Natural Blond Instincts Read Free Page A

cocked his head. “Where should we begin?”
    â€œI’m not sure we have anything to begin.” How had it come about that she’d agreed to this insanity?
    Oh yeah, she’d decided she could do anything and might as well prove it to the world. Dammit, this whole mess was her own fault.
    How she hated to admit that.
    But one thing about growing up so quickly, about learning how to survive on her own, she’d also matured. Learned how to handle herself in just about any situation, including this one.
    With a flick of his wrist, he glanced at his gold watch. “You know, you’re not actually not that far off, time-wise. I have to admit to being a bit surprised on that score.” Mr. Cool wore perfectly perfect creased dark-gray trousers and a perfectly perfect matching silk shirt that complemented his tall, leanly muscled form. Even his shoes screamed sophistication and had probably cost more than her entire wardrobe, most of which she’d picked up thanks to her Nordstrom’s discount or her favorite hobby—consignment shops. She couldn’t help it, she loved old things, particularly the glamour and style of the mid-twentieth century. Not that thisman would know anything about that. He wore a pair of the latest wire-rimmed glasses, so completely in vogue she wondered if they were even prescription. Behind his lenses blazed a set of dark-blue, intelligent eyes that warned her not to underestimate him.
    Actually, Kenna usually enjoyed intelligent men. She loved to talk, loved to debate, but in her world—correction, her father’s world—intelligence couldn’t compensate for lack of a sense of humor or a basic interest in anything outside of business, both of which were incredibly important to her.
    This man, whoever he was, epitomized Mallory Enterprises just by standing there in his dark colors. He made her feel conspicuous and out of place. The only thing slightly redeeming him was that he seemed willing to talk to her at all.
    Until he said, “I’m okay with you running out of here, if you’d like. I’m not really up for dealing with the boss’s spoiled daughter anyway.”
    While that made her see red, a welcome color in this place, she managed to stay calm. “Who the hell are you?”
    â€œSorry.” He pushed away from the wall, seeming even bigger now, and held out his hand. “Weston Roth.”
    Okay, so he wasn’t ancient, wasn’t a fuddy-duddy and she was quite certain she hadn’t wowed or dazzled. Looked like their working relationship was off to an interesting start. “Well, Weston Roth. What do you say we make our first compromise. I’ll forgive and forget the spoiled-daughter statement, and the fact that you’re a pompous ass for saying it, if you’ll forgive me for being all of seven minutes late.” She slipped her hand in his, a little surprised by how big and warm it was.
    He started to say something, but from behind the conference room door came the distinct sounds of men rising from their seats.
    Followed by muted voices and… footsteps.
    The dark suits were coming this way. Terrific. She didn’t want to deal with her father right now. “What do you say we take this little meet-and-greet into one of our offices?” she asked a bit hastily.
    â€œSure.” He gestured with his head which way to go, and kept up with her stride for stride. His smug smile told her he knew who she was avoiding and why, and it made her want to trip him.
    She could handle this, she reminded herself as they walked. She could handle this and him.
    She could handle anything. And if she said it often enough, it just might be true.
    Â 
    S HE WALKED into his office ahead of him, eyes flashing and chin high in the air, as if she wasn’t wearinga skirt better suited for swinging from a pole than for a boardroom, and a silky tank that made Wes think of the beach.
    He gestured her to one of the