Nerd Gone Wild Read Free Page B

Night came early up here.
    Betsy shook her head. “Nope. Not many Porcupinians bother with the Internet. Long-distance charges would eat us alive.” She leaned closer. “Besides, all that’s just an unnecessary distraction, don’t you think? Shouldn’t you be concentrating on what you came here for, instead of worrying about business?”
    “Good point.” He couldn’t very well let her know that what he came here for could be better accomplished if he had good phone connections and easy Internet access.
    “Here are the facilities.” Betsy walked over to a door and opened it. “There’s only one bathroom for every two rooms, so you share with the person on the other side. That would be Ally.”
    He blinked in surprise. The arrangement suited him perfectly, but he’d bet Ally would have a few things to say about it. “Are you sure that will be okay with her?”
    “She knew when she made the reservation that all the rooms share a bath with another room. Here at the lodge, that’s what folks have to do. This is the Loose Moose, not the Hyatt Regency.”
    “I understand that, but if we’re the only two people here, it seems like she could have her own bathroom.” And he could picture her demanding it the minute she realized he was on the other side of her bathroom door. Might as well settle it now and avoid a scene.
    “She could, but that would mean me cleaning two bathrooms and turning up the heat for two bathrooms. Heat is expensive, and cleaning is my job in the winter. I don’t bring in a cleaning woman, on account of business being slow. I would appreciate it if you two would be willing to share.”
    “I’m more than willing to share. It’s just—”
    “Mitchell, for pity’s sake. Do you realize that you’re trying to change what is going to be to your advantage?”
    From a surveillance standpoint, she was absolutely right, but he decided to play dumb. “How’s that?”
    She blew out a breath. “I see you might need some coaching if you intend to get anywhere with Ally. Maybe that’s why she’s so put out with you. You may be a smart man when it comes to office matters, but when it comes to women, I’m afraid you’re not up to snuff.”
    “Could be. You’d better draw me a picture.”
    She nodded. “Only too happy to help. Even if I’m not getting any, that doesn’t mean I begrudge others their fun. See, sharing a bathroom will be cozy, almost like you’re in the same suite.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “Think of the opportunities. Her in there naked. Or you in there naked.”
    “I… ah… see what you mean.” And he didn’t want to go down that road, ever.
    The day he’d met Ally ten months ago she’d just climbed out of the swimming pool at the Jarrett mansion in Bel Air. He’d noted immediately that she was gorgeous.
    What wasn’t to like about silky black hair slicked back from a cameo face lit with intelligent green eyes? And that wasn’t taking into consideration a figure that was an outstanding endorsement for Speedo. But he’d killed his tug of sexual interest then, and he would continue to kill it.
    Lusting after Ally violated the spirit of the assignment he’d been given by Ally’s grandmother. Because of the respect he had for Madeline Jarrett, he wouldn’t let her down, even though she’d never know.
    When Madeline was dying of cancer, she’d hired him to pose as her personal assistant. Four months ago she’d passed on, leaving a will that officially commissioned him to handle the estate. Unofficially he was to safeguard Ally. Orphaned at a young age, Ally had become the focus of her grandmother’s life and the ultimate recipient of the Jarrett fortune, making her a very wealthy young woman in need of protection.
    Enter Mitch, who covered his PI and bodyguard status by disguising himself as a nerd. He wished the pretense hadn’t been so easy to maintain. In no time the routine had come back to him. Once again he felt like the skinny eighth-grader he used