Read Online Up Close and Personal by Magda Alexander - Free Book Online Page A

much. I asked him what he did and I was able to follow him up to a point, but then when I couldn’t quite understand everything, he recommended this book.”
    “It’s not exactly scintillating reading.” I take it from her hand, and she tenses up.
    “What’s the matter?”
    “Nothing. May I have the book, please?”
    But I can tell she’s upset. She’s not her usual vibrant self. “Something happened. Tell me.”
    “It’s nothing.” The more she denies it, the more I’m sure something’s wrong.
    “Ms. Bennett, I can’t abide liars. Now tell me the truth.” Sensing she’s getting ready to run, I grab her hand to stop her.
    She gasps. “Ouch.”
    I immediately let go. “I apologize. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
    “It wasn’t you.”
    Not me. Someone else then. Somebody hurt her? “Who?”
    “No one. I. . . I hurt myself.”
    “No, you didn’t. Tell me. Tell me, Caitlyn, or, by God, I’ll shake it out of you.”
    She breathes out a hard sigh. “Connor Gardner. He pulled me into the game room and tried to . . .”
    I’ll get the bastard if it’s the last thing that I do. “Tried to what?”
    “He tried to kiss me. When I pushed him away, he yanked my arm. I struggled while he—”
    I growl.
    “Anyway, I managed to free myself and ran out. That’s all.”
    “Why didn’t you say something?” Connor Gardner lives on the fringes of society, going from one party to the other. I invited him because he can be amusing at times and because he contributes the occasional column to the Style section of The Washington Courier. I’d hoped he would report on the party. But now, I sincerely hope he doesn’t. If he does, I’ll sue the bastard. Hell, I may sue him anyway for hurting Caitlyn.
    “He’s your guest. I didn’t want to cause any trouble.”
    “You’re my guest as well, and my employee. You are to be treated honorably.” Not like a piece of meat. He’ll regret what he did to her. I have ways of making him pay. “Did he bruise your wrist?”
    “A-a little.”
    “I’ll pummel the bastard.”
    “You don’t have to.” Strangely, her voice holds a smile. “I kneed him before I ran out.”
    I laugh. “And here I thought the string quartet chased him away.”
    “It’s not funny.” Her joy has turned to anger. As well it should.
    “Oh, my sweet girl. I’m so sorry this happened to you. Nobody should ever hurt you.” Without thinking about what who she is, who I am, I reach for her hand and kiss her wrist.
    She makes a sound of some kind. Not a protest, but a surprise. For a a couple of heartbeats, neither of us say anything. What is there to say? I’m her boss. She’s my employee. We’re headed toward forbidden territory. Again. But it’s too late to take back the kiss.
    She wiggles her hand loose from my grasp. “I should go. It’s late.”
    I don’t want her to leave. “Stay.”
    “I . . . can’t, Mr. MacKay.”
    “Sterling. Sure you can.” I find her shoulder and trail the satiny skin of her shoulder blade. Only a thin spaghetti strap greets me, one which wouldn’t take much to tear off. Resisting the temptation, I continue my journey to her throat, her jaw. My thumb rubs against her lips, soft as an angel’s wings. The sweetness of her beats at me. I want another taste of her mouth, of her.
    “Wh-What are you doing?”
    I chance a smile. “If you don’t know, I’m doing a lousy job of it.” She smells of something citrusy. Oranges, lemons. Whatever it is, I want to eat her up. I kiss the hollow of her throat, nibble the heartbeat that throbs beneath her silky skin.
    “Someone could come in.” She chokes out.
    She’s right, damn it. But there’s a simple solution. Trying hard to keep my lust in check, I step back. If she remains, it will be her decision. I won’t force myself on her. There’s only one entrance to the library and it locks from the inside. “The door has a lock. Turn it and stay or open it and leave. Your choice.”
    She’s trembling in