Alveus (ABC's Inc. Romance #1) by Lara Earlman Read Free Book Online Page A

at ease. I
want to talk to her about the Fairfield Project, anyway.”
    No
sooner had he hung up the phone, when he received a call from Bruna. Oma had
fallen and injured her hip. She was on her way to the hospital.
     
    Dane
sped down the highway anxious to get to his grandmother’s side. Not that he
felt guilty for not visiting the estate in over a week – he had called her
every day. It was simply easier to run the business out of the office where he
could work hands-on with his employees. You can’t run a corporation over the
telephone; surely she understood that. What made him uneasy was how he had cut
Oma off whenever she mentioned Aly, and she mentioned her on every call. Dane
always changed the subject or invented a pressing matter which would put an
abrupt end to the call. Yeah, that definitely made him uncomfortable about
coming face to face with his grandmother.
    As
far as seeing Aly again, well time and distance had put things into perspective
for him. He was an adult male; he can certainly keep his carnal urges under
control. She was his employee and he knew from experience the ramifications of
crossing that line. Of course she had signed an agreement, so if the assignment
led to marriage he would have every right to insist she fulfill her contractual
obligations. A business deal, nothing more.
    The
whole fiancée fiasco had been another bane to contend with. Indeed, pictures of
him pulling Aly by the hand out of the crowded reception hall had made their
way onto the internet, with the caption, “Jealous fiancé!” He had only himself
to blame. Perhaps his employees wouldn’t have had anything to cry to Keith
about, if they hadn’t been gossiping and speculating among themselves about
him. It seemed the cat was out of the bag now, and he would soon be forced to
make a public announcement. First though, he needed to discuss his engagement
with Oma and of course, the woman in question.
    By
the time Dane pulled into the hospital parking lot he’d spoken several more
times with Bruna. The doctors had x-rayed Oma’s injured hip and leg, finding
nothing broken. She had been banged up pretty bad, though, and they were
keeping her overnight to make sure her vitals remained stable. Bruna avoided
his questions about how Oma had injured herself. Although bedridden, he was aware
that Oma did not stay in bed, using a wheelchair to move about her rooms. He
took the elevator to her floor and strode down the corridor past the waiting
lounge. As he approached her open door he became privy to a private
conversation.
    “Now
would be the ideal opportunity to fess up to Dane, Oma.” Aly’s tone was one
used to chastise an errant child. “He worries about you, and besides, he’s sure
to have questions about your tumble.”
    “But,
what if he takes his anger out on you and sends you away? He does have a
temper.”
    “Then
so be it, I suppose.”
    “But
his heart…”
    “Is
his to protect the best way he knows.”
    “I
love you, ein bisschen.”
    “I
love you too, Oma. But, I think he should know that you were faking your
illness. Deception will always come back to bite you on the tush.”
    Dane
heard Oma chuckle. He cleared his throat to warn them of his presence as he
stepped through the door. Aly kissed Oma’s cheek and hastened to exit the room.
    “I’ll
just leave you to your privacy,” she said, flashing him a smile without making
eye contact. He grabbed her arm to halt her escape.
    “Is
that any way to greet your fiancé?” he asked.
    “Oh,
I just thought you would be anxious to…”
    Dane
pulled her into a kiss. Her scent wafted over him, igniting his senses. Damn! He released her and she scurried out of the room.
    His
attention turned to the sweet gray-headed geriatric with the innocent, knowing
smile on her face. Leaning over to plant a kiss on her soft cheek, he noticed
how frail she looked in the hospital bed.
    “Okay,
Oma,” he said, opening his arms wide in surrender. “Have at