Read Online The Exception by Adriana Locke - Free Book Online

ask.”
    “Trust me on this one.”
    “I’ll get back with you as soon as I have something to go on.”

JADA
    “You have a call on line 2.”
    I was immersed in a data gathering mission the next day, my head so focused on the project that I jumped when Alice buzzed into my office.
    “I’ll take it. Thanks, Alice.”
    I rested my hand on the receiver until her light went off, then held it to my ear and pressed the line.
    “Jada Stanley.”
    “Hello, Jada.” Cane’s voice, smooth and rich, was like music to my ears.
    I hated that my stomach felt like butterflies fluttering when I heard his voice, but I couldn’t help it. What I did have to control was that he didn’t find that out.
    “What can I do for you?” I had replayed our kiss in my mind, and imagined it going much, much farther a hundred times over. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized how much I enjoyed it. And that just meant I needed to keep my distance.
    “Have you heard from Simon?” The melody of his voice changed, cooling considerably.
    “No, I haven’t.”
    “That’s good.” Relief was evident in his voice as he blew out a breath. “I need to ask you a question. Did he provide you with pre-qualifications for funding?”
    “Of course. Why?”
    “No reason. I just doubt he is actually going to purchase it.”
    “What makes you say that?”
    “Just a hunch. So don’t waste a lot of time on him, all right?”
    “I’ll remember that.” I absentmindedly brought my fingers to my mouth, remembering the feeling of his lips against mine.
    “Excellent.” He cleared his throat. “It’s almost closing time. Want to meet me for dinner?” He was playful again, almost as if he already knew my answer.
    “I honestly have an entire stack of papers on my desk. I doubt I will be getting out of here any time soon.”
    “That’s not a no ,” he pointed out.
    I laughed. “It’s a no, Cane.”
    “If I were to take you to dinner, where would you like to go?”
    I couldn’t help the grin on my face. “What does it matter? It. Isn’t. Going. To. Happen.”
    “Humor me.” I could hear his smile through the phone and imagined him sitting at a large desk, chewing on the end of a pen.
    “I don’t know. I like pizza. I suppose you would, theoretically, take me for pizza,” I sighed.
    He laughed loudly. “You are serious?”
    “What? Pizza’s my favorite!”
    “Pizza it is, then.”
    “Pizza it is, dinner it is not,” I countered. “I am not meeting you for dinner, Cane.”
    “What have I ever done to you?” he asked, a hint of a laugh still in his voice.
    “Nothing and I plan on keeping it that way.”
    “Sounds like an innuendo to me.” I heard him mutter a profanity, following by a honking sound. “You said that like you’ve been thinking about me doing things to you. Now there’s a thought I’d like to explore.”
    “You read way too much into that.” I looked at the clock, back to the stack of papers, and sighed. “I really do need to get this wrapped up if I am ever going to get out of here tonight.”
    “Talk to you soon, Jada.”
    I sat the phone down, forced all thoughts of Cane out of my mind, and worked solidly for the next hour. I only looked up when Alice knocked at the door.
    “Honey, I’m leaving for the evening, but there is a lady here to see you. Should I send her back or send her to the break room?”
    “I’m not expecting anyone,” I said perplexed, my mind racing through possibilities. “Do you know who she is?”
    “She said her name was Lucy and she was from Alexander Industries.”
    “Alexander Industries? Just send her back, I suppose.”
    Why would they send a courier so late? Did I forget to get something signed?
    Alice gave me a huge smile, a nod, and then retreated to the front. A few minutes later, a pretty blonde appeared in the doorway with Alice behind her.
    “Hi! Are you Jada?” She was all smiles and her voice sweet, matching her bright pink dress.
    Couriers don’t