Double-Cross My Heart by Carol Rose Read Free Book Online Page A

there were others who wouldn’t hesitate a second.
    She needed to protect her position and aggressive actions were sometime needed to do that. He’d told her that he knew about her uncle because she needed a nudge to get herself out of that risky position. Working with him to dismantle Michele Cosmetics would benefit her financially as well as leave her able to pursue jobs in the field. Win-win, his favorite way to do business, when possible.
    “So why handle this yourself?” Bryan asked, after a few minutes.
    Instead of answering his question directly, Alex said, “Do you think Jason is smart enough to get Eden’s cooperation?”
    Shrugging, Bryan answered, “I don’t know. He’s not an Einstein, but he is fairly attractive and not stupid, by any means. Women have been known to do crazy things for men they’re involved with.”
    “Men, too,” Alex commented, turning away from the mirror.
    Bryan grinned. “Very true. Feeling like doing something crazy with Ms. Merritt? Is she getting to you?”
    Alex busied himself with his tie, not answering. He hadn’t gotten to where he was in the business world without learning to play a little hard ball, but this situation was getting surprisingly personal. He couldn’t deny he wanted Eden to come out of this with a good opinion of him. He’d never actually use the info about her uncle against her because he was coming to realize he couldn’t hurt the woman. Even more shocking was the realization that he found the kind of hardball tactics suddenly distasteful in general. Just being near the woman seemed to be affecting his perspective.
    “Doesn’t it bother you to lie to her? I mean, you did use a ‘creative’ method to meet her,” Brian persisted.
    “I’m not lying to her exactly,” Alex said, wishing he could convince himself she’d see it that way. “I’m just not giving her the complete picture. Laying everything out in front of a person can end up confusing them as to the main points. With me acquiring Michele Cosmetics and dismantling it for a profit, the profit, especially for Eden, is the pertinent issue.”
    Bryan maintained a silence that was faintly skeptical prompting Alex to insist. “There’s nothing in this deal that doesn’t benefit Eden, too. I’ve made sure of that.”
    “Okay.” Bryan paused before saying, “But you’re not completely comfortable with having to…give her only part of the picture, are you?”
    “Being completely comfortable is a rarity,” Alex responded, making a promise to himself. This was it. The last time he was lying to Eden. The one big deceit that had started their relationship didn’t have to continue on indefinitely.
    “Alex?” His secretary, Rosie, appeared in the open doorway. “Did you want me to confirm the second weekend in December for our staff cook night at the Ronald McDonald House? They’re on the phone trying to firm up the schedule for the holidays.”
    Glancing over at Bryan, Alex said, “The second Saturday night sounds good to me. Are you in?”
    Bryan’s expression sobered immediately.
    Alex recognized the emotion in his friend’s eyes. The first few times he’d gone to the house and cooked a meal for the families of cancer patients, he’d felt the same way. Seeing the damage the disease wrecked had brought it all back fresh in his mind.
    “I’m in,” Bryan said staunchly. “If you guys are going, I’m going.”
    “Good man. It gets better. At least, you feel like you’re helping them in some small way,” Alex said before turning to ask Rosie, “What about you? You’re by far the best cook of all of us here. Can you make it?”
    “Sure,” she said immediately. “I love cooking for an appreciative group. And the new guy in Research said he wants to come help the next time we go.”
    “Then put us all down for the second Saturday night in December,” Alex confirmed. He had a good-hearted bunch of people working with him. It was one of the reasons he liked coming to