Read Online Secrets and Seductions by Francine Pascal - Free Book Online Page A

six, after all.
    Michael glanced up and gave Jessica a tentative, almost shy smile. Something inside Jessica clicked. She knew Michael liked her. So far, he’d been entirely professional, but Jessica knew it wouldn’t take much encouragement to goad him into something more.
    She walked over to him like a woman on a mission.
    â€œMichael,” she said, touching his arm, “can I talk to you a minute?” Her tone and the way she let her hand linger on his arm had the desired effect. His face lit up like a boy who’d just found a toy at the bottom of his cereal box.
    â€œUh, sure, Jessica.”
    â€œWalk me back to my desk?” Jessica offered.
    â€œSure,” Michael said.
    Michael fell into step beside her.
    â€œI was hoping I could pitch you a couple of ideas before the meeting tomorrow.”
    â€œOh.” Michael’s face fell a little as he realized it was business related.
    â€œI was thinking, though, maybe we could grab a bite to eat?” Jessica stood very close to him and touched his arm again. He’d have to not have a pulse to miss the clear change in vibe as she amped up her flirting.
    â€œWhat about your boyfriend?”
    â€œWhat boyfriend?” Jessica deliberately played dumb.
    â€œOh, I mean, I heard…”
    â€œDon’t believe all that you hear.”
    â€œGood point.” Michael glanced at Jessica, looking like a man who’d stumbled upon a winning lotto ticket.
    â€œSo, dinner?”
    â€œOh, y-y-yeah, sure. I’d love that.” Michael grinned.
    â€œMe, too,” Jessica said.

Chapter Eleven
    Todd sent in his final story from the Lakers game, snapped shut his laptop in the press room, and stood.
    â€œHey, Todd, a few of the guys are grabbing a drink. You in?” asked Stuart, the AP wire reporter and one of Todd’s friends.
    Todd shrugged. “Thanks, man, but no, I’m going to pass.”
    â€œGetting out would do you good.” Stuart nodded toward the newspaper sitting on the table. It was open to yet another picture of Jessica and Liam.
    Todd felt his stomach tighten just looking at it.
    â€œNo, I just don’t feel like it.”
    His colleague nodded and slapped his shoulder.
    He tried not to wear his broken heart on his sleeve, but everyone seemed to know about it anyway. It was getting pathetic. Todd knew it, but he couldn’t quite shake himself of the gloom.
    It had been months now since he’d found out Jessica had lied to him about Liam O’Connor.
    But despite it all, Todd still loved Jessica. He thought he would always love Jessica. There would always be a part of him that would want to be with her. That was why he’d left Le Bouchon that night without a word, why he couldn’t face her once he’d found out the truth. It just hurt too much. He didn’t want her to see him so vulnerable, so raw.
    And part of him had hoped she’d come after him. He knew Jessica Wakefield and understood that she never begged for anything. But he had hoped that she loved him enough to come after him. To explain.
    She hadn’t. More than three months later, she still hadn’t made any move to apologize. She didn’t have to apologize, really. She just needed to show up one day at the door. With the way he felt about her, that probably would have done it.
    Sometimes he fantasized that she would come to him out of the blue, but she never did.
    Todd wanted to be with Jessica; he would do anything to be with her, but she had to give him a sign that’s what she wanted, too. He wasn’t going to grovel, not after the way she’d treated him.
    Todd pulled into the driveway of his house, parked his car, and hopped out. He unlocked the back door and instantly could smell Sarah’s cooking.
    Ever since Sarah had shown up on Todd’s doorstep, upset about losing her apartment, Todd had let her stay with him. He couldn’t imagine turning her away, not after Jessica had