Blitzing Emily by Julie Brannagh Read Free Book Online Page B

back of the couch, his fingers brushing her shoulders. “According to ESPN, you’re my betrothed. I’m thinking this could work out well for me.” His smile was confident. “How about making me some breakfast, sugar?”
    Emily’s mouth dropped open. In the meantime the bare skin he was touching was starting to tingle just a bit. She was spellbound by her head shot on the television screen and she didn’t answer.
    His voice dropped to a murmur. “Of course you want to do this for me.” Emily swallowed hard. She could feel the hot flush spreading over her cheeks. Even more, things were—liquefying. Yeah. She knew she owed him something for making sure she was still amongst the living, but cooking wasn’t one of her talents.
    She shouldn’t be reacting to him this way. She knew better than that. “Player, player, player,” she mentally chanted. He could charm a rock, though.
    He abruptly shoved himself off the couch. “I need to use your phone.” He grabbed the cordless as he strolled away from her. It rang again before he could hit “talk.” Brandon answered it.
    “McKenna.” He turned back to Emily. “Just one moment.” She took the receiver from him. “It’s your manager,” he said.
    “Hi, David.” She got up from the couch, walked to the kitchen table, and dropped into a chair.
    “That must be your fiancé.”
    “David, there’s been a—”
    “Congratulations, Emily,” he interrupted. “The phone’s been ringing like mad. I’ve had five booking requests this morning already. Five. What are you, Renée Fleming?” he teased. “Reporters are calling me as well. When did you start seeing this guy?”
    “Well, uh—It’s pretty recent. It took me by surprise, too,” Emily stammered.
    “Must be. What would you like me to tell the press?”
    “I’m not sure what we should tell them yet.”
    “That’s not going to work.”
    She closed her eyes. She was developing a throbbing headache. She wondered if it was possible to have two headaches at once. “David, let’s discuss something else right now.”
    “Sure, Em. I’ll make a statement to the effect that you’re very happy, the wedding date is forthcoming, et cetera. The publicity’s already helping your career.” David sounded positively orgasmic about it all.
    “Not yet. Let’s hold off on that statement.”
    David let out a laugh. “Oh. I see—playing hard to get. How about ‘They’re just friends’? While you’re thinking, Emily, Santa Fe Opera called. They’re doing The Magic Flute. They’re offering Pamina. I think you’ll be happy with the compensation. Their lead soprano’s evidently got a scheduling conflict.”
    Brandon emerged from the kitchen with the coffeepot and an evil-looking gleam in his eye.
    Unbelievable. The Magic Flute, one of the most challenging pieces for sopranos ever, and in Santa Fe, an opera company famed for the quality of their productions. She felt like she was dreaming.
    “Oh . . . of course. Yes, yes, I’ll go. Thank you, David.”
    Emily said goodbye to David and hung up, dumbfounded.
    Brandon poured them both another cup of coffee, and picked up the cordless again. He dialed a number, listened to it ring a few times, and said, “Hey, dawg.” Whoever was at the other end sounded agitated. “I forgot my phone in my locker. Everything’s fine, but I won’t be in the weight room today or tomorrow.” He listened for a few moments more and said, “No. I’m taking care of a very argumentative woman for a couple of days.” Emily let out an exasperated sigh. “They what? Is that so? I’ll give him a call.” She saw his lips twitch into a smile. “Coach is happy about this? Thanks. I’ll send you an invitation.”
    “What?” she prompted.
    He shot her a playful grin. “Okay. I gotta go. I’ll call y’all later. Bye.” He hung up, still chuckling to himself over something.
    “‘A very argumentative woman.’” Emily said. “Oh, that’s rich. I can’t believe you would