Desire Me Now by Tiffany Clare Read Free Book Online

the answer to each and every one of them. But her questions
     could wait for another day.
    It was hard to believe that she’d found a position so easily, and she would remain
     vigilant while completing her duties. It all seemed too easy, though.
    While she was thankful to have a roof over her head and a bed to sleep in for the
     night, she would wait for the other shoe to drop.

C HAPTER F IVE
    A melia woke bright and early the next morning, so she could limp her way around the
     house without someone at her elbow, guiding the way. She wanted to see it with her
     own eyes, learn every nuance, and discover everything beautiful and everything hidden
     and ugly about the house.
    Sleep hadn’t come easily, despite her being exhausted from all that had happened.
     And while she hadn’t seen Mr. Riley again last evening, her curious imagination had
     invented a hundred different impressions of him through the long night, none of which
     she wanted to rehash, for most made her blush furiously. And why should she think
     any of those things about him? He could still be the wolf wearing sheepskin to hide
     his true nature.
    Yesterday, she’d been far too drained after dinner to do more than sit at the secretary
     desk, read through the appointment book, and review one of the many stacks of invitations
     that had been tossed into piles as high as the length of her arm. Huxley had remained
     with her, so she couldn’t snoop around the study to see what secrets her new employer
     might be hiding.
    All she had learned about Mr. Riley was that he was a very busy man and that he received
     more invitations to gatherings than was possible for one person to attend. After two
     hours of reviewing invitations and penning responses last evening, she realized Mr.
     Riley hadn’t been lying about his need for a secretary.
    Exploring the second floor of suites, she found two beautifully appointed drawing
     rooms, one very masculine, with dark mahogany paneling three-quarters of the way up
     the wall. The furniture was overly large, and the sofas were hunter green in color,
     with a mix of brocade and velvet in the other furnishings and textiles. It was an
     inviting room in which she could easily imagine sitting with a book and enjoying a
     hot cup of tea.
    The sunroom on the second floor was a wall of windows, the upper half stained glass
     that depicted all things nautical: a ship with a full amber-colored mast blowing in
     the wind, a raging storm done in shades of blues and grays, a seabird soaring high
     in a crystal blue sky. The furniture in this room was buttercup-yellow chintz. There
     was a nook with chairs near the windows, making this room a part-time breakfast area
     for immediate family, she guessed.
    The last drawing room on the second floor faced the back garden of the house and carriage
     house. The windows were at least fifteen feet high, and heavy curtains made of the
     most delicate golden velvet draped around them, inviting the viewer to look outside,
     as though it were a landscape of art.
    While the back garden wasn’t large, there was a stone terrace at least ten feet deep,
     set against the main floor. It was big enough for a rose arbor, a pair of stone benches
     for two, and an angel-topped fountain. The sight took her breath away. The burgundy
     backdrop of furniture was less inviting than the green drawing room but so much more
     tranquil with the scenery below.
    Once she could tear her eyes away from the sight, she took the stairs slowly to the
     main floor, hating every pained step along the way. Although she’d been up for less
     than an hour, she’d already overtaxed herself.
    She headed directly to the study, as she was somewhat familiar with that room and
     because she had the key tucked into her bodice. Sliding walnut doors at one end led
     to a large library. She’d only glimpsed what was inside yesterday and was desperate
     to explore it more thoroughly today.
    Her gasp of surprise couldn’t be held