Little White Lies Read Free Page A

time to go back, she would dress as she always had and hope by then he will have forgotten all about it. 
     
    “If you would all take a moment to look around, you’ll find fresh glasses and a staff member ready to pour the champagne.  While you’re filling your glasses, I’ll hand the microphone over Holt Devlin, whose generosity has made this celebration possible.” 
     
    Amid cheers and thunderous applause, Holt joined her on the stage. But even his employee’s enthusiastic response didn’t seem to appease his obvious anger with her.  Miranda thrust the microphone blindly into his hand and made a hasty retreat.  What in the world had ever made her believe a man like Holt would want her?  He probably thought she was some closet party girl who played the shy assistant by day and the wild woman at night.  Her cheeks burning with humiliation, Miranda threaded her way across the room and escaped into the hallway.  She all but ran to the elevator, stabbing at the button until at last the bell dinged and the doors slid open.
     
    In the solitude of the office she collapsed in her chair, the pain in her heart so sharp she clutched at her chest.  What had she’d done?  He’d held her in such high esteem before tonight and now…she didn’t even want to know what Holt thought of her. 
     
    Bri could have pulled this off, she realized dismally.  Bri would have looked elegant not cheap, and Holt would have gazed at her sister with desire instead of revulsion.  Miranda covered her face with her hands and sobbed.  She’d made a horrible mess of things and couldn’t even being to figure out how to make it right.
     
                            ***
     
    Holt made the toast as expected, but his eyes never left Miranda the entire time.  He’d hurt her.  He’d watched her face crumble, watched as she scurried off the stage and wheedled her way through the happy crowd and slipped out the door.  Guilt and remorse twisted at his gut. Somehow, he made it through the brief speech and off the stage before he made an idiot of himself and begged someone to stop her. 
     
    And what would he say to her anyway?  Gee, Miranda, I’m sorry for being such a heartless bastard but you see it was the only way I could keep from grabbing you up in my arms and carrying you to the nearest bed?   She understood him on so many levels, but he seriously doubted she would comprehend that he’d done it to protect her, not hurt her.
     
    Holt nodded and smiled his way across the room but didn’t stop to talk to anyone.  He had to find her and make sure she was okay.  He would think of something, make up a story about why he was suddenly so irate and assure Miranda it had nothing to do with her.  It wouldn’t be easy being that close to her again but he was a grown man, for God’s sake. Surely he could maintain the same indifference towards her that he did to other women. 
     
    Granted, he thought she was breathtaking. And yes, he wanted her, but she had no power over him.  She was just a woman, after all, and Holt was an expert at keeping that stone wall around his heart where they were concerned.  Miranda was no different.  He was merely attracted to her sexually and that could easily be remedied in the arms of someone else.
     
    “Right,” he muttered, “as long as I keep my eyes closed and pretend it’s Miranda.”
     
    The hallway was empty, and she wasn’t out in front of the building.  This is ridiculous, he thought when he knocked on the ladies restroom then poked his head in when there was no response.  He called out her name, called himself a name for caring whether she was upset or not, then cursed her again for making him feel like a school boy with a crush.  He considered going up to his office to check there but decided she’d probably just gone home.  He would go home himself, take a shower and change and then give her a call. 
     
    He would make it casual; just a boss checking to