Read Online This Changes Everything by Gretchen Galway - Free Book Online Page A

at it anyway. No couch needed.
    She’d probably have to take out the dining table too. And maybe a wall.
    “That must be a nice piano,” Sly said. “You’re drooling.”
    “That’s because I’m with you, sweetie,” she said absently. Oh, it had been a long time since she played a decent piano. She’d bought the best one she could afford, but… well, that wasn’t much. It had good tone but wasn’t the kind you’d want to roll around on top of in the nude.
    Like that one.
    “Seriously, Cleo, you’re flushed,” Sly said. “Do you need a few minutes alone?”
    She shook her head to break the spell. “Let’s find the butt lifts.”
    He picked up a brochure on the table. “How about a weekend in Vegas?”
    “That’s practical. Because when you have too much money, you need to find new homes for some of it.” She sipped her drink, raising her eyebrows in appreciation. Not the cheap stuff she was used to. “This is good. Didn’t you want any?”
    “Staying sober today. Thanks.”
    “Suit yourself.” She took another mouthful and searched the table for something Sly could waste his money on. A poster advertising a trip to the Sierra Nevada for “your adventurous canine companion” caught her eye. An all-expense-paid vacation for your dog. Bath upon return included.
    Sly caught her arm. “That’s Poppy over there. Mind if I…?”
    “Go ahead. I’m going to call the one eight hundred number for this place near Yosemite and see if they’ll take humans.”
    Flashing her his trademarked grin, he left her to shake the hand of the gray-haired woman surrounded by a cluster of men in T-shirts and jeans. Cleo had seen pictures of Poppy Lee, fondly nicknamed the “Silver Helmet” because of her hair. She watched Sly join the group, offer Poppy his hand, and draw her away from the other men with speedy grace.
    He really had that rare charm that made life look easy. A mere mortal like herself would’ve felt uncomfortable barging in like that. Not Sly. He got what he wanted, and people thanked him for letting them give it to him.
    She set her empty glass down and applied herself to reading the other auction items. Some of them were up into the thousands, and she was tempted to put down Sly’s name. Although he was generous with her, he could be cheap, always looking for a bargain, and not likely to treat himself to any luxuries, even small ones. The trip to the Patagonian Andes looked pretty good. She was just picking up the pen when he tapped her on the shoulder.
    “I hope that’s not for me.”
    “You can bring one of those solar panel chargers and your laptop,” she said. “Work on the trail.”
    “You make it sound like I don’t know how to take a vacation.”
    “You don’t.”
    He put his arm around her and led her away from Poppy, who had returned to the cluster of jeans and T-shirts. “We can go whenever you’re ready. I’ve set the stage for tonight.”
    “Stage for what?”
    “Talking to Poppy about Mark’s start-up.”
    “Didn’t you do that just now?”
    “You don’t rush these things.” His hand slid down her arm and squeezed her elbow.
    Her body was rushing to divert blood to her erogenous zones. The dress covered her upper arms, but now he was touching bare skin, and she was having trouble concentrating on the poster advertising dog sledding in Vail.
    It wasn’t her imagination. He was touching her differently. His fingers lingered, made tiny circles on her skin, explored neighborhoods they’d never visited before.
    “You know,” she said, “I think I’d like to walk a little more. Get some fresh air. Should I meet you at—”
    “I’ll join you.”
    “Are you sure you don’t want to set more stages or whatever you do for—”
    “Don’t want to come on too strong,” he said. “I know there’s a lavender farm in Carmel Valley. I’d love to see that. We could drive there. Interested?”
    Was she? Her rapid pulse suggested that something was interesting her.