Bachelor Untamed by Brenda Jackson Read Free Book Online Page A

something like this?
    Although that one raw word still stuck out in her mind, Ellie decided she needed to start reading at the beginning and not jump to any conclusions. After all, just because this was found in Aunt Mable’s desk really didn’t mean anything. Her aunt was a retired English professor, so she was probably editing the book for a former student as a favor.
    Ellie figured that had to be it, and she was certain her aunt hadn’t started reading the manuscript yet—and could imagine her aunt’s gray hair turning a quick shade of white if she had read that passage she’d just read.
    Taking the banded papers in her hand, Ellie went to sit at her favorite chair by the window. After she’d settled in comfortably, she began reading.
     
    Uriel reached over to pick up his cell phone. “Yes.”
    “How are things going, son?”
    Uriel smiled, glad to hear his father’s voice. “Things are going great, Dad. I’ve been getting some reading done about that publishing company Donovan and I recently acquired. What about you? How are you doing?” Although his father had returned to work, Uriel was still somewhat concerned about him overdoing things. Long workdays were becoming a norm for Anthony Lassiter.
    “I’m doing fine. In fact, I just wanted you to know that I’ll be flying out later today for Rome. I have ameeting with one of our distributors there and plan to stay for a few days.”
    Uriel raised a brow. “Anything serious?”
    “No. In fact, it’s something one of the managers can handle, but I decided to go myself. Besides, it will give me a chance to see Zion. It’s been awhile since I’ve spent some time with godson number five.”
    All that was well and good, but unfortunately, Uriel was reading between the lines. His father’s eagerness to leave town could only mean one thing. His parents had been invited to the same social function, and instead of making an appearance while his ex-wife paraded her boy-toy around, he had opted to be somewhere else instead—somewhere like another country.
    Uriel pulled in a deep breath. “I understand, Dad,” he said, and in all honesty he really did. “Have a safe trip.”
    “I will. And by the way, I ran into Chester Weston the other day, right before he and Nancy left for a vacation in the islands. He mentioned that Ellie would be packing up Mable’s belongings at the lake house. Have you seen her yet?”
    His father’s question triggered memories of Ellie standing at the window last night. “Yes, I’ve seen her,” he said, deciding not to mention to what degree he’d seen her.
    And because he didn’t want his dad to ask any more questions, he said, “Okay, Dad, I better get back to reading those documents. But if you need me to return to Charlotte to handle things while you’re away, then—”
    “No, no. The company will be in capable hands while I’m gone. I just wanted to let you know. Take care, Uri.”
    “You do the same, Dad.”
    When Uriel hung up the phone a part of him could actually feel his father’s pain. He knew that more than ever he needed to have a long talk with his mother. What could she be thinking? He already knew the answer. Only of herself.
    Stretching his body, he decided to walk out to the pier for a while. He had been holed up inside reading for a couple of hours now. Walking through the kitchen, he opened the door and stepped out on the porch. Instinctively, his gaze moved to the window across the way.
    Uriel squinted his eyes against the sun, and he could see Ellie sitting in a chair by the window, where it seemed as if she was doing the same thing he’d been doing before receiving his father’s call. Reading.
    He hoped that whatever papers she was reading were a hell of a lot more interesting than the ones he’d just gone over.

Chapter 5
    E llie pulled in a deep breath at the next chapter break, inwardly acknowledging that she evidently had lived a sheltered life. How on earth had the author come up with this