Love Entwined Read Free

would stop now.
    Gently, he let go of her hand and it fell to her side.
    “Ms. Laurent, it is my pleasure to meet you.” The low timbre of his accented English curled her peachy-pink colored toes.
    She couldn’t speak. He did not know her.
    Of course, he could not know what happened at night in her bedroom. It was the bold lust in his eyes that made it seem as if he did.
    She averted her gaze so he would not see the truth of those nights in her eyes.
    “Mr. Cardiff,” she whispered. Her heart was beating so fast, she was afraid she would embarrass herself and break out in a cold sweat.
    Calm down.
    “Please, call me Roman.”
    She could think of a million reasons why she should not. There was that predatory smile again.
    “Roman has commissioned Penrods to collaborate on the new Cardiff collection.”
    She turned toward the voice and her tunnel vision broadened. Harold was still in the room.
    Ah, yes, Cardiff Jewels in England…
    Giles Cardiff had a stroke last year. Roman Cardiff was the owner of the company now that his father had passed away. Talk about old money. Cardiff Jewels remained one of the most successful corporations in the business. It had a stronghold on the market, and showed no signs of weakening its grip.
    Until now, she had never encountered any of the Cardiffs. She knew their specific production requirements, which were relayed through Harold to the design department.
    I have been carrying on with this hunk in my dreams.
    Now that the man had infiltrated the real world, left her apartment and come out in the light of day, it was clear she had been dreaming. This man had a name, a very well known name, and a life. He had been born to a jewel dynasty. He was not a phantom.
    Mr. Cardiff’s eyes burned into hers. There wasn’t anything angelic about them now. She felt naked. Focus. He was saying something.
    “…and I would like you to work on the designs.”
    “Me?” She asked. Breathe. She fought to regain her equilibrium. It wasn’t working.
    “Yes and the timing is perfect, now that you’re no longer working on that other project.” With a smug smile, Harold came out from behind his desk to stand between them.
    She needed some breathing room and stepped away from Mr. Cardiff. She was still close enough to hear him chuckle under his breath.
    She frowned at him. Was he making fun of her? No, what she read in his eyes was a challenge.
    He gave her a repentant grin.
    Maybe it was three months of pent up anger at being—for lack of a better word—manipulated in her home. Or, maybe it was three months of the best sex—real or imagined—she’d ever had in her life with a phantom who chose to introduce himself at this very inconvenient time when she was trying to quit her exhausting job. It was also just as likely the fact that her warm and generous dream lover was actually a pampered and conceited heir who probably had more woman than the time required to service them. Whatever the reason, she had reached her limit.
    She faced Mr. Cardiff. Folding her arms, she acknowledged what had passed between them and accepted his dare. “It would be my pleasure.”
    Harold gave her an odd look and guided her to the divan as if she needed some guidance, which only served to irk her more. “You will be in good hands with Amelie. Did you know that she was lead designer behind Bijou’s Artisan Collection?”
    “I had no idea.” There was a slight edge to Mr. Cardiff’s tone, but it was nothing compared to the arrogance that frosted his eyes. “And how is our old friend Garamonde?”
    Was it possible to hate someone at first sight?
    “Still old, I suppose.”
    Harold coughed, and she refused to look at him. She would stare Mr. Cardiff down until closing time, if need be.
    As quickly as his eyes had frosted, they warmed up again with amusement.
    She could not quell the sinking feeling she had lost control of the situation. She suspected it had never been in her possession in the first place. But now