Read Online Twisted in Tulips by Nikki Duncan - Free Book Online

something about the way she moved was familiar.
    As she approached the main desk, he and Brad turned with smiles. Older than he’d have guessed, she played down her looks with soft makeup and flat hair. Her only flash was the rock on her left hand and the blinged-out watch winking from her wrist.
    “Welcome to Blue Chip Tower. Can we help you?” Jace asked.
    “I’m here to see Misty Morgan.” Rich disapproval clung to every syllable. Maybe that she had to take the time to deal with security. Maybe because of something to do with Misty. Whatever it was, Jace didn’t have a good first impression of the woman.
    “I don’t believe she’s in, but let me check.” He picked up the phone and dialed her extension from memory. He hadn’t had a need to call her since starting, but still he’d memorized her number as much as he’d tried to memorize her schedule. Her phone was ringing when he asked, “May I have your name?”
    “My name, young man, is Judith Wilson-Morgan,” came the stinging retort.
    “Tell her I’m not here,” Misty’s voice clipped in his ear. His skin tingled just hearing her.
    While he wasn’t sure why she responded so quickly the way she did, he tried for a vague approach that wouldn’t give anything away to Misty’s mother if he guessed right. “This is Jace with security. I have a Judith Wilson-Morgan here to see Ms. Morgan.”
    “That’s my mother. If you send her back here, Jace, it will be your last act as head of security.”
    “Do you know when she will be in?”
    “Never for her.”
    Misty’s message was clear. They did not get along. Looking at the woman before him, remembering Misty’s defensive tone the last time he’d mentioned her clothes, he began to understand more clearly. They were complete opposites. Coldness and warmth. Frumpy and sexy. “I will let her know.”
    Mrs. Wilson-Morgan’s lips puckered with bitterness.
    “If you’re going to tell her that, give me time to get there to watch the show.”
    He smiled at Misty’s sudden humor, at the gleeful lift of her voice from the idea of him being so honest with the sour-lipped woman standing before him. This whole exchange was making him want to run and question Misty about the strained relationship he was now playing buffer for. He doubted she’d be forthcoming with any answers.
    “I’m sorry, Mrs. Wilson-Morgan, she’s not in.”
    “You are a prince, Jace. I owe you one.”
    Plenty of ways for Misty to say thanks sprang into mind, yet faced with her mother he didn’t allow his smile to widen. He simply hung up because saying anything else would sound suspicious to the woman before him.
    “When will she be in?”
    “Not today I’m afraid. She has appointments off-site all day.” And he was going to be her next one.
    “As if playing with flowers can keep her that busy.”
    Mrs. Wilson-Morgan didn’t snort, but the attitude of one certainly sprang out with the way she cocked a hip. He’d been watching Misty work and knew how busy she was. If she deserved respect from anyone it should be her own mother, but it wasn’t his place to say so.
    “If your brawn-filled brain can handle it, get the message to her that her mother stopped by.” Her sour mouth puckered more, deepening heavy creases around her lips. She had to make the face a lot because her face was otherwise smooth of wrinkles. “I would appreciate a call back this time or she will find me on her front porch next.”
    He scratched his temple with his hook and almost made a Neanderthal-sounding comment.
    Mrs. Wilson-Morgan gasped and lunged back a step. Her eyes locked on his missing hand. “I see brains are not all you’re missing.”
    He wanted to correct her. The words were sitting at the tip of his tongue, begging him to open his mouth. He clenched his jaw with the force of restraining himself. He wanted to say so many things to the narrow-minded bitch, to shock her with some reality. And though Misty had acted like she might enjoy such