Debts Read Free Page A

sees, every place he eats at. What he dreams of at night. Nothing about him is boring.
    He pulls out a set of ledgers and Quicken printouts. She forces herself to fake attention as he takes her through the fiscal year. Okay. Maybe some things about him are boring.
    The bottom line, as it has been for the last few years, is that the shop is solvent, barely. He doesn’t need a second loan. But he also isn’t going to pay back what he owes her early either. “And long-term,” she purrs suggestively. “Where do you see the shop in five years?” The thought of opening a tearoom in Hamilton flashes through her mind again; it would be so helpful to have running local businesses in common with him. With no false modesty, Natasha knows she’s a terrific businessperson and maybe when he sees her in her element, running a successful enterprise, he’ll finally see how well they’re suited for each other. Five years from now, they could look back at this as the moment that changed everything.
    She rests her forearms on the counter, leaning closer. The position does amazing things to the front of her dress.
Look
, she wills him,
look at what you’re giving up
.
    He shifts uncomfortably at the view. It’s the best she’s going to get because at that moment, a bell jingles and someone enters the shop. Without straightening, she turns to lookover her shoulder, tossing her long, sexy hair and curving her spine sensuously. Stretched out like this, in her backless dress, her Japanese scroll tattoo is practically a walking billboard for what Emmett’s magic hands can do to a woman’s body.
    A woman walks in—a girl, really. She enters confidently but comes to a stop when she sees Natasha. Wearing a pale pink shirt and a blue skirt with pale pink polka dots, she wouldn’t draw a second look on Main Street. Something about the way she breezes in bothers Natasha. She’s not here to get a tattoo, Natasha surmises, she’s here to see Emmett and wasn’t expecting Emmett to be entertaining company. Natasha smiles a predatory grin. She’s run into these little groupies before. Emmett can’t help collecting them like spare change, though he’s always kind to them, never taking them up on what they’re so clearly offering.
    “Hello,” she drawls. “What can we help you with today?” It’s a cruelly shaped thrust and the girl almost stumbles as she hesitates between staying and fleeing.
Run, little girl, run
, Natasha commands.
You can’t have him
.
    Emmett leaps off his stool and hurries around the counter to the girl. Natasha frowns, straightening. She’s never seen
that
before.
    “Miriam,” he says, reaching for the petite girl, resting a large hand on her shoulder, “is everything okay?”
    He knows her name and his voice rumbles with protective concern. Something twists deep in Natasha’s heart and the good pain of pushing on a bruise has suddenly turned to agony.
    “Fine, I’m fine,” Miriam says, nervously tucking long, curly hair behind her ears. “I—I didn’t mean to interrupt. I hope that, I mean, it’s just that …” Her words fizzle out as Natasha casually strolls over and stands close to Emmett.
    In her heels, Natasha’s much taller than the girl, almost as tall as Emmett, and she knowshow well the two of them fit physically, what a striking couple they make. She stands close enough to feel the body heat coming off through his tight black shirt, close enough that it makes a visual impact on the girl. Emmett hasn’t taken his eyes off the girl, nor has he bothered to introduce them. But Natasha sees how Miriam keeps looking at her, how she’s wondering who she is and what’s her relationship with Emmett.
    It’s bad news for you, little girl
, Natasha thinks.
I’m never going to be out of his system. And how are you going to compete with that?
    “I’m Natasha,” she says, holding out a long, slim hand to shake. “I’m Emmett’s business partner.”

Chapter Six
    Miriam’s face flames with