Read Online The Merzetti Effect (A Vampire Romance) by Norah Wilson - Free Book Online Page A

fairer sex that scares you?”
    His forehead, which had been pleated in a fierce frown, relaxed, and he laughed. He actually laughed , dammit.
    “Ummm, how shall I put this? No. Women hold no terrors for me, Ms. Crawford. Not even women as smart, attractive and driven as you.”
    Her smile suddenly felt strained. Yes, she was smart. Yes, she was attractive, in a blond ambition kind of way. And damn right she was driven. But somehow when he put all those attributes together‌—‌all attributes she happily owned up to individually‌—‌the picture didn’t feel terribly flattering.
    Ignoring the stiffness in her face, she let her smile broaden. “Then you won’t mind drawing this little bit of blood.”
    A slight hesitation, long enough to make her rethink pushing the issue. What was she doing anyway, aggravating her new employer like this? The man had literally saved her life, then handed her a job that solved all her problems, and here she was baiting him. She really did need to learn when to keep her mouth shut.
    He shrugged, as if it were of no import. “Certainly. If that’s what you want.”
    Huh? What was he up to now, with the sudden acquiescence? Because despite the six-of-one, half-a-dozen-of-another attitude he currently projected, she’d lay strong odds he wasn’t nearly that blasé about it. She couldn’t have misread him that badly. She angled her chin in a challenge.
    “Great. It makes infinitely more sense than waking Eli.”
    He nodded agreeably. “Then by all means, I’ll do it. I thought only to keep the employer/employee relationship as straightforward as possible. You may be my patient for now, but I hope you’ll be in my employ much longer than you will be in my care.”
    That rat! With his reasonable tone and his plausible explanation, he’d turned the tables on her.
    Well, she refused to feel like she was being unreasonable. It did make more sense for him to do it than to rouse poor Eli, who seemed to be on call 24–7.
    Plus, she knew his rationalizations were just that‌—‌rationalizations. She’d felt his reluctance like a palpable force between them.
    She lifted her eyebrows. “Oh, but we’re both professionals. I hardly think either one of us is going to get confused if you draw my blood this one time.”
    “You’re the boss,” he said, his voice loose, a little mocking. Casual, casual. “Just sit tight and I’ll get the kit.”
    He left the room to retrieve the phlebotomy supplies.
    Ainsley wilted immediately. God, she was a fool to antagonize him. And he was antagonized. As smooth as he was trying to play it, he was pissed. No question about it.
    She didn’t have long to flay herself about it; he was back in under a minute. Plunking the kit down, he readied the materials and donned fresh sterile latex gloves.
    He looked up, his eyes cool, thoughts purposely shrouded. “Left arm?”
    “Seems to work best.” She extended her arm, having already rolled up her sleeve.
    He tied the rubber tourniquet off, then reached for an alcohol prep pad, which he tore open. Grasping her arm, he swabbed the inside of her elbow efficiently. Then, with every bit as much practiced ease as Eli displayed, he probed for the best vein, introduced the needle and quickly filled the requisite number of tubes, each with a different colored cap. Though she watched his face carefully, he didn’t betray by so much as a twitch any untoward emotion.
    Stranger and stranger. Had she been that far off base? Had she completely imagined his ambivalence?
    “There. All done.”
    He applied a gauze pad to the site and withdrew the needle. Automatically, she took over, applying steady pressure to the site while he released the tourniquet.
    Okay, Ainsley, you’re an idiot. A vain, self-centered jerk. You pose no more of a threat to this man’s composure than a gnat circling his head.
    Then he stood so abruptly that his chair shot backward, careening into the wall where it left a small but definite dent