Downtown Girl (Lipstick Red #1) Read Free

leggy blondes in short skirts, so she was grateful for the brunette waves that she’d simply tie back in a pony tail, or twist up into a bun.  To help mute her blue gray eyes, she chose her glasses rather than her contact lenses.  They made her look intelligent.
     

Chapter 3
     
    In Leeds, Taylor set her phone map, walking the route to find out where David Burton’s building was in relation to her hotel.  It was only a ten minute walk.  She wouldn’t have to get up too early. 
    International Shipping Company , she snorted to herself as she stood below its five storey high office and warehouse building.  She wondered if he still dabbled in drugs, and if his company was an excuse to launder money.  It would certainly explain why he’d achieved such wealth and power in such a short time.  She also knew that Kevin would be disappointed in her for even thinking it, as he was a great believer in successful rehabilitation of hardened criminals.
    Turning away from the building, she swung round swiftly, intending to return to her hotel and prepare for the next morning.  Flinging her leather satchel bag over her shoulder, she felt it strike something behind her, hearing an instant grunt, as if she'd slugged someone with the force of a hurricane.
    Her hands flew to her mouth in shock as she whipped round to find a man with blood seeping from a split top lip.
    'Oh, I am sorry.....I'm such a klutz.  Honestly, I shouldn't be let out in public.'  She dropped her bag to the ground as she bent over it, pulling out tissues to dab at his mouth, pressing them firmly in her haste to make amends for slugging a stranger.
    Shame brought bright spots to her cheeks, and specs of blood dripped onto her old and comfy travelling jeans.  For a second, she was irrationally annoyed to have spoiled them, but realized she was being selfish.
    'American, I presume,' he said as his hand caught her wrist, removing the pressure from his mouth.  'It's not every day I get slugged by a pretty girl, I have to admit,' he said, touching the spot where his top lip was swelling impressively.
    She'd concentrated on the bleeding lip, but as he held onto her wrist for that few seconds too long, she raised her gaze and caught his eye.  His sapphire eyes met her blue grays with surprise, and a hint of laughter.  His dark hair ruffled in the light breeze and her heart skipped a beat as she stood open mouthed, staring at him.
    Flaming Nora, he's hot , she thought.  Her cheeks flushed again at her instant attraction.  She would have to be wearing her travelling jeans with her below the shoulder length hair loose and natural, falling in wild waves and billowing out in all directions.  She knew she looked a mess.
    His mouth twitched as she pulled her wrist from his lingering grasp.  'Sorry again,' she said, flustered and nervous, as she bent down to pick up her bag.
    'Yours, I presume?'  He quirked a single brow while picking up the hotel receipt that had fallen from her bag.  'And, the pleasure's all mine, I assure you,’ he said, narrowing his eyes as he dabbed at the congealing blood on his lip with her tissue.
    A black limousine pulled up slowly alongside him, a driver jumping out to open the door.  'Sorry I'm late sir, traffic held me up.'  The driver picked at the seam of his jacket, nervous and unsure, his hands shaking.
    'You're new,' David said, smiling at the quaking chauffeur and easing his guilt.  'It can't be helped.  If I could predict traffic, I'd be the richest man on earth.'  The driver visibly relaxed and managed a grin as his passenger slid into the back seat.  'Can I drop you anywhere….Taylor,' his deep tone asked before he closed the door.
    'It's not far, I can walk,' she gushed, before watching him pull away.  As the car turned the corner, she saw him glance back, catching her standing and watching.  Bloody hell, he knows my name, she thought as his use of her name registered and she realized he'd seen her receipt.  He