Freelance Love by Barbara Alvarez Read Free Book Online Page B

coffee cake. One hour later, she sniffed in appreciation, knowing she had
made a good choice. She mixed the spices and brown sugar for the streusel
topping and set it aside. Straightening out her living room and kitchen, she
heard the timer ding. After checking the coffee cake, she placed it on a trivet
to cool down.
    Ian drove up to Morgan’s house just before 9:30. Before getting
out of his car, he warned himself to behave around his star client. Running his
shaking fingers through his hair, he exhaled nervously.
    Morgan heard the doorbell chime. Willing her heart to behave, she
opened the door and smiled brightly at her editor.
    “Come in! Hope you’re hungry – I’m making omelets and the coffee
cake is ready. Would you like some coffee?”
    “Yes, thanks. Do you need help in the kitchen?”
    “No, thanks – I have it under control. Just need to add the
onions and ham to the omelet, then sprinkle it with cheese. I do hope you’re
hungry.”
    Ian thought to himself that he was hungry for more than mere
food, then chastised himself for the wayward direction of his thoughts.
    As they ate, they talked about their respective weeks. Morgan had
just learned that she was going to be getting additional monthly assignments
from, not only Las
Cruces Lifestyles, but  a second magazine client. She smiled happily at
Ian, knowing that her financial picture was slowly improving.
    Ian reported that he had just landed two new editing clients, one
local.
    “I’m charging the same as I charge you – $1.50 per page, and
they’re telling me that the shortest assignments I’ll be getting from them will
be about 300 pages! They’re sending me three articles a month, so that’s not
too shabby for an editor!”
    Morgan gave Ian a quick high-five, then got up and served the
still-warm coffee cake.
    “More coffee?”
    “Please. Last night was a late night due to . . . distractions
and sleeplessness. I need the caffeine jolt,” Ian confessed, not wanting to
admit that the distractions came from his fantasies of him and Morgan in bed,
together. “Once we’ve finished in here, I’ll help you clean up, then we can
move to the living room to work.”
    Morgan nodded, remembering that her fantasy had taken place in
the living room.
    With the kitchen clean and dishes stacked in the dishwasher, the
two moved to Morgan’s sofa, where they began working on her current articles.
Ian questioned several of Morgan’s phrases and agreed with all but two of them.
As they discussed those phrases, Morgan agreed that they would sound better
using Ian’s wording, so she typed quick notes on her laptop. Finally, when they
had finished with the work, Ian took the laptop, closed it and placed it on the
coffee table. Turning to Morgan, he said, “We’ve really got to talk.”
    “Oh? About . . .?”
    “Us. We’ve been working together now since you became a
freelancer, and that entire time, I’ve felt an attraction to you.  I’ve tried
to ignore it, but I can’t any more. It’s getting stronger and stronger the more
and more I get to know of you, not only as a writer, but as a woman. I’d like
to pursue a relationship with you.”
    “Oh!” Morgan got up, feeling restless. “Can I have some time to
think about this? I . . . think you’re attractive. That is, I find you
attractive, too, but I want to make sure that changing our personal
relationship won’t endanger our working relationship.”
    Ian thought for a few minutes. Rubbing a forefinger against his
well-shaped lip, he nodded. “Fair enough. I need to go now, but first . . .”
Taking Morgan into his arms, he lowered his head to hers and kissed her gently
and sensuously. Morgan, feeling the touch of his soft lips on hers, realized
that the dream hadn’t come close to reality. God,
he’s a good kisser!
    Ian brought her back to her sofa, where they continued to kiss.
He lifted her to his lap, where she felt the clear evidence of his arousal
against her butt. Ian gently lowered