Hot Button by Kylie Logan Read Free Book Online

standing nearby sipping a cup of coffee heard me, I blushed a thousand shades of red. She was kind enough not to point out that talking to yourself is one sure sign of mental instability and, instead, hurried forward. “My first national conference,” she said. “And things are going so smoothly over at the registration table that it’s a dream. Helen Obermyer… I’ve known Helen for years. She’s got everything movinglike clockwork. And that assistant of yours…” The woman’s little shiver spoke volumes. “Talk about a dream!”
    I didn’t ask who she was talking about.
    I didn’t have to.
    The way she shivered said a whole lot. It ought to. I myself had once been prone to those same kinds of shivers, and not that long ago. In fact, I was convinced it was that shiver-inducing charm that had robbed me of my senses and made me utter those fateful words, I do.
    I hurried over to registration to find Kaz and get him the hell away from my conference, but that was not so easy considering when I finally spotted him in the crowd, he was in the middle of helping a man from Georgia—not the state—make sense of our conference booklet and which sessions were being held in which rooms.
    I left my briefcase in the care of one of the conference volunteers and waited until they exchanged cordial good-byes in English and whatever language it is they speak in Georgia before I closed in on him. “What, you’re some kind of expert in foreign relations now? What are you doing—”
    “He’s as smart as a whip.” A woman walking by patted Kaz’s arm.
    “And as cute as a button!” her companion said, and laughed.
    “See?” Once they were gone, Kaz turned up the wattage on his smile and aimed it full at me. “I’m indispensable.”
    “But why?” I was tempted to throw my hands in the air and raise my voice while I was at it. Maybe then I could get through to Kaz. I controlled myself, but only because we were within feet of the registration table, and the area was abuzz with eager conference-goers. After the debacle onboard the boat the night before, I didn’t need anotherscene. Especially one that featured me and my ex duking it out in front of button collectors from all over the world.
    I grabbed onto the sleeve of Kaz’s blue blazer and dragged him further down the corridor, where things were quieter.
    “You own a blue blazer?” When I realized what I was doing, I dropped my hand as if the cloth were on fire and looked over Kaz’s outfit: blue blazer with shiny brass buttons, white Oxford cloth shirt, khakis. “You’ve never owned a blue blazer in your life. And khakis?” I had a rule about not getting within touching distance of Kaz’s bare flesh, but I figured desperate times, desperate measures, and all that. I pressed a hand to his forehead. No fever.
    “What’s going on, Kaz?” I asked. “What are you up to and why aren’t you working down at the port and why are you here?”
    “Apparently, to help.” When a group of elderly women walked by, grinned, and waved at him, Kaz waved back and called each and every one of them by their first names. “A conference chair can never have too many dedicated volunteers to do her bidding.”
    “Apparently, this one can.” I crossed my arms over my chest and stepped back, my weight against one foot. I’d hoped for intimidating.
    Kaz’s smile never wavered. “Hey, I took some vacation time. Because I figured this was a big deal for you and you could use the extra help. Now, there is something you can do for me. You know, to show your appreciation.”
    “I knew it.” The words popped out, along with a whoop that pretty much said I knew you were up to something, buster, the moment you showed up at the airport. When I realized how loud both had come out, I clamped one hand over my mouth, grabbed Kaz’s sleeve, scooted a few feetfurther down the corridor toward the room where the vendors were set up, and hissed, “I knew it.”
    Kaz was less than