Read Online Sleeping with Anemone by Kate Collins - Free Book Online

Raand’s not going to intimidate me.”
    “You got that right.”
    “But not because you’ll be there, Marco. Because I won’t let him. It’s all about mental attitude.”
    “Trust me, Sunshine. It won’t come to that.”
    Arrogance. Straight into the minus column.
    PLUSES
MINUSES

Protective
Bossy
Confident
Arrogant
Open-minded
Stubborn
Sexy
Hardworking
Brave
Trusting
Family oriented
Generous
Kind
Understanding
Supportive
Great with children
Strong
Soulful
Considerate
Devoted
Calm
Levelheaded
Sensitive
Helpful
Earns a good living

CHAPTER FIVE

    E ven though I had to park my Corvette in the city parking garage and tip the attendant extra to make sure no one touched my car, I was really glad to see Monday come, because Sunday was a serious bummer. After church, I was swarmed by concerned family and friends who’d seen the cable news report about the brick and had all kinds of warnings for me; after lunch, Marco and I saw a boring war movie—his choice, since I picked last time—and after supper, I had to do laundry that had piled up all week, while he watched a football game.
    All of which made Monday a real treat, especially since the sun was out, the snow had melted, and Valentine’s Day was rapidly approaching, which meant an increase in profits for my struggling flower shop. Another bonus: The window repairman arrived promptly at eight thirty a.m., so that when Grace opened the shop at nine, a brand-new beveled glass pane greeted the customers. And there were lots of them, some making straight for the parlor to get their morning java, some browsing the arrangements and gift items on display, and others placing orders for the holiday.
    I saw many of our regular customers and met new ones. Some who I thought were new seemed to know me, so I pretended to remember them when they stopped to say how terrible it was that a person couldn’t feel safe on her own town square. One woman in particular looked familiar—how do you forget hair that big?—and I nearly said something chatty to her, but then someone asked me a question about flowers, and I lost track of her.
    Although we barely had a moment to breathe, it was a great morning, profit-wise. Amazing what the threat of a store burning to the ground could do to motivate shoppers.
    Suddenly it was almost two o’clock and Marco was there to escort me to Nils Raand’s office.
    “We had the most amazing day,” I told Marco as we pulled into the huge parking lot in front of the Uniworld Distribution Center. “I am so psyched. Mark my words. Before we leave Raand’s office, I’ll have a signed agreement in my hand.”
    “I think you’re being a little naive, Sunshine. You’re talking about a huge conglomerate here. Nothing happens swiftly in that environment.”
    We dodged a semitrailer truck leaving one of the dozen loading docks that ran across the front of the warehouse, then walked up to a small, steel door on the end of the building nearest to us. Marco held it open and I stepped inside, gazing around in wonder at the rows of two-story-high shelving stocked with boxes of goods. Small cherry pickers were at work loading and unloading more boxes, their beeps echoing through the enormous space.
    Marco pointed toward the ceiling, where we could see an office with a big window that overlooked the operation. We headed toward a staircase that would take us to it, but before we were halfway up, a woman in a neat navy suit appeared at the top. She ushered us into a reception area and offered us a selection of beverages. Marco took a glass of water but I declined. I didn’t want to have to balance anything on my knee, especially if things got heated. I might end up dousing Raand with it.
    When we stepped inside Raand’s office, he came around his desk, his gaze flickering over Marco, coolly assessing him, before lighting on me and turning downright icy. “Miss Knight.”
    “Mr. Raand, this is Marco Salvare, my, er”—what should I call him? A boyfriend? It