Hard Impact: An Alpha Billionaire Romance Novel by Helen Grey Read Free Book Online Page A

back of the chair.
    “I’ll check on it this afternoon. If you’ll excuse me, I have an appointment… yes, I’ll call you later this evening to let you know if I want any changes.”
    “Can I get you anything to drink? Some coffee or tea perhaps?”
    I glanced at the receptionist and shook my head, smiling a thank you. “I’m good.”
    She gestured for me to take one of the chairs in front of the desk. “He’ll be finished in just a minute,” she whispered. “Let me know if you need anything.”
    “I will, thank you,” I whispered back, taking a seat in one of the chairs in front of the desk. I had just settled in, placed my satchel on my lap and glanced once again out the window at the view when the chair spun around. Whoa.
    Blake Masters looked even better in person than he had in the photograph from my assignment packet. How could somebody be so ruggedly good-looking were the first words that popped into my mind. The close-up view offered me a better look at his features. Gorgeous light blue-grayish eyes rimmed with thick lashes. A slash of dark eyebrows above. Luscious black hair, thick and full, the kind that made you want to just run your fingers through it. Wide lips that curved slightly upward at the corners, as if he were about to smile. A five o’clock shadow on his cheeks even though it was only mid-morning.
    He wore a t-shirt that stretched at the confines of the fabric. Broad shoulders. Well-developed chest, obvious from the outline of his pecs through the thin material. He placed the phone down on the blotter and rested his forearms on it, causing me to tug my gaze from his chest and down. His biceps bulged and I swallowed hard. He interlaced his fingers, that slight movement causing the thin muscle fibers in his forearm to twitch.
    I tried to keep my calm, tried not to blush, but it was hard not to. Those piercing blue-gray eyes stared right at me, assessing me as carefully as I assessed him.
    “You ready to go?” he asked without preamble.
    “Ready to go?” I repeated the words, not sure what he was talking about. “Ready to go where?”
    Masters gave me an impatient look. Then a once-over. What the hell? Was that attitude? True annoyance? What?
    “Your editor didn’t tell you.”
    It wasn’t a question but a statement. As he leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest, I was briefly distracted by the play of muscles, but then his words sunk in. I frowned, felt like I was on the outside looking in, which at the moment left me feeling rather stupid. “Didn’t tell me what?” I asked, my own voice now tinged with impatience.
    “You’ll be accompanying me when I go up north to inspect the new property I just purchased.”
    I stared. Accompany him? Up north? A new property? My eyes widened in surprise, then I shifted uncomfortably in my chair. How in the world could Angela neglect to offer me this crucial bit of information? I didn’t have an overnight bag packed. No toothbrush, no clean underwear, no nothing.
    Masters sighed and then glanced at the clock mounted high on the wall over the filing cabinets. “I’m due to leave in twenty minutes.”
    No way could I get to my apartment, pack an overnight bag, and be back in twenty minutes. A myriad of emotions raced through me. Annoyance at Angela for not mentioning this bit of information. I also felt more than a little perturbed about the way Masters was looking at me. It wasn’t my fault that I didn’t know. Was the plan for the interview to be over before it even started?
    Blake rose from his chair and placed his hands on the desk and leaned forward, his eyes riveted to mine. “You can wear that. You probably don’t need much anyway. I’m sorry, but I can’t wait. My itinerary has been set. You should be able to find some clothes more suited to the outdoors once we get there.”
    I didn’t know what to say. “I’m sorry, Mr. Masters—”
    “Blake,” he interrupted.
    “Blake,” I said, nodding. “I’m