Read Online The Millionaire's Wish by Abigail Strom - Free Book Online

green eyes.
    His jaw was smooth, with no shadow of stubble. She also caught a hint of aftershave—something subtle and expensive, like cedar wood and mountain air.
    He was so debonair, so flawless, so confident. She’d seen another side of him at the hospital today, but that hint of vulnerability was gone now. She doubted she’d get a glimpse behind the armor tonight.
    Not that it mattered. She wasn’t going to fall at his feet. He might be the best-looking man who had ever or would ever stand in her doorway, but she wasn’t an idiot, and she had her pride.
    â€œNo, you’re not early.”
    He glanced down at her dark slacks, high-necked blouse, and plain tailored suit jacket. “It looks like you just came back from a meeting. If you still need to change I could—”
    â€œThis is what I’m wearing,” she said firmly.
    She felt perversely glad that she hadn’t tried to dress the way most women would for a night out, especially with a man like Rick Hunter. She might be pretending to date him, but she didn’t have to pretend to be someone she wasn’t.
    â€œDo you have a problem with that?” she added.
    Her words and her tone were a little belligerent, but he just shook his head. “Not at all.” He held out a bouquet of flowers she hadn’t even noticed he was carrying. “For you.”
    â€œWhat are those for?” she asked suspiciously.
    He raised an eyebrow, and she realized how ungracious her words were a second after they came out of her mouth.
    â€œSorry,” she said quickly. “It’s just…no one’s here to see, and we’re only dating for show.”
    She reached out to accept the bouquet, and her fingers brushed against his. It was only the briefest contact, but she felt a sudden rush of vertigo, as though she were looking over the edge of a cliff.
    â€œThese aren’t for our date,” he said. “They’re to thank you for today. Like I said, I really enjoyed meeting Julie—and I would have missed out on that experience if you weren’t such a tough negotiator.”
    He smiled at her, and she felt that dizzying rush again.
    â€œWell…thanks. I’ll go put these in water.” She took a step or two toward the kitchen before she paused and looked back at the man still standing in her doorway. “Would you like to come in for a minute?” she asked belatedly.
    â€œSure,” he said, stepping across the threshold into her small apartment.
    He made it seem even smaller. “I’ll be right back,” she said, disappearing quickly into the kitchen.
    She took a deep breath before taking a vase out of a cupboard and setting it under the faucet to fill.
    There was no reason to feel so tense. She’d been comfortable enough with Rick at the hospital today. She just had to think of him as a business associate—which, in fact, he was. She snipped the ends off the stems and arranged the flowers in water.
    She carried the vase into the living room and set it on the coffee table. Rick was over by her DVD shelves, looking at the titles.
    â€œYou like old movies.”
    She nodded. “I love them. I host a classic movie night once a month, for a group of friends.”
    â€œYou’ve got a great collection,” he said, crossing the room toward her. “And I like the way you’ve decorated. Your apartment feels like you…warm and personal.”
    â€œThanks,” she said. “I’ve been here almost five years, so I’ve had plenty of time to settle in.”
    She took a deep breath. Maybe this wouldn’t be so hard after all.
    Then he came up to her and offered his arm. “Shall we?”
    And just like that, her palms were sweating.
    It would help if he wasn’t so blatantly masculine. He made her feel all feminine and fluttery—and she didn’t do fluttery. She really, really didn’t.
    â€œAllison? Are you ready to