Untaming Lily Wilde Read Free Page A

brushed, trimmed, and generally primped and preened until Lily's flesh tingled and her reflection glowed. So delighted was Cayley with the all new Lily Wilde, that she insisted on topping off the expedition by buying Lily some designer pumps with three inch heels, insisting they were essentials, and that the expense account would cover it.
    By the time they welcomed their guests into The Ellington's grand dining hall, Lily was a new woman, albeit a sore one (surely the bikini wax had been overkill, and those gorgeous new shoes were giving her designer blisters). Still, a showbiz smile was what was required, and Lily was going to give tonight her all.
    Lily followed Cayley's lead, mingling with caterers, musicians and audio-technicians; prompting speeches, symphonies and toasts. Cayley assured Lily that most of the work was in the prep, that tonight was more about keeping everything flowing as planned, whilst enjoying the spectacular eye candy. It was suddenly clear to Lily that her and Cayley’s tastes in men differed by a few million degrees. The clusters of clean cut, shiny shoed fellas in grey suits just didn’t get her kettle boiling. She scanned the hall coyly; no one. Dang. She liked the idea of a sexy stranger to faun over from afar. No such luck. The girls resumed their circuit with cheery, professional smiles; checking on the kitchen, then the service team, then… Lily caught her breath. Now, that’s more like it!
    Leaning in a doorway, lost in thought, was a man who cut through tonight’s mould. Early thirties, with loose black trousers hanging perfectly from just below his slim waist; deep plum shirt over wide shoulders, unbuttoned a little round a strong neck; tussled mahogany hair, and plenty of rough-shaven stubble; oh yes, he was one hundred percent Lily’s type. She laughed to herself, amused that the only guy she’d found attractive probably worked for the hotel. He sure didn’t look like the legal type, not if tonight was anything to go by. Oh Jesus, he’s seen me staring. Lily flushed crimson and almost lost her footing. Good one, Lily. Very subtle.
    Suddenly, Lily was being hustled to one side. Mr Bateman grabbed her wrist. "Emergency. Make yourself useful. Mrs Cane's overdone it again. Total lush. I'm putting you in charge of her needs so bloody well be discrete."
    Mrs Cane had left the dining hall and was making her way, destructively, along a corridor, toward the kitchen. Lily cursed her new heels as she stumbled after the older lady.
    "May I be of any assistance, Madam?" Lily panted, catching her breath, but doing her best to sound the part.
    "Labatowy," slurred Mrs Cane.
    "Lavatory? Of course, this way," Lily asserted, leading her to an adjoining corridor, past a flustered Mr Bateman, past a huddle of raucous legal secretaries, past the tall unshaven gentleman with his cocky smile and penetrating eyes… Hmm… Keep walking, Lily, now just focus , she told herself, nearly there…
    "I'm going to be sick. Oh God - girl - take this," yelled Mrs Cane, then she thrust her half-full glass of red wine precariously into Lily's hand. Her leopard-print, pill box hat, toppled to the floor as the woman threw herself into the washroom. Lily bent to get it, turning back as she straightened up. Then, catching her heel in the carpet, she tripped, lunged, and emptied the contents of the glass over - oh shit - Mr Bateman’s crotch.
    “You stupid fucking bitch!” He hissed.
    Before Lily had a chance to react, a deeper voice growled down the corridor, “Is there a problem, Mr Bateman?”
    Aw crap. Lily’s unshaven sex-god had just witnessed her extremely un sexy fall from grace.
    Bateman audibly yelped, “Lord Harper!”
    Lord Harper? OK. So this guy wasn’t a hotel employee.
    Bateman hurried towards him. “Such a surprise. I thought - well - we weren’t aware you’d be attending,” he grovelled, then whispered, “- what with it being the baronesa’s opening ceremony tonight.”
    Lord Harper’s