Heart Ache (Bound by a Touch Novels #1) by Morgan Kearns Read Free Book Online Page A

him. “Can I bring you something?”
    “ Are you trying to kill me?”
    “ No, I—”
    A dark, warm chuckle bubbled from his throat. “I’m fine. Thank you.”
    A storm raged in her blue eyes. He didn’t understand her dark mood even when she tossed a message onto his desk. “You should probably return this as soon as possible.”
    When the door closed, he picked up the message and plucked the phone from its cradle, only to set it back down. His brows pinched in confusion.
    He didn’t have a date tonight. And who the hell was Patricia?
     
     
    Gabrielle stormed out of Nikolai’s office, strode passed her desk, and escaped out the door. She didn’t want to give herself a chance to go back into his office make a fool of herself—again.
    Damn, she felt pathetic!
    The elevator in the hall dinged, announcing its arrival. She entered and pushed the button for the lobby. The door closed and she sighed when her body finally relaxed against the wood panels along the back wall.
    Whenever she was near Nikolai, her skin tingled and she had to remind herself to keep her hands to herself. And now she finds out he’s dating. Dating! She couldn’t help but wonder how many women he had on speed dial. Did he have a new one every night?
    Ugh! Why did it matter?
    She was engaged.
    “ Stupid!” She lifted her hand to examine the diamond and muttered the name of the man she should be obsessing about.
    She examined at the pattern of the tile floor instead of looking at her reflection in the stainless steel door. There was no need to see the guilt she felt.
    Another ding signaled her destination. She looked up just as the doors revealed Marie. The puzzled expression on her face and her hands planted on her hips made Gabby rethink the coffee break idea.
    “ Hi.” Gabby forced a small, guilt ridden smile.
    “ Don’t hi me. What’s going on?”
    “ Shh!” Gabby grabbed a hold of her friend and tugged her off to the side. The only sounds the clicking of her stilettos and Marie’s high-heeled boots as they hurried through the empty lobby, past the cafeteria, and out the back doors.
    “ Um, I thought—”
    “ Can I talk to you?” Gabby stopped walking and turned to face her friend.
    “ Isn’t that why you dragged me out here?” Marie sat down on a brick planter box and patted the spot next to her. “What’s wrong? I’ve never seen you so rattled.”
    Gabby plopped down, heaving a frustrated sigh. She rested her chin in her hand, her elbow on her knee. Her skirt rose up her thigh. She stood, smoothed her skirt back down below her knees.
    “ You can not tell anyone…”
    “ Have I ever broken your confidence?”
    “ No, but—” She straightened. “—this is bad, Marie.”
    “ Did you have a fight with Jayson?”
    “ No.” Gabby dropped back down and did an impression of The Thinker, trying to come up with the best way to tell her best friend she was in love with her boss.
    Damn! Was that what this was? Could she really be in love with Nikolai? And if she was, what should she do about Jayson?
    “ Dammit, spit it out! You’re freaking me out. What’s wrong? Gabby!” Marie snapped.
    “ I’ve been having dreams.”
    Marie’s eyes flicked up to the windows of Niko’s office then she leaned close and whispered, “About him ?”
    Gabby nodded.
    Her best friend had the audacity to laugh. “So? Who doesn’t dream about that man?”
    “ They’ve changed though. Since the day I met him, I’ve been dreaming of him, but last night—” Gabby sighed. “Last night, it was almost as if he were in my room.”
    “ It was a dream.”
    “ There’s more.”Gabby grabbed some of her own hair and shoved it under Marie’s nose. She jerked back.
    “ What the hell are you doing?”
    “ Sniff.” She shoved the hair under her nose again.
    Marie’s eyes widened then narrowed, but she complied. There was a quiet sound of air being taken into her nose, then her eyes closed and a light moan escaped her lips.
    “ Wow,