Courting Innocence. Kimberly Dean

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ you’re not telling us?’

      Her employee sat down fast.

      ‘Erin has wanted him for ever,’ she shared conspiratorially. ‘He’s her older brother’s best friend, but also the kid from the wrong side of the tracks. Her parents would never let her see him.’

      The three of them leaned in like girls around a campfire sharing stories about the cute boys at school.

      ‘Did he want to see her?’ Rielle asked.

      ‘Does it matter?’ The gears in Sienna’s brain were turning fast. It was clear on her face. ‘You’ll either give Erin the thrill of her lifetime, or he’ll put an end to her using a matchmaker so fast, her head will spin. I know he will.’

      ‘Would he tell her family?’ Nina asked.

      ‘Never. One time Erin went out after curfew with this new cool girl at school. She got stuck in a really bad part of town, so she called Colt. He picked her up and never told anyone. Not even Dustin, her brother.’

      Sienna grimaced. ‘He chewed her up one side and down the other, though.’

      ‘But…is he still her type?’ Rielle ran her finger down the list of wishes Erin had given them. ‘Isn’t he some big trial attorney now? He intimidates me.’

      ‘Because the man oozes testosterone,’ Nina said.

      They all had to agree on that. Sex appeal was every woman’s type.

      ‘But for Erin?’ Rielle repeated.

      For Erin was more appropriate. Nina picked up the piece of paper with Colton King’s name atop the list. Knowing that background made a huge difference. ‘How young were they?’ she asked.

      Sienna tapped her lips. ‘Erin was maybe fifteen. I think Colt was eighteen or nineteen.’

      So, jailbait for him. He’d known better, but had Erin’s feelings been returned?

      Nina glanced at her screen. According to his wish list, they had. It matched Erin to a T.

      ‘I still remember my first crush,’ Rielle said quietly.

      They all shared a knowing look. Those first feelings of sexual attraction were powerful.

      Nina pulled up Colton King’s picture and turned the monitor so they could all see.

      ‘Mmm,’ Rielle hummed.

      ‘The forbidden fruit,’ Sienna whispered.

      ‘The match,’ Nina decided. ‘If he’s up for it.’

      Energy started buzzing in the office. Nina rose from her chair and went to the bar in the corner of the room. She poured herself a brandy and took a sip. King was a difficult one to read. A bad reaction from him, and her company could be in jeopardy. He was a powerful attorney. Definitely someone she didn’t want on her bad side.

      But what if, just if, she might be fulfilling his secret desires too?

      ‘I want to approach this very carefully,’ she said.

      ‘He won’t be what she’s expecting.’ Rielle warned. ‘And she’ll blame you, Sienna, for knowing and not telling her.’

      ‘She’d hate us more if she knew we had this chance and didn’t take it for her,’ Nina said. It wouldn’t be like the young Erin had dreamed in her pink bedroom with boy-band posters on the wall. Colton King was all man now, but just because she was sweet, it didn’t mean that Erin couldn’t handle that.

      Nina made the call. ‘We do this.’

      It was time to pair the lamb with the lion.

       Chapter Four

      The hallway to Luxxor’s offices seemed long and extra narrow. Erin’s knees were unsteady as she made her way to the meeting Nina had scheduled. They’d talked and agreed to try a new direction for her. This time it was going to be different, she could feel it.

      The idea excited her, yet also pushed her out of her comfort zone. She knew the type of man she’d described to Nina, but she’d never dated anyone like that. She hadn’t even spent much time in the company of someone like that – not in the past few years, anyway. Jason didn’t count. He felt too much like a big brother.

      Yet this. She felt as if she was moving up a league. When Nina had called, she’d asked three times if Erin was sure.

      She smoothed her dress over her hips. She was sure, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t anxious.

      She took a moment to dart into the ladies’ room to check how she looked in the mirror. The little black dress was simple but deceiving. It skimmed her body closely, emphasising her figure. She was petite, but she had curves. Not flamboyant ones, but she wasn’t a stick. She debated the hem once again. The dress was short, but not too short. She hoped. She’d tried to make herself look taller. Her black heels helped with that, although she couldn’t pull off the stilettos that Nina wore.

      Erin fluffed her hair. She’d had it up and then down, half-up in a barrette and then back down again. It hung in loose waves around her shoulders and down her back.

      She did a quick check of her makeup, but the brightness in her eyes and the pinkness in her cheeks hadn’t been painted on.

      ‘It will be fine,’ she told herself in the mirror.

      No, she wanted better than fine. She wanted out-of-this-world. She wanted unbelievable. She wanted lightning and thunder and magic.

      Switch it up. Get in the mix. Turn it upside down.

      Blowing out a quick puff of air, she finished the trek to Luxxor’s offices and entered through the heavy oak door.

      Despite the late hour, Rielle was waiting with a smile on her face. ‘Hello, Erin. Welcome.’

      ‘What are you doing here so late?’

      ‘Oh, just finishing up a few things.’

      Erin was glad she’d checked Sienna’s schedule. She wouldn’t have wanted to run into her roommate. Not tonight. They hadn’t yet talked about the fact that she was using Luxxor’s services, but she knew that Sienna was aware. They’d both skittered around the subject, neither really wanting to talk about it. Fortunately, her roommate and Jason were out at a function this evening.

      ‘Let me walk you to Nina’s offices,’ Rielle said. ‘She’ll introduce you.’

      Erin’s eyebrows rose. ‘He’s here already?’

      The office manager nodded.

      Erin’s stomach flipped. ‘What’s he like? Is he nice? No, I didn’t ask for nice. Is he interesting? Handsome? No, that’s not important. Does he have…presence?’

      Rielle СКАЧАТЬ