The Reluctant Duke Read Free

come in at nine o’clock this morning, so that we could go over the contracts together before Andrew Proctor arrives at ten?’
    As the legal representative for all the St Claire Corporation’s dealings, Gideon kept an office just down the hallway from this one, as well as having his own private offices in the city.
    Lucan
had
forgotten Gideon was coming in this morning—a phenomenon completely unheard of until today; business had always come first, second and last with Lucan.
    Gideon gave a speculative smile. ‘Miss Whatever-her-name-is should sit in on the meeting—Proctor will be sodistracted by the way she looks he won’t have any idea what he’s signing!’
    ‘Her name is Lexie Hamilton,’ Lucan supplied harshly. ‘And I would prefer Andrew Proctor to know
exactly
what he’s signing. I also don’t think it appropriate for you to make such personal remarks about an employee, Gideon,’ he added darkly.
    ‘I didn’t arrive soon enough to actually see her face, but any man with red blood still flowing in his veins couldn’t help but notice that pert little bottom! ‘ his brother assured him dryly.
    A frown creased Lucan’s brow as he realised he wasn’t altogether sure he felt comfortable discussing his outspoken but definitely sexy temporary temp in these terms—even with Gideon. ‘Perhaps she might prove too much of a distraction?’
    His brother raised mocking brows. ‘Too much of a distraction.?’
    Once again Lucan stood up restlessly. ‘Not to me personally, of course,’ he bit out tersely.
    ‘No?’
    Lucan felt his irritation deepen. ‘No!’
    ‘Then there’s no problem with her sitting in on the meeting later this morning, is there? ‘ Gideon dismissed practically.
    No problem at all—except that Lucan already
knew
Lexie was likely to prove as much of a distraction to him as she was to anyone else!
    ‘I had a call from John Barton this morning, concerning some damage to Mulberry Hall that needs looking at.’ Lucan firmly changed the subject. ‘I don’t suppose you feel like going back to Gloucestershire for a few days…?’
    ‘I don’t suppose I do,’ his brother came back firmly.
    Exactly what Lucan had thought Gideon might say…Lexie was fully aware of Lucan St Claire’s presence as he came through from the adjoining office fifteen minutes later, to stand looking down at her broodingly from the other side of her desk. She was so aware of him that she deliberately ignored him as she kept typing into her laptop, until she had finished writing an email to Brenda, in the office at Premier Personnel, after the other woman had emailed Lexie to tell her she had successfully managed to reassure Lucan St Claire that Lexie Hamilton was indeed a temp sent from their agency.
    Lexie had panicked slightly when Lucan St Claire had told her he intended telephoning Premier Personnel himself. She’d hurried back into the adjoining office to quickly put a call through to Brenda, her assistant in her parents’ absence, to explain, and also arrange to meet Brenda for coffee after work this evening, so that she could explain the situation more fully.
    Although Lexie wasn’t one hundred per cent certain she could completely explain this situation to
herself,
let alone a third party.
    It had been pure impulse—along with a lot of curiosity!—that had prompted her into coming here in the first place. An impulse and a curiosity she already regretted.
    She hadn’t expected to like the powerful Lucan St Claire, and she didn’t. She had already decided after their brief conversation earlier that his reputation for being cold and arrogant was well justified. But there was no denying that he was strikingly handsome, too.
    His colouring—that dark hair and those piercing jetblack eyes, his sculptured features—reminded Lexie so much of his father, Alexander.
    She looked up at him blandly. ‘Is there a problem with the intercom, Mr St Claire…?’
    Lucan’s mouth thinned at her obvious sarcasm.