Surprise Seduction Read Free Page A

her.
    “I have to admit if those three were your idea of a joke, I didn’t find anything about this afternoon humorous.”
    “They were the most suited to your needs.”
    “My needs?”   He groaned.   “You have no idea.”
    “Actually, I do.   You gave me a list of what you required.   All three met and exceeded your specifications.”
    Oh, she’s good .   Maybe she’d take Sheila with her to the corporate office.   If she succeeded.   And she would.
    “The last one was too young.”
    “That shouldn’t be a problem under the circumstances.”
    Her heart raced as Chase sank into the chair she’d previously occupied.   Could he still feel where her body had warmed the chair?   She rolled her eyes.   She should be more worried about his picking up on the volcanic heat radiating from her rather than if he noticed she’d warmed his chair.
    Following Chase’s lead, Sheila sat back down, kicking Adrienne in the shoulder as she did so.
    Ouch .   She bit her tongue to hold in her cry.
    “I’m supposed to believe you’re serious about those three?”
    “You could always keep Kelly for a few more weeks if you want me to start over.”
    He groaned again.   Loudly.
    Startled, Adrienne jerked, bumping her head against the top of the desk.   She bit her lower lip, the metallic tang of blood souring her tongue.   How stupid .   Her heart pounded as she huddled into as small a shape as she could.
    “What was that?”
    Of course, he’d ask.   That thump had probably reverberated around the building.   It certainly echoed through her head.
    “That?   Oh, I banged my knee against my desk.   No big deal,” Sheila covered.   “Now, tell me, do you want me to call the agency and have them send over a new batch of prospective employees?”
    His sigh touched Adrienne’s heart, almost making her feel guilty for using him.   Then she recalled that he might be in on whatever scheme her stepfather was up to, and she pushed all feelings aside.
    “Hire the mouse.”
    Adrienne sucked in air.   Her plan was working .
    “The mouse?   Which one would that be?”   Sheila’s foot nudged her.
    “If you interviewed them, as you claim to have done, you know exactly which one I’m referring to.”
    “You must mean Miss Morris.”
    “I must.”   He didn’t sound overly happy with his decision.
    “She was interesting.”
    What was Sheila doing?   Adrienne stared at her friend’s ankles and considered pinching her.
    “To say the least,” Chase said.
    “She should make an appointment with my hairdresser.”
    That was it.   She flicked Sheila’s ankle.   She had seen Sheila’s hairdresser .   Yesterday.   The man freaked when she told him what she wanted done to her long curly blond hair.   He’d thought she was joking when she said she wanted to go to the dullest shade of brown he had.   She’d drawn the line at cutting her hair short, but she’d straightened, dyed, and trimmed to give herself a totally different look.   The glasses, baggy clothes, and new persona completed her disguise.
    “You think?”
    “I’ll call Miss Morris this afternoon and let her know the good news.”   Adrienne could almost hear Sheila’s smile.
    “You do that.”   Chase’s chair scraped across the floor.   “And, Sheila, Miss Morris better know her stuff.”
    Footsteps crossed the room and the door opened and closed.   Adrienne let out the breath she’d been holding.
    “Better know my stuff,” she mimicked as she crawled out from under the desk.   “I’ll have him know he works for me.”
    “Uhm, you had best forget about that.   You aren’t Adrianna Morrigan, daughter of the late business scion Ted Morrigan.   You’re Adrienne Morris, personal assistant to the charming playboy president of Weston Pharmaceutical.”
    Adrienne dusted her dress.   “I won’t forget, but I have a feeling I’ll be biting my tongue quite a bit around Chase.”
    “Better than biting his.”   Sheila winked.