Read Online The Princess and the Duke by Allison Leigh - Free Book Online Page B

left of reception. “Nothing in particular.” Technically, Lillian was Meredith’s secretary, and she could easily have been put on the little project. But it was only Meredith’s curiosity that was spurring on the interest, and it seemed silly to have one of the staff devote their work time to it. Aside from which, Lillian already had extra duties on her plate as she had been filling in for the regular receptionist who was away on honeymoon.
    Everyone seemed to be marrying, lately.
    The thought snuck in, adding to the throb in Meredith’s temples. She stopped and turned. “Have we received any more RSVPs for the Horizons event?”
    The woman nodded, reaching for the subtly buzzing telephone as she held out a computerized list. “The latest,” she mouthed before greeting the telephone caller.
    Meredith took the list and hurried on her way. Her briefcase flapped against her hip, and her purse strap was slipping from her shoulder, making her wish she’d gone to her office before getting the coffee.
    She rounded the last corner toward her office and nearly skidded to a halt at the surprising sight of Pierce, Admiral Harrison Monteque of the royal navyand Cole Everson, who was head of the RII, leaving Cole’s office and heading straight toward her.
    Neither Harrison nor Cole gave Meredith so much as a glance as they neared.
    Her office was at one end of the hall, Cole’s at the other. The colonel, however, looked at her without seeming to take his attention from his companions in the least.
    That one look, brief though it was, made Meredith want to smooth a nervous hand over her hair. To tug at the hem of her suit jacket. To fuss with her appearance in the way women for centuries had fussed when certain men looked their way.
    Fortunately, her hands were already too full, so she couldn’t embarrass herself any more than necessary. She juggled her briefcase and her purse and managed to unlock her office door.
    But then the trio passed beside her. And she had to turn to face them. She greeted Cole and the admiral, who both nodded politely, if rather absently, as they continued on their way.
    And Pierce, well, Pierce looked her right in the eye and wished her a good morning. Then he caught the weight of her briefcase before she managed to spill her coffee right down the front of her suit. “You need another hand,” he said.
    What she needed was her head examined. Because the pleasure sweeping through her at seeing him was completely insane.
    The colonel followed her through the doorway, and her spacious office suddenly felt confining. He set her briefcase on the corner of her pristine, glass-topped desk. She murmured her thanks, fully expecting himto take his leave. She could hear the other men’s voices carrying as they headed down the corridor.
    But Pierce didn’t leave. “Nice office,” he said, looking around.
    She set her coffee cup on the desk with only a small rattle. Her office was identical to at least a dozen others in the complex. The only difference being that she’d brought in her own decorator for her office. And she’d paid for it out of her own pocket. Something that she’d often felt compelled to point out when some individuals commented on her supposed special treatment. “Thank you.” She sat in her desk chair and, feeling more herself, looked at the Colonel.
    He had fresh lines fanning from the corners of his eyes, she thought. Impossibly attractive. Yet she could tell he was as tired as she felt.
    “What brings you to the RII?”
    “A meeting.”
    “I sort of gathered that,” she said dryly. She didn’t take offense at the inscrutable answer. The RII was often involved in highly classified projects. Unless it directly involved the royal family, she was perfectly content in being left out of those numerous loops.
    “How is your head?”
    She felt her cheeks heat and cursed her fair skin. “Pained,” she admitted ruefully. “It’s the bubbles, I’ve decided. Sparkling wine always