Billionaire's Contract Engagement / Money Man's Fiancée Negotiation by Maya Banks Read Free Book Online Page A

you. You just worry about knocking Evan Reese’s socks off.”
    â€œI will,” Celia murmured. “I will.”
    On her way down the hall, her BlackBerry rang and she dug into the pocket of her briefcase for it. Seeing Noah’s number on the LCD, she mashed the answer button and stuck the phone to her ear as she walked into her office.
    â€œI’m working on the maid service,” she said in lieu of hello.
    Noah chuckled. “Great, I nearly killed myself getting out of bed this morning. You’d be amazed how dangerous a pair of dirty underwear can be.”
    Her nose wrinkled in disgust. “Would you at least try not to send the maid screaming from your house on her first day? That’s just gross.”
    He made a derisive sound. “So I read through the info you sent. I also had my agent do some checking. I might add that my agent is orgasmic that I’m considering this endorsement deal.”
    â€œTell him I expect a nice Christmas gift as thank you,” Celia said.
    â€œOh, please. He doesn’t even give his mother presents.”
    Usually she wouldn’t mind chatting mindlessly with her siblings, but she had a hundred things to do before Thursday, including figure out how she was going to survive a weekend on an island with a man who made mincemeat of her willpower.
    â€œSo does this mean you’ll consider it?”
    There was a pause, and she found herself holding her breath.
    â€œYeah. He checks out. He seems as solid as you said he was. I’ll talk to him if nothing else.”
    She did a double-fist pump and dropped her bag on the floor by her desk.
    â€œHave his people call my people,” Noah said airily.
    Celia laughed. “I am his people. Or at least I will be.”
    â€œHey, you going to be at Dad’s this weekend?”
    She winced when she remembered that she’d told their father she would indeed be there for Sunday dinner again.
    â€œAfraid not. Something’s come up.”
    Noah made a disapproving sound. “Don’t you ever take off? It’s Sunday, for Pete’s sake.”
    â€œHow do you know it’s work?” she defended. “Maybe I have a hot date.”
    He snorted. “When was the last time you went on a hot date? It’s always work with you.”
    Knowing they were about to get into lecture territory again, Celia cut him off before he got carried away.
    â€œHey, I have to run, Noah. Have a meeting in five minutes. I’ll call you later, okay?”
    Before he could call her a liar, she hung up and plopped into her chair. She blew out a long sigh of relief and closed her eyes.
    It was all coming together. Not without a few potholes, but it was within reach. All she had to do was hold it together and get through the weekend and the account would be hers.
    â€œKnock, knock.”
    Celia opened her eyes to see Jason Reagart standing in her doorway.
    â€œBrock told me I needed to cover for you on Friday, so I stopped by so you could get me up to speed on what I need to know.”
    â€œYeah, have a seat. Give me a minute. Been running all morning. I’ll dig out my notes.”
    Jason eased into a chair, his long legs eating up most of the space between it and her desk. Celia picked up her beleaguered briefcase and opened it on her desk.
    â€œSo how is Lauren?”
    She hated idle conversation, but the silence was more awkward and she hadn’t planned on having to turn over the two meetings to anyone, so her notes were haphazard at best.
    â€œPregnant. Grumpy. You know, typical pregnant woman.”
    Celia scowled at him over the top of her briefcase. “Like you wouldn’t be if you had to deal with water retention, hormones and arrogant men?”
    Jason laughed. “Hey, I spoil her rotten.”
    â€œAs you should. Ah, here we go.”
    She pulled out a folder and tossed it to Jason.
    â€œEverything you need to know for the morning meeting is on pages one