Taming Natasha Read Free

warmer, she knew. He might be a jerk, but he loved his daughter.
    â€œI can carry her.” Freddie squeezed her new friend close.
    â€œAll right. Then I’ll just give you a ribbon for her hair. Would you like that?”
    â€œA blue one.”
    â€œA blue one it is.” Natasha led the way to the cash register.
    Nina took one look at the doll and rolled her eyes. “Darling, is that the best you could do?”
    â€œDaddy likes her,” Freddie murmured, ducking her head.
    â€œYes, I do. Very much,” he added with a telling look for Nina. Setting Freddie on her feet again, he fished out his wallet.
    The mother was certainly no prize, Natasha decided. Though that didn’t give the man a right to come on to a clerk in a toy store. She made change and handed over the receipt, then took out a length of blue ribbon.
    â€œThank you,” she said to Freddie. “I think she’s going to like her new home with you very much.”
    â€œI’ll take good care of her,” Freddie promised, while she struggled to tie the ribbon through the yarn mop of hair. “Can people come in to look at the toys, or do they have to buy one?”
    Natasha smiled, then taking another ribbon, tied a quick, sassy bow in the child’s hair. “You can come in and look anytime you like.”
    â€œSpence, we really must be going.” Nina stood holding the door open.
    â€œRight.” He hesitated. It was a small town, he reminded himself.And if Freddie could come in and look, so could he. “It was nice meeting you, Miss Stanislaski.”
    â€œGoodbye.” She waited until the door jingled and closed, then let out a muttered stream of curses.
    Annie peeked around a tower of building blocks. “Excuse me?”
    â€œThat man.”
    â€œYes.” With a little sigh, Annie waltzed down the aisle. “That man.”
    â€œHe brings his wife and child into a place like this, then looks at me as if he wants to nibble on my toes.”
    â€œTash.” Her expression pained, Annie pressed a hand to her heart. “Please don’t excite me.”
    â€œI find it insulting.” She skirted around the checkout counter and swung a fist at a punching bag. “He asked me to dinner.”
    â€œHe what ?” Delight showed in Annie’s eyes, before a look from Natasha dampened it. “You’re right. It is insulting, seeing as he’s a married man—even though his wife seemed like a cold fish.”
    â€œHis marital problems are no concern of mine.”
    â€œNo….” Practicality warred with fantasy. “I guess you turned him down.”
    A choked sound caught in Natasha’s throat as she turned. “Of course I turned him down.”
    â€œI mean, of course,” Annie put in quickly.
    â€œThe man has a nerve,” Natasha said; her fingers itched to hit something. “Coming into my place of business and propositioning me.”
    â€œHe didn’t!” Scandalized and thrilled, Annie grabbed Natasha’s arm. “Tash, he didn’t really proposition you? Right here?”
    â€œWith his eyes he did. The message was clear.” It infuriated her how often men looked at her and only saw the physical. Only wanted to see the physical, she thought in disgust. She had tolerated suggestions,propositions and proposals since before she had fully understood what they meant. But she understood now and tolerated nothing.
    â€œIf he hadn’t had that sweet little girl with him, I would have slapped his face.” Because the image pleased her so much, she let loose on the hapless punching bag again.
    Annie had seen her employer’s temper fly often enough to know how to cool it. “She was sweet, wasn’t she? Her name’s Freddie. Isn’t that cute?”
    Natasha took a long, steadying breath even as she rubbed her fisted hand in her other palm. “Yes.”
    â€œShe told me they had just moved to