Love Contract (The Match Broker) Read Free

Milán to him. He held her in an
unyielding embrace as his lips clamped down on hers.
    He felt Milán try to wrench herself free, but she was no match
against his strength, or his irritation. He would teach his mother a lesson once
and for all, and if he had to use her latest protégé to ram that point home, so
be it. With practiced movements, Adrian slid one of his hands up and into her
hair at the base of her neck to hold her steady. His other arm moved to encircle
her back. He leaned over her, tilting her body backward in order to deepen the
kiss. Time slowed and then screeched to a halt for him as he continued the
onslaught of Milán’s mouth with deft precision.
    The kiss ended slowly. He took his time unlocking his lips from
hers. Unable to help himself, he gave one final nibble to her bottom lip before
moving his hand to her face. She tasted like nectarines. His thumb that caressed
the swollen flesh was slightly unsteady. “Tell my mother I said nice try,” he
spoke in a voice thick with emotion, “and Lord knows I do mean nice.”
    Adrian reluctantly stepped back so that he could look into
Milán’s face. He expected to see her all doe-eyed and flushed. Instead her eyes
bored into him with heated purpose. Her jaw was clenched so tightly the lips he
had so expertly ravished seconds before were thinned to mere slits.
    “Release me,” she ground out. “Now.”
    Instantly, she was free. A second later, Milán delivered a
well-placed fist to his midsection. Adrian’s world faded momentarily, but not
before he saw the expression of satisfaction that slid across her reddened
face.
    Caught off guard, he sagged against his desk. It took some
time, but eventually the pain dulled and he was able to stand up straight. He
took a few deep breaths. “I take it you didn’t like my message?”
    Milán reached over to grab her jacket off the chair, and a
portfolio out of her briefcase. She flung it on his desk, and left. Stopping
before she got to the door, Milán spun around to look at him. “If you ever put
any part of your anatomy on me again without my permission, I promise you I’ll
cut it off. Oh, and just so you know, your mother said you were looking to add
an interior designer and staging expert to enhance your practice. Considering
the real estate market we’re in right now, that was a wise choice on your part.
Regrettably, Mrs. Anderson didn’t warn me in advance how rude and unprofessional
her son was—not to mention being a narcissistic jackass. Had she done so, I
could’ve saved the price of parking.”
    Adrian winced when his office door slammed with such force it
sent one of his numerous Realtor awards crashing to the floor. A good minute
passed before he gingerly lowered himself into his chair. Breathe. He told himself. His ears were still ringing with the
censure of Milán’s words. The last part of her insult had been in Spanish, but
that didn’t matter. He was fluent in Spanish and understood every word she’d
said. Even if he hadn’t, the intonation translated perfectly. Inches away, her
résumé taunted him. Either he’d just made a monumental error in judgment, or his
mother wasn’t taking any chances on making Miss Dixon’s claim believable.
    Figure the odds of your being
wrong, his conscience piped in. Not after all
you’ve dealt with over the years. Still, what if he was? The familiar
throbbing returned to his temples. It would have to wait. The pain in his
stomach took higher priority.
    “Huh,” he said, incredulously. “I just got cursed out in two
different languages, and by a complete stranger. I guess it’s safe to say this
day couldn’t possibly get any worse.”
    Later that afternoon, his assistant knocked and immediately
entered his office.
    “I’m sorry to interrupt, Mr. Anderson, but I’ve been trying to
buzz you.”
    “I don’t want to be disturbed.” Adrian’s bad mood had
resurfaced after lunch. He had found out from one of his employees that a
potential client