Secretary on Demand Read Free Page B

and stared at his shoes. She hadn’t realised how big a man he was. Not just tall, but broad-shouldered and powerfully built. ‘Why shouldn’t I be?’ She raised her eyes to his and made fleeting contact.
    â€˜Because, reds, you looked pretty shaken up back there in the restaurant.’
    Shannon debated whether she should tell him to stop calling her ‘reds’ and decided, perversely, that she liked the nickname.
    â€˜Did I?’ she said airily. ‘I thought I handled myself very well, actually. I mean, losing a job isn’t the end of the world, is it?’ Bills. Rent. Food. Not the end of the world but not far off.’
    â€˜Look, it’s cold trying to hold a conversation out here. Why don’t you hop in my car. I want to talk to you.’
    â€˜ Hop in your car? I’m very sorry but I can’t do that.’
    â€˜Why not?’
    â€˜Because I don’t know you. You could be anyone. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying you’re an axe-wielding maniac, but you could be for all I know.’
    â€˜An axe-wielding maniac?’ he asked, bemused.
    â€˜Or a fugitive from the law. Anyway, my mother told me never to accept lifts from strangers.’
    â€˜I’m not a stranger! You’ve been serving me breakfast every morning just about for months! Nor am I a fugitive from the law. If I were a fugitive from the law, wouldn’t I be hiding out somewhere less conspicuous than a busy Italian restaurant in the middle of crowded Notting Hill? Your imagination is obviously as vivid as your temper, reds.’
    â€˜And stop calling me reds .’ She’d decided she didn’t care for the appellation after all. It was insulting.
    â€˜Then accompany me, please, for a short ride in my car which is just around the corner. I want to talk to you.’
    â€˜Talk about what?’
    â€˜Oh, good grief,’ he groaned. ‘Let me put it this way, it’ll be worth your while.’ He turned on his heel and began walking away, expecting her to follow him, and she did, clutching her coat around her and half running to keep up.
    â€˜I don’t even know your name!’ she panted in his wake. ‘And where are you planning on taking me for this little talk that will be worth my while?’
    He stopped abruptly and she cannoned into him. Instinctively he reached out and steadied her. ‘Kane Lindley,’ he said, ‘in answer to your first question. Anda little coffee-bar two blocks away in answer to your last. We could walk but my time on the meter is about to run out so it’s as easy for us to take the car and I’ll find somewhere else to park.’
    She realised that he was still holding her by her arms, and he must have realised that as well because he politely dropped his hands and waited for her to respond.
    â€˜Kane Lindley…’
    â€˜That’s right. Have you heard of me?’
    â€˜Why should I have heard of you?’ Shannon asked, puzzled.
    He said swiftly, ‘Absolutely no reason. I’m not a celebrity but I own Lindley publications and I’m now in charge of a television network.’ He zapped open his car with his remote after a short mental tussle. Shannon hurried over to the passenger side and slipped in, slamming the door against the stiff cold.
    â€˜I haven’t heard of Lindley publications,’ she told him as soon as he was sitting next to her.
    â€˜It doesn’t matter.’ His voice was irritable. ‘I’m not trying to impress you. I’m merely trying to put you at ease in case you think I’m not to be trusted.’
    â€˜Oh. Right. Well…’ She stared out of the window. ‘I’m Shannon McKee. How long were you lurking around, waiting for me to come out, anyway?’
    â€˜I wasn’t lurking around, reds,’ he growled. ‘As a matter of fact, I went to buy some ties at a little shop tucked away around the corner and then