Billionaire's Contract Engagement by Maya Banks Read Free Book Online Page B

luggage to a uniformed man.
    “Okay then, I’m ready,” she said cheerfully.
    He smiled and motioned for her to precede him onto the plane. She mounted the steps and ducked inside.
    Her eyes widened at the luxurious interior. It was simple and understated, but she recognized it for what it was. Very expensive comfort. She shoved her shades up so she could get a better look.
    There was nothing gaudy about any of the furnishings. It looked very masculine. It even smelled masculine. Leather and suede. Earth tones.
    Beyond the three rows of seats, there was a small sitting area with a couch and one chair with a coffee table and a television. To her left between the seats and the cockpit was a small galley area complete with a steward.
    The older man smiled at her and welcomed her on board.
    As she and Evan took their seats, the steward introduced himself as William and asked her if she wanted a drink.
    She glanced at Evan then back at William. “Do you have wine?”
    William smiled. “But of course. Mr. Reese keeps the airplane stocked with all the necessities.”
    She’d agree that wine was very necessary.
    A few moments later, William returned with two glasses of wine.
    “The pilot wished me to tell you he is ready for takeoff at your convenience.”
    Evan took the glasses and offered one to Celia.
    “Tell him I’m ready.”
    “Very good, sir. I’ll close the doors and we’ll take off shortly.”
    “Comfortable?” Evan asked Celia.
    She settled back into her seat and sipped at her wine. “Mmm, very. Nice jet.”
    She should have sat across the aisle from him, but that would be rude since he’d chosen the seat next to her. His nearness was killing her, though. His scent drifted enticingly across her nostrils and she could feel his heat. When he moved, his arm brushed against hers, and short of shifting in her seat—which would be terribly obvious—there was no escaping him. Furthermore, she didn’t really want to.
    It was on the tip of her tongue to suggest they use the time on the flight to go over her ideas, but she couldn’t bring herself to have business intrude.
    She mentally shook herself. Intrude on what? This wasn’t some romantic getaway. It was business. Only business and nothing else.
    It was unfair that she should be attracted to someone who was a solid no in her rule book. She’d never broken that unspoken rule. She had never been tempted to get involved with someone she worked with, or worse—a client. It didn’t matter, though, because she’d carry the stigma of someone who advanced her career by bestowing sexual favors.
    The memory sent rage curdling through her veins. She had to work at keeping her fingers relaxed. She’d worked damn hard to go beyond her family’s expectations. And to have it all taken away by someone in a position of power over her made her head explode.
    The advertising community was small, and gossip was rampant. She was under no illusion that fleeing New York made it possible for her to leave what happened behind. It hadn’t been private. It had been very, very public.
    She knew speculation ran wide. She knew people talked. Knew her coworkers probably whispered behind her back and pondered the possibility that she’d slept with Brock or Flynn Maddox to secure her position in the agency and to be granted the opportunity to land Evan Reese’s account. They probably thought she’d do whatever it took to persuade Evan.
    The only person she’d bothered to defend herself to was Brock, and she figured she owed him that much if he was going to hire her. Only he knew the truth about what really happened at her former agency. And when he’d assured her that she’d suffer no such situation here, she’d believed him. It might make her unbelievably naive after her last run-in with her boss, but Brock struck her as a deeply honorable man, and more importantly, someone who kept his word.
    “Is everything all right?”
    Evan’s softly spoken question jarred her from her