him all over again.
But she couldn’t want Cash. He had heartbreaker written all over him and she had no intention of offering her heart to any guy ever again.
‘Lucy?’
She frowned and his fingertip drifted up to smooth the dent between her brows.
‘It’s no big deal, being attracted to each other. We’re adults. We’re single.’ His appreciative gaze drifted over her. ‘And you’re smoking hot. Stands to reason we’re going to get carried away occasionally.’
The only thing that resonated from his altruistic speech was the fact he found her smoking hot. And, however much she tried to dismiss his compliments, she loved hearing them. She’d been starved for compliments for a long time, and as the protective barrier around her icy heart thawed a little she knew her defences were at risk of melting completely.
The more time she spent with him, the greater the danger. Which meant she needed to keep things strictly professional.
She stepped back, putting some much-needed distance between them. ‘Forget it. I need to get home and put the finishing touches on your quote.’
If he noticed the enforced chill he didn’t call her on it. ‘No worries.’
But as he held her coat so she could slip into it Lucy had plenty of worries. The main one centred on the guy who was slowly but surely charming his way into her life.
* * *
‘Not so fast, lovebirds.’ Raoul, the PR firm’s marketing whiz in charge of this week, wriggled his way between Lucy and Cash and linked elbows with them. ‘That public pash was gold so why don’t we capitalise on the hype and do your private interview now?’
Lucy swallowed a groan. The last thing she felt like doing now was being asked a bunch of questions she’d probably stuff up because she was still inwardly reeling from Cash’s kiss.
She needed time to regroup. And she was still craving that mega hot chocolate—the only thing that stood a chance of drowning the butterflies still fluttering madly in her belly.
Cash cast a quick glance her way and shook his head. ‘Maybe another time, Raoul?’
Touched by Cash’s intuition, she smiled her gratitude and he winked back.
But Raoul didn’t have the same sensitivity to her need for a break and he bustled them towards a small VIP room. ‘Surely you want to win this thing by capitalising on the hype after
She nodded. ‘Just tired.’
And incredibly drained. It was hard faking it—and to think this was only the first event.
‘Come on, I’ll walk you out.’ He slid an arm around her waist, solicitous and caring, almost as lethal a combination as his devilish, teasing side.
Heck, who was she kidding? After their session on the dance floor she’d find him singing the national anthem appealing.
However, their escape was thwarted by the approach of one of the organisers brandishing an electronic tablet.
‘You two are gold,’ he said, flipping the screen towards them. ‘That footage of you earlier? It’s had over a thousand votes in thirty minutes.’
Lucy almost asked ‘what footage’ but she didn’t need to, as with a sinking heart she watched her sizzling lip lock with Cash replayed in sharp, pixelated colour.
‘You’re in the lead by a mile.’ The guy beamed like a benevolent father. ‘Keep up the good work and you’ll win top prize for sure.’
As the guy strode away Cash turned to her, took one look at her face, and guided her towards the door.
‘Did you see that?’ she hissed, embarrassment warring with anger, the latter winning out. ‘That clip needed an X rating.’
‘Too right.’
Lucy heard a hint of amusement beneath the pride in his tone, an inflection that made her head snap up to see an ear-splitting grin.
‘You think this is funny?’ she shrieked, hating how shrewish she sounded, hating this out-of-control feeling more.
‘I think it’s pretty damn hot.’ He touched her bottom lip, tracing its contour, making her yearn for him all over again.
But she couldn’t want Cash. He had heartbreaker written all over him and she had no intention of offering her heart to any guy ever again.
‘Lucy?’
She frowned and his fingertip drifted up to smooth the dent between her brows.
‘It’s no big deal, being attracted to each other. We’re adults. We’re single.’ His appreciative gaze drifted over her. ‘And you’re smoking hot. Stands to reason we’re going to get carried away occasionally.’
The only thing that resonated from his altruistic speech was the fact he found her smoking hot. And, however much she tried to dismiss his compliments, she loved hearing them. She’d been starved for compliments for a long time, and as the protective barrier around her icy heart thawed a little she knew her defences were at risk of melting completely.
The more time she spent with him, the greater the danger. Which meant she needed to keep things strictly professional.
She stepped back, putting some much-needed distance between them. ‘Forget it. I need to get home and put the finishing touches on your quote.’
If he noticed the enforced chill he didn’t call her on it. ‘No worries.’
But as he held her coat so she could slip into it Lucy had plenty of worries. The main one centred on the guy who was slowly but surely charming his way into her life.
* * *
‘Not so fast, lovebirds.’ Raoul, the PR firm’s marketing whiz in charge of this week, wriggled his way between Lucy and Cash and linked elbows with them. ‘That public pash was gold so why don’t we capitalise on the hype and do your private interview now?’
Lucy swallowed a groan. The last thing she felt like doing now was being asked a bunch of questions she’d probably stuff up because she was still inwardly reeling from Cash’s kiss.
She needed time to regroup. And she was still craving that mega hot chocolate—the only thing that stood a chance of drowning the butterflies still fluttering madly in her belly.
Cash cast a quick glance her way and shook his head. ‘Maybe another time, Raoul?’
Touched by Cash’s intuition, she smiled her gratitude and he winked back.
But Raoul didn’t have the same sensitivity to her need for a break and he bustled them towards a small VIP room. ‘Surely you want to win this thing by capitalising on the hype after
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