Come Away With Me (The Andrades) by Ruth Cardello Read Free Book Online Page A

break his legs.”
    Tom frowned and said, “I can’t help Paul. My wife would kill me. But I know someone who does that kind of thing cheap.”
    There was something wonderfully reassuring about their support, even if it was a little extreme. “It’s fine, guys. I should have known something was up when he didn’t want to meet me where he worked. He probably isn’t even a buyer. I have a lot to learn about living in the city.”
    Paul came around the podium and gave her a hug. “You’re a beautiful woman, Julia. Guys can’t help but want to fuck you.”
    Julia pulled back at his words and burst out laughing. Although many women would have found Paul physically attractive, Julia had never viewed him as a romantic possibility. He said whatever came to his mind. Julia had gotten used to his candor, but she couldn’t take him seriously.
    He stepped back , seeming to be shocked by his own admission. Then he smiled and shrugged. “I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.”
    Tom said, “Get over here, Paul. You went too far. You w ere doing fine . . . and then you had to cross the line. That’s why you’re still single. It’s your mouth. And, Julia, stay away from Paul. He has a hard enough time concentrating without you as a distraction.”
    Julia and Paul stood there for a moment longer, smiling guiltily like children who’d just been lectured. Over the last month, the three of them had gotten into this playful cycle of ribbing each other. It was harmless and started all of their days with a smile.
    Still laughing, Julia turned to head to the surveillance room and crashed into a much more refined wall of muscle. One that sent a sledgehammer of heat through her. She raised her eyes slowly, shuddering with pleasure as his two strong hands steadied her. If the dark expression on his face was anything to go by, he was not as happy to see her. Barely above a whisper, she said, “Mr. Andrade.”
    “Miss Bennett,” he said curtly, but his hands remained on her arms. “ I’d like to speak with you for a moment.”
    Julia looked back at Paul and Tom and grimaced. “I’ll be right back.”
    Gio put a hand forcibly on Julia’s lower back and guided her to the first floor café, which was busy in the mornings but in the evenings was closed and deserted. Once inside, they stood facing each other, so closely that Julia was sure he’d be able to hear what his nearness was doing to her heartbeat.
    “ Cogent Solutions has a strict no-dating policy among coworkers. That includes the members of my security team,” he said harshly.
    So much for how I imagined this conversation would go. Julia blushed and pointed in the direction of the security desk. She hoped he hadn’t heard what Paul had said to her. “We were just kidding around. It’s harmless.”
    He leaned a little closer and Julia quickly looked down, afraid her eyes would reveal how he was making her feel.
    “You should be more careful, Miss Bennett. A man could get the wrong impression about you.”
    Her eyes flew up to clash with his. “I appreciate your concern, Mr. Andrade, but it’s unnecessary. I get along well with both Tom and Paul. We sometimes laugh. It’s what people do when they work together.”
    “I don’t like him near you.” His eyes burned into hers.
    Her breath caught in her throat. She shook her head, sure that she had misunderstood what she’d heard. “I’m sorry?”
    He brushed a thumb softly across her lower lip. “You heard me.” He dropped his hand, spun on his heel, and walked away.
    Julia stood rooted to the spot until Gio was out of sight. She sank down into one of the wooden chairs and let out a shaky breath.
    I heard you.
    I just wish I hadn’t.
    It was one thing to fantasize about him. That was harmless. It was completely different and even scary to consider for a moment that he might be attracted to her. Men like him don’t date women like me.
    He might try to for a one -night stand.
    Maybe he considered it amusing to