LEAD ME ON Julie Ortolon (mind reading books .TXT) 📖

of women are, you know. He’s rich, he’s famous, and he’s good-looking. Not as good-looking as Adrian, but definitely not bad.”

“Well, I’m not after him, I assure you. I like your uncle, yes, and we’ve become friends, but that’s all.” She set the clipboard back on her lap. “Now, where were we?”

“He looks at you that way, too.”

“What?” A little thrill tingled to life deep in her belly before she could squelch it. “Never mind. Let’s get back to work.”

“Okay.” Chloe shrugged hugely. “I just thought you’d want to know, ‘cause it really is kinda funny.”

“What’s funny?” The question popped out on its own.

Chloe grinned. “It’s like he’ll be fine one minute, just everyday Uncle Scott, then you walk into the room and his brain shuts off because all he can do is try to watch you without you catching him. Worst case of google-eyes I’ve ever seen.”

So he did still want her. Allison looked away, caught in the unexpected pleasure of it.

“Hello.” Chloe waved a hand before her face. “You wanna set up this display or not?”

“Hum?” She blinked.

“We’re done unpacking the dolls. You wanna arrange them on the table?”

“Oh, uh ... no, I’ll do it later.”

“Google-eyes.” Chloe shook her head, looking thoroughly disgusted. “I think I’ll go see what Adrian is cooking. Maybe I can help him in the kitchen.”

“Yes, all right.” Alli nodded and followed Chloe to the doorway. “Thank you for your help.”

When Chloe disappeared, she stared across the hall. Did Scott really watch her with “google-eyes”? The term in connection to someone so masculine should have made her laugh. Instead, she stood, breathlessly wondering.

From the office, she heard his voice. Just the sound of that deep rumble tugged at her. She cocked her head, not meaning to eavesdrop, but unable to resist listening.

“No, Hugh,” she heard him say. “I am not negotiable on this. I know my contract says I have to turn in a proposal, but you and I both know what will happen if I do. Penny Nichols will start picking it apart, questioning everything, and this book will never get written. Besides, we don’t have time for the proposal stage.”

Silence fell as he listened to his agent and she found herself moving toward the doorway.

“I know that. But have you stopped to consider that this whole process is largely to blame for why I’ve been so blocked lately? I just want to write the book, turn it in, then let her pick it apart. I don’t mind revisions, within reason, but I am sick to death of her questioning everything ahead of time.”

She could see him pacing before the settee with the cordless phone pressed to his ear. Even dressed casually, he had a way of moving that spoke of confidence, cunning, and an aloof sort of power, as if he were apart from ordinary men.

Unattainable.

The word popped into her head, and she realized that had been his appeal all along. He was unattainable, not because his fame and fortune put him out of reach—she had too many famous relatives to think that—but because he was self-contained and had no desire to be otherwise.

How wonderfully safe that made him.

Smiling, she leaned on the doorjamb and took full advantage of the opportunity to watch him unobserved.

“Yes, I have an outline for my own use, but I’m not showing that to anyone. Are you nuts? It’s just a bunch of handwritten gibberish. I gave her a title, the setting, and basic premise for the art department to start the cover. That’s all she’s getting.”

He turned to face the windows, presenting her with a view of broad shoulders. Too bad his loose shirt hid the way his back tapered down to the tight set of buns inside his jeans. She knew they were there, though, could remember quite clearly the feel of those buns in her hands as he’d driven inside her.

“Hugh, that’s blackmail! I thought you worked for me, not them.” He paced some more, then stopped before the coffee table as something caught his eye. “Okay, fine.”

He bent forward to scoop up a hardcover book, teasing her with one quick glimpse of his denim-covered backside. “If Penny is that stuck on doing everything according to the letter of the contract, tell her the outline is on its way... Yes, I’m serious. In fact, I’ll send it right now.”

Lowering the phone, he hit the off button and turned. He froze when he saw her, and she blushed at being caught gawking.

“I um, I was just...” She made a vague gesture with her hand. “I couldn’t help but overhear. I take it there’s a problem?”

“Don’t ask.” He sighed. “Look, can I bum a piece of paper?”

“Certainly.” Frowning in confusion, she went to the desk and took a seat so she could retrieve a sheet out of the printer.

He carried the book over to the desk, placed it down on the piece of paper, then took a pen and traced around it. Setting the book aside, he bent forward to write something. She was struck by the memory of the day he’d arrived, and felt as breathless now as she had then.

“Here.” He straightened abruptly and handed the paper to her. “Will you fax this for me? To the name and number I’ve written on the back. I’ll pay for the call, naturally.”

She glanced at the paper before she placed it in the fax tray. Within the rectangle, he’d written the words “A Novel by Scott Lawrence” in bold block letters. When the document was on its way, she looked up at him. “Care to tell me what this is all about?”

“My publisher’s threatening to cancel my contract.”

Shock came first. “Why would they do that? It doesn’t make sense. You’re a huge bestseller.”

“They’re publishers.” He shrugged. “They don’t have to make sense.”

“But can they get away with it?”

“If they can prove I broke even one minor clause, they can do anything they want.” He started pacing again. “The stupid thing is, until I heard from Hugh