Bro-mance 101 by Chanta Rand Read Free Book Online Page B

“You’re just saying that to get me off this phone. ”
    He r humor was infectious, and Devlin chuckle d along with her . “Yeah, you’re right about that too.  I can’t have crazy women calling into my show . ”
    “ You men need us crazy women ,” she insisted.  “If not for us, you wouldn’t have a damn thing to talk about!  G oodnight, Mr. Devlin Hart-less.”
    Zhané hung up before Devlin could get another word in .  In her wake, she’d filled the void that he’d been feeling for the past few weeks.  His heart rate soared.  His a drenaline was pumping.  Zhané gave him a high like no other. 
    He turned his attention back to the board, which was lit up like a Christmas tree.  Callers were desperately trying to reach him.  He took one call after another, and each person had something to say about the mysterious female caller .
    “ …Miss Independent made some good points...”
    “…Hell yeah, we want to have our cake and eat it too!”
    “…Man , you can’t let th at woman call you schizophrenic …”
    “… I need me a tough lady like that to keep me grounded …”
    Devlin glanced up to see Ramon st anding behind the glass divider doing his version of a happy dance.  Devlin didn’t need to see the ratings charts to know that Miss Independent was a hit.  He knew Ramon well enough to figure out exactly what the man w as going to do next .
     

EIGHT
     
    One of the perks Zhané enjoyed about her job was that it was located less than a mile from where Katina leased an office as a private consultant .   No matter how hectic their schedules, the two always made time to have lunch to gether at least once a month.  After a leisurely lunch of seared tuna salads at Houston’s Restaurant, they returned back to Zhané ’s office so Katina could show off a new computer program she was working on. 
    “I can’t believe you don’t trust me to view this on my own,” Zhané complained as the pair took the elevator to the tenth floor , and walked through the glass doors of the spacious lobby.
    “ It’s not that I don’t trust you,” Katina assured her.  “ I just can’t let that flash drive out of my sight.   It’s top secret. ”
    “ Who’s your client ?  T he FBI ? ”
    Katina shot her a deadpan look.  “If I told you comrade , I’d have to kill you.”
    Zhané rolled her eyes.  “If you keep mangling that Russian accent, I might have to kill myself.”
    Katina cracked up laughing as she followed Zhané past Marji’s desk.  Her secretary had a carved-on grin wide enough to make a jack-o-lantern envious. 
    Zhané immediately picked up on her mood .  “ Uh oh.  What’s going on?”
    “You’re keeping me on my toes with these impromptu visitors,” Marji answered.
    “You’ve met Katina before.”
    “ Yes, o f course , I was referring to the client waiting in your office.  He says he has an appointment, but I don’t see it on your calendar.”
    Zhané t hought back to Ramon ’s visit a few week s ago.  “ Oh God, don’t tell me Ramon Aiello is back? ”
    “ No , he’s not . ”  
    “ Thank goodness.  Then who is it?”
    “ M r . Devlin Hart. ”
    Zhané ’s stomach did a series of aerial flips that Gabby Douglas would be proud of. 
    Devlin i s here!
    She held the edge of Marji’s desk for fear her knees would buckle.  It had been over three weeks since she’d last seen him.  All she ’d had to sustain her was the deep baritone of his voice as she listen ed to his show each night, scared that the effect of his velvet vocals wou ld be like L ove P otion N umber N ine, luring her to the radio station for another wicked taste.
    She couldn’t explain the odd attraction she felt for him.   It was more than just the sex.  Take out the back scratching, earth-shattering, screams of ecstasy, and what was left?  Devlin Hart in ra w form.  His cocky, take-charge attitude turned her on.  She liked his mannerisms.  She liked his swagger.  She liked his