His Sweet Revenge: Wedding Vow of Revenge / His Ultimate Prize / Bound by a Child. Katherine Garbera

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СКАЧАТЬ think I’m going to rue the day you took up your new scrapbook hobby.”

      “Hey, we aren’t all so focused on work that we don’t have outside interests.”

      “I have outside interests.”

      “Name one.”

      “I volunteer at the Boys and Girls club once a week.”

      That hadn’t been in her file, Angelo took a mental note.

      Danette snorted delicately. “Right, but you’re doing almost the same thing at the club as you do at Primo Tech.”

      “Hardly.”

      “You manage staff resources. How is that different?”

      “The staff is made up of volunteers.”

      Even Angelo could tell Tara was stretching the truth and it made him smile. For a woman dedicated to work-life effectiveness, she was lousy at practicing what she preached. “So, you volunteer at the Boys and Girls club, but you don’t connect with the kids?” he asked.

      She turned to face him, her expression mirroring her surprise and some embarrassment. “I didn’t realize you were there.”

      He handed her a cranberry spritzer over ice. “Your drink, as promised.”

      He’d been taking care of her in small ways like this one since they arrived at the barbecue and she didn’t seem to know how to take it. Apparently other men in her life had not pampered her. However, he was intelligent enough to know that pampering and seduction went hand in hand.

      She smiled, her rich chocolate eyes warm. “Thank you.”

      The snick of another picture came from her left and she jerked her head around. “Do you mind?”

      Ray had the sense to look abashed. “Sorry. Photography is a fairly new hobby for me.”

      Tara sighed expressively. “You and Danette and your hobbies. Give it a rest, would you?”

      “Sure.”

      Angelo gave the man a steely look that had sent more than one boardroom discussion going in the direction he wanted it to. “I wouldn’t mind getting copies of some of the photos. Would that be possible?”

      “You want pictures of the barbecue?” Tara asked, her voice pitched high in surprise.

      “Not really, but there are one or two guests I wouldn’t mind having a photo of.” He gave Tara a significant look.

      “If you want a picture of me, I’ve got an entire portfolio full I’m not using anymore.” She said it like a joke, but he didn’t smile.

      “I’d love to see them. Maybe you can get the portfolio out when we get back to your place.”

      Her mouth opened, but nothing came out.

      “If you can get her to show it to you, you’ll be getting further than most of us. For a former top model, she sure is shy,” Ray said, sounding put out.

      Danette smacked him in the arm, her eyes filled with teasing laughter. “Hey, you are supposed be interested in seeing my baby photos, not my best friend’s modeling shots.”

      Ray grinned and shrugged.

      Angelo frowned at him and the grin swiftly disappeared.

      “Are you going to swim?” Danette asked Angelo, going for a swift change of subject, apparently realizing he wasn’t as amused by her boyfriend’s interest in Tara as she was.

      The prospect of seeing Tara in a swimsuit sent his libido into overdrive. He met her wary brown gaze as he answered Danette. “I’d like to.”

      “Good.” She grinned at Tara. “How about you?”

      “I don’t think I will this time.”

      “Oh, come on.” Danette waved her hand in front of her face like a fan. “It’s hot and I know you brought your suit.”

      “If you don’t want to swim, we won’t,” he said making it clear he considered them a couple at this party and had no intention of participating in activities that didn’t include them both.

      If anything, her expression turned more wary. “You don’t have to refrain from swimming because I am.”

      “It’s not a problem.”

      She gave the sparkling water a look of longing and he moved closer, until he could touch her shoulder.

      Her head snapped up and their eyes locked.

      “Are you sure you don’t want to swim?”

      “I…”

      “What are you afraid of, Tara?”

      She licked her lips and let out a short sigh before averting her gaze. “You.”

      He hadn’t expected her honesty. “I promise not to dunk you.”

      “That’s not what worries me and I think you know it.” Tara spoke in a low voice so Danette and Ray, who were now arguing over when to start grilling the steaks, could not hear.

      “A life worth living requires taking a few risks.” Somehow, he was even closer than a moment ago.

      “I’ve taken my share.”

      “Not with me.”

      “And you want me to believe you’re different?”

      “I am.”

      Tara’s heart contracted at those two simple words. In a way, he’d already proven that. Other men would have tried to dismiss her reluctance to go swimming as trivial. Angelo saw the decision for what it was, an opportunity to either keep shutting him out or to let him one step closer to the private Tara Peters.

      It represented a willingness to socialize with him, not only as a couple, but also in a situation that left her vulnerable. Few women looked their best with their hair hanging down their back in a wet rattail. And no woman put on a swimsuit in front of a man she was hugely attracted to without taking a risk.

      Maybe after two years, taking this one small risk wouldn’t be so bad. She might be inviting Angelo closer, but she wasn’t going to bed with him. She wasn’t offering to have his babies or buy his staff presents at Christmas.

      “I’ll swim.”

      He nodded, his expression every bit as serious as hers. “Okay.”

      Tara hadn’t bothered with a wrap because her suit was pretty conservative, but as she walked toward Angelo, who watched her with blatant male appreciation, she wished she had. The navy-blue shorts and halter style suit covered almost as much as her clothes had, but it clung to her curves like a second skin and it was pretty obvious her sexy boss liked the view.

      When СКАЧАТЬ