Elle's Seduction by Abby-Rae Rose Read Free Book Online Page A

resemblance to Maxwell was startling. Those normally kind brown eyes that she remembered from the couple of meetings she’d seen him in, were hard and tight.
    “Fred. What the hell were you thinking?”
    Elle strung up the last trash bag and edged her way toward the door. A frigid voice behind her stopped her in her tracks. “Leaving, Elle?”
    Maxwell stood, fresh and cool in his pressed black slacks and Egyptian cotton shirt, the epitome of wealth and elegance. His brother’s entrance had just reiterated to her how far removed she was from the Stranton family. She needed to remember that —she was Blue Grass and country while he was linen elegance and classical music. No matter what the friction was between them, there was a world of difference between her life and his. And the anger in his eyes told her that he wasn’t a man to fool with tonight.
    “Just taking the last of the bags to the trash.”
    “Don’t you want to see what happens to Fred and your little pet project?”
    Elle opened and closed her mouth. “Our project?”
    “Surely, you knew his plans.” Maxwell nudged her toward the door and privacy, passing the bag off to Luke as he scurried by.
    Alone, Elle tried to hold back her racing heart. She had to swallow to speak past the rapid pounding of her pulse. “What are you talking about?”
    Maxwell backed her into a wall and smiled though his lips were tight and vengeful. “I’m talking about this game you’re playing. One minute, sweet and innocent, the next practically leading Fred around by a leash.”
    “I don’t—”
     
    ***
     
    Maxwell shushed her with one strong finger. “I don’t like games so let me ask you straight: Did you or did you not know about tonight’s surprise?”
    Overwhelmed by the heat of him so close, Elle had to concentrate very hard on his question. Licking her lips, she tried to regain her footing only to be shocked when his eyes followed her. A groan escaped him as his fingers traced her lips.
    Mesmerized by the power that one sound gave her, she couldn’t help but flick her tongue out over the questing finger. Before she knew what she was doing, she’d sucked his finger in her mouth, showing him exactly what she imagined he’d really like.
    “Elle...”
    Becoming bolder, she nipped his finger and soothed it with her mouth, imitating the intimacy of other acts. Forbidden acts. He was the boss’s brother. She was walking a thin line. Finally she released his finger, surprised to find herself nearly panting in achy need. She didn’t like games either. “Mr. Stranton, you’re probably the sexiest man I’ve ever met. But I don’t play games.”
    Maxwell jerked his hard gray eyes up and met hers. “Answer me then. Did you know about this? About the money spent on this little venture of Fred’s?”
    Elle didn’t waste any time. She was probably a passing fancy of his. No reason to get her hopes up and expect more. He just wanted the truth out of her and was probably using her attraction to him to get it. “I didn’t know about Fred’s worm farm or the expenditures. Fred is my boss—that’s it. And there’s no doubt he’s the one in charge. I’m just good at presentations.”
    “You looked very comfortable being in charge,” he murmured, a perplexed look creasing his brow.
    “I’ve had lots of practice.”
    Maxwell stepped closer, pushing back a curl from her face. “So all that attitude and the PowerPoint presentation...”
    “It wasn’t an act. Fred gets overwhelmed and he sometimes just needs some help. It makes sense and with the promotion on the line…”
    A fierce concentration transformed his face as he put his arms on either side of her, using his height and size to push her flat against the wall. Her heart skittered and jerked into hyper drive as that look sent a thrill straight to her. In a swift move, he pulled her against him and tangled his hands in her hair, bending her back and pressing her into his hard body.
    The sensation of