Desire Me Now by Tiffany Clare Read Free Book Online Page B

she knew nothing about this man. And these were not the
     types of thoughts she should have of her employer—and an attraction of any kind was
     entirely out of the question.
    When his gaze probed so far as to make her feel as if he were sifting through her
     secrets, she lowered her gaze. She didn’t know why, but she liked the fluttery sensation
     she felt in her stomach when he was near. That was the last thing she should feel,
     she reminded herself for the umpteenth time. Mr. Riley could cut her loose just as
     fast as he’d tied her to his household.
    Not willing to meet his gaze again, she focused on the cloth buttons lining the front
     of his maroon waistcoat. That did not help her imagination in the least, as she wondered
     if the material on the buttons was soft or coarse, which led her to wonder if his
     body would be as firm as it looked too.
    “My apologies,” she said again.
    What else was there to say? I’m sorry I’m a buffoon, Mr. Riley, but it appears to be a general state for me whenever
     you are in the room. That simply wouldn’t work.
    “So you said. I won’t expect you to eat with the rest of the staff in the kitchen
     quarters if you cannot make the climb downstairs.” He made it sound as though she
     were breakable or, worse, an invalid. And she took exception to that until his finger
     turned up her chin, and their gazes collided. “What is your preference for your morning
     meal?”
    “Whatever your cook puts together for the rest of the household will be sufficient,
     Mr. Riley.”
    His jaw clenched. Had she displeased him with her answer? She wanted to ask but found
     herself speechless instead, when he took her arm in his, alleviating the pain from
     her bad ankle. It was impossible to hold back the sigh of relief that his support
     offered. Escorting her over to a matching pair of leather chairs, he settled her in
     the one that faced the gardens.
    “A post came from the employment agency for you,” he announced, as though her receiving
     a post had been expected. “I left it on the desk for you.”
    Though her body was strung like a new violin bow, she hoped he didn’t notice the tension
     suddenly assailing her. What if her old employer had contacted the agency to give
     them a story that painted her as an unsuitable employee? What lies would Sir Ian have
     made up about her? If the agency wrote a note to her, what had they already told Mr.
     Riley?
    She swallowed back her nervousness. “I didn’t think they would have anything to say.”
    “They most certainly should have, for placing you were they did.” There was a note
     of underlying anger in his comment. And she wondered again how much he knew of her
     employment with Sir Ian. If he contacted the agency for her yesterday, it was likely
     they told him which house she’d served in.
    “You should know that I have a vested interested in the agency that placed you. And
     their services are always available to any woman in need of a safe job place.”
    She looked at him, unsure how she was meant to reply. He seemed so sure of himself,
     which was expected of men. But she knew that a woman with even the hint of a poor
     reputation could easily be tossed out into the street as if she were no better than
     a pile of kitchen refuse.
    “I failed to mention that a very close friend of my mother’s runs the agency,” he
     said. “They assured me that your last employer would not find another placement through
     them.”
    Her head was spinning with the information he might have garnered in going to his
     mother’s friend. Would he know what happened? He’d revealed something decent about
     himself in telling her that. He did not condone the actions of a man who took advantage
     of his power. And she hated to admit that it allowed her to trust him enough that
     the constant fear that cloaked her dissipate a little.
    Too many questions were swirling around in her head, and she decided it was best to
     change the topic.