Falling For Her Boss by Karen Rose Smith Read Free Book Online Page B

himself, No involvement with Francie.  She deserved more than he could give.  Her questions about family had brought home more than anything how different they were.  They came from two different worlds.
    Noah concentrated on his manager's problem.  "Call the insurance company and make sure about liability coverage.  But I don't see any reason to increase it now or to switch companies.  City Mutual is competent and easy to work with.  Let me know if you have any more questions."
    When he hung up, Francie said, "I'd never think of calling you after hours."
    "Apparently you don't call much at all, or you would have known Craig had left."
    She picked up one of the round five-pound weights, balanced it on her hand, then set it back on the floor.  "I try to handle problems myself."
    "Craig told me that."
    Her gaze locked to Noah's.  "He's really all right?"
    "Yes.  He went back to accounting."
    "Accounting?"
    "He and I had an accounting firm before we bought the rinks."
    "Why did he sell out?  He never talked as if he was considering it."
    "He had some personal problems, Francie.  That's all I can say."  Craig was the one person with whom Noah had a bond.  He wouldn't discuss his friend's problems with anyone, not even Francie.
    A strange look came over Francie's face.  What was going on in that pretty head of hers?  He couldn't tell.  But he was becoming more and more sure it wasn't good for them to be alone up here.
    She moved away from the skiing machine and stood at the edge of the kitchen counter.  "Noah, I have a proposition for you."
    He almost laughed.  But he didn't.  She was dead serious.  "Go on."
    She clasped her hands together in front of her.  "I want to buy a share of the Gettysburg Roller-Fun."

CHAPTER FOUR
     
    "Do you know what kind of money you're talking about?" Noah asked.
    "I have some saved," Francie said defensively.  "I just hadn't decided how I wanted to invest it.  Now I know.  It would give you some liquidity."  She smiled beguilingly.  "And we'd both be happy."
    "So what you're saying is I should keep the rink, take the money you offer to pour into the business, and forget about selling."
    "Sounds good to me."
    "It doesn't sound good to me.  What you could offer doesn't create the amount of cash flow I want.  I need more than that to replace..."  He caught himself.  "I need more than that to revamp a few of the rinks."
    She gazed at him speculatively and he felt uncomfortable.  He couldn't tell her Craig had embezzled more than the cost of the rink, enough to make Noah have to cut costs as much as he could and scrutinize his cash flow and profit margin carefully.  That was made more difficult by the fact he now had Craig's territory to cover and less time to spend on everything else.   Craig was basically an honest, decent man who'd found himself in a situation he couldn't handle.  And Noah felt responsible.  He wouldn't take on a partner again.  He'd learned the hard way he should only depend on himself.
    "What's the real reason you won't accept my offer?" Francie pressed as she pushed her hair over her shoulder.
    "Cash flow is the real reason."
    "Can't you be honest with me, Noah?"
    When she frowned, the same dimple appeared as when she smiled.  He switched his attention from her face to the matter at hand.  He could be honest, but she wasn't going to like his honesty.  "The truth is I don't want another partner."
    "Why not?"
    He shrugged, hoping a simple explanation would do.  "I work better solo."
    "Your partnership with Craig wasn't a success?"
    He should have known that Francie wouldn't accept simple.  "My partnership with Craig is none of your business."  It came out sharper than he intended, but Craig's dishonesty and betrayal still hurt.  Noah wouldn't set himself up like that again.  Put someone in the position to hurt you and chances were they would.  You'd think he would have learned that too by now.
    Her eyes widened and emotion blazed