His Illegitimate Heir by Sarah M. Anderson Read Free Book Online Page A

the conference room. He couldn’t even be surprised when he saw it was Casey Johnson. For some reason, something in his chest unclenched.
    â€œHow did I do?” The moment the words left his mouth, he started. He didn’t need her approval. He didn’t even want it. But he’d asked for it anyway.
    She tilted her head to one side and studied him. “Not bad,” she finally allowed. “You may lose the entire marketing department.”
    Zeb’s eyebrows jumped up. Was it because of him or because he brought in Daniel, another outsider? “You think so?”
    She nodded and then sighed. “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?”
    â€œCan you keep a secret?”
    â€œIf I say yes, is that your cue to say, ‘So can I’?”
    Zeb would never admit to being nervous. But if he had been, a little verbal sparring with Ms. Johnson would have been just the thing to distract him. He gave her a measured look. “I’ll take that as a no, you can’t keep a secret. Nevertheless,” he went on before she could protest, “I am putting the fate of this company in the hands of a young woman with an attitude problem, when any other sane owner would turn toward an older, more experienced brewmaster. I have faith in you, Ms. Johnson. Try to have a little in me.”
    She clearly did not win a lot of poker games. One second, she looked like she wanted to tear him a new one for daring to suggest she might have an attitude problem. But then the compliment registered and the oddest thing happened.
    She blushed. Not the overheated red that he’d seen on her several times now. This was a delicate coloring of her cheeks, a kiss of light pink along her skin. “You have faith in me?”
    â€œI had a beer last night. Since you’ve been in charge of brewing for the last year, I feel it’s a reasonable assumption that you brewed it. So yes, I have faith in your abilities.” Her lips parted. She sucked in a little gasp and Zeb was nearly overcome with the urge to lean forward and kiss her. Because she looked utterly kissable right now.
    But the moment the thought occurred to him, he pushed it away. What the hell was wrong with him today? He was about to go out and face a bloodthirsty pack of reporters. Kissing anyone—least of all his brewmaster—should have been the farthest thing from his mind. Especially considering the setdown she’d given him a few days ago.
    Was he like his father or his brother?
    Still, he couldn’t fight the urge to lean forward. Her eyes widened and her pupils darkened.
    â€œDon’t let me down,” he said in a low voice.
    He wasn’t sure what she would say. But then the door swung open again and Daniel poked his head in.
    â€œAh, Ms... Johnson, is it? We’re waiting on you.” He looked over her head to Zeb. “Two minutes.”
    Ms. Johnson turned, but at the doorway, she paused and looked back. “Don’t let the company down,” she told him.
    He hoped he wouldn’t.
    * * *
    Casey knew she should be paying more attention to whatever Zeb was saying. Because he was certainly saying a lot of things, some of them passionately. She caught phrases like quality beer and family company but for the most part, she tuned out.
    He had faith in her? That was so disconcerting that she didn’t have a good response. But the thing that had really blown her mind was that she had been—and this was by her own estimation—a royal bitch during the two times they’d met previous to today.
    It wasn’t that no one respected her. The guys she’d worked with for the last twelve years respected her. Because she had earned it. She had shown up, day in and day out. She had taken their crap and given as good as she got. She had taken every single job they threw at her, even the really awful ones like scrubbing out the tanks. Guys like Larry respected her because they knew