Dangerous Magic by Stephanie James, Jayne Ann Krentz Read Free Book Online

a scene at her own party, and she would, after all, be getting her payment shortly.

    That thought was enough to keep her going for the rest of the evening as the party sailed into high gear and eventually began to wind down. The leavetaking was reluctant on almost everyone’s part, but eventually people did glance at their watches in resignation and began moving slowly out the door. Elissa saw each off on a rising tide of excitement, which dimmed only momentarily when she realized it was going to be awkward saying good-night to Dean Norwood, who was one of the last to leave.
    “I’m not sure I like leaving you alone with that guy,” Dean whispered at the door. He nodded his head surreptitiously toward a large chair where Wade sprawled, whiskey in hand, and appeared to study one of Elissa’s strange paintings on the wall across from him.
    “It’ll be all right,” she whispered back. “He just wants to discuss a business matter with me. He’ll be leaving almost immediately.”
    “Are you sure?”
    “Very,” she breathed confidently.
    “Do you think he’s changed his mind about giving the job to that other woman?” Dean wondered vaguely, a small frown still drawing his brows together.
    “I’m not certain, but it probably has something to do with my future at the company.” She put a hand on his shoulder and lifted her lips for his kiss.
    “Good night, love,” Dean said, edging politely out the door. “It was a great party, as usual. I’ll give you a call in a couple of days, okay?” He glanced uncertainly once more in Wade’s direction. The other man ignored him completely. Rudeness came easily to Wade Taggert, Elissa decided.
    “That will be fine, Dean.”
    With a last reassuring smile she closed the door on the remainder of her guests. Then, drawing a deep, anticipatory breath, Elissa turned and leaned back against the wood, her hands behind her on the knob, and waited for the satisfying conclusion to the evening.
    Wade stirred in his chair, but he made no move to look at her. Instead he raised the glass of whiskey to his mouth, took a long swallow, and set it down on the table beside him.
    “Well, Elissa,” he said after a moment, and she straightened away from the door, prepared, she suddenly realized, to take an attitude of gracious hauteur.

    “Yes, Wade?” she prompted coolly, coming forward slowly to receive the apology she had waited for so long. Her blue-green eyes gleamed with an unaccustomed brightness as she paused in front of him.
    But his next words took her breath away with their sheer audacity, leaving her speechless as she met the dry ice of his eyes.
    “You’ve put it off for an entire evening, but the time has come to give me my answer. I’m waiting, little witch. No more games.”
    “Your answer!” she finally managed, stunned. She stared at him, in bewilderment and rising anger. “What answer? I’m waiting for the apology you owe me, damn it! Why else would I have invited an overbearing, egotistical, rude male such as you to my party in the first place?”
    “Because you thought you could fool me into thinking you’d been telling the truth about your relationship with Martin Randolph. Oh, it was all nicely staged, Elissa, but I’m not a complete idiot, you know. I realize the party has been a convenient cover for you and Martin, but don’t expect me to buy the whole illusion!”
    He moved, surging out of his chair and reaching out to snag her wrists in one hand. The cold flames of his eyes lashed her as he pulled her incredulous face close to his. “So let’s have it, Elissa, my sweet witch. Have you made up your mind to accept a new lover in your life, or do you still need convincing?”

Chapter 3
    « ^ »
    “Y ou,” Elissa stated with great certainty, “must be out of your mind!
    Crazy! How did a crazy man ever get to be the manager of CompuDesign, for God’s sake?”
    “By a lot of hard work,” Wade retorted, and for the first time since she’d met him,