Every Girl's Secret Fantasy by Robyn Grady Read Free Book Online Page A

long for the privilege. He could wait a little longer.
    Her cellphone rang. As he strangled the wheel, Pace’s smile turned into a sneer. He almost hoped it was Trundy. He’d like nothing better than to turn this baby around and show that baboon he hadn’t been joking.
    Phoebe fished her phone from her bag, answered, then cried out, “Oh, no! Is he okay?” When Pace flicked a concerned look her way, she nodded, sighed, and drove a hand through her hair. “No, I understand, Wendy. I’ll organise something else. Sure. Thanks for letting me know.”
    A yellow light changed to red, and Pace brought the purring Aston to a standstill. Phoebe was staring, unseeing, dead ahead.
    â€œTrouble?” he asked.
    â€œMy trip to Tyler’s Stream is off.”
    His brows shot up. So wishes did come true. They could spend the day together. He would have been inordinately pleased if she hadn’t looked so down. “What’s the problem?”
    â€œI had a handyman lined up this afternoon to finish a job at my aunt’s house. That was his wife. Daryl fellwhile he was cleaning out some roof gutters today. Broke his leg. A compound fracture.”
    Pace flinched. Nasty. “What job was he doing?”
    â€œNear the end of last winter my aunt’s boiler died. Meg thought she could battle through, but she ended up in hospital with pneumonia. She brought Daryl out to see if the boiler could be repaired. He gave her a price and ordered in the part. It’s still sitting in the basement.”
    A bus of Japanese tourists roared across the intersection and the light turned green. “Your aunt’s not so good at taking care of those things?” he surmised, and she nodded. “So today you were making sure the job was done before winter kicked in?”
    She nodded again. “Meg’s due back from overseas in just over a month. I won’t sit back and take a chance on her landing back in hospital.” She concentrated on her phone. “I’ll just have to organise someone else for next weekend.”
    â€œI could fit the part.”
    She sent over a small smile. “Thanks, but it’s a radiator, not a V8 engine.”
    â€œTo us mechanics, it’s much of a muchness.”
    She sat straighter and thought for a moment. “I couldn’t ask you to do that.”
    But the sparkle in her eyes told him she wanted to. She obviously cared for this aunt a great deal. Sure, he wanted time with her—wanted the opportunity to kiss her again—but he also wanted to help.
    â€œYou didn’t ask,” he pointed out. “I offered.”
    â€œIt’s a long drive.”
    He shifted up a gear and joined the streams of traffic filing over the Harbour Bridge. “I like long drives.”
    â€œMy dog might be put out. He’s not used to sharing me.”
    â€œI’ll only bite if he does.”
    Phoebe succumbed to a smile, then buried it quick. “I’ll accept—but on one condition.”
    If the condition was not kissing her again, he wouldn’t agree the terms. “Shoot.”
    Her beautiful mouth lifted into a challenging grin. “At some stage I get to sit behind that wheel.”
    A woman after his own heart.
    He laughed and stepped on the gas. “It’s a deal.”
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    Phoebe clicked open her apartment door, explaining, “My dog isn’t used to company. He can be a little difficult if he doesn’t know you.”
    â€œDon’t worry,” Pace assured her. “I grew up with dogs. Man’s best friend and all that.”
    She sent a look that said he just didn’t get it, then fanned open the door.
    The puppy on the couch sat up, pixie ears pricked. On seeing his mistress, he dropped his ears and his tail thumped like a piston against the cushions. Then he saw Pace. The tail stopped dead. A rumbling growl gathered, then snapped like a midget clap of thunder across the