Mixed up in March (Spring River Valley Book 3) by Clarice Wynter Read Free Book Online Page A

highlights of her business trip. She tried not to giggle like a teenager, but she couldn’t help it when she got to describing how Jared had appeared in what she thought was her room, stark naked and dripping from his shower.
    “Oh , my God. These things only happen to you. It’s not fair.”
    “I think it was definitely fair. The universe cheated me out of a hotel room, so I got a hot guy instead.”
    “ And a hotel room and lots of great sex…apparently?”
    Emmy’s face heated. She’d been at the mercy of her skin tone her whole life and couldn’t hide her emotions at all. The moment she thought of anything the least bit naughty, it showed from the top of her head to the top of her cleavage. “He was amazing. That’s all I can say.”
    Evie groaned. “That can’t be all! You promised me details!”
    Emmy covered her face with her hands. “It was perfect, sexy, awesome… He’s incredible.”
    “Those aren’t details. Did he seduce you? Was he romantic or macho?”
    “Definitely romantic, and I think I sort of seduced him. There’s only one problem.”
    “He’s married?”
    “God , no! He works for DenMar Reese, the company I want to recommend to my boss for the ad campaign.”
    Evie sat forward and set her drink on the coffee table. “This is getting juicy. Corporate intrigue. Did he try to get any of TCL’s secrets out of you while you were naked?”
    “Of course not…but there were a couple of moments when I would have told him anything he wanted to know.”
    “I’m getting an idea for a story. Can I get some quotes from you for a piece about the up side of business travel? Yours could be the success story, and I’ll contrast it with that time I went to the hot pepper festival and I passed out in the five-alarm-chili booth.”
    “Focus, Evie. This is a problem.”
    “Not if you don’t mention it. You know, it might be a good idea not to have lunch in a public place at least until the campaign decision is made.”
    Emmy’s stomach flip flopped. “That makes sense. I should change our lunch date. Maybe I could meet him here instead.”
    “Ooh, a nooner!”
    “Maybe I should just tell Frank I went out with Jared, and we hit it off but that it has no bearing on my decision.”
    “Does it?”
    “No…but his presentation was the best one. I really wish it wasn’t . T hen I wouldn’t feel like I was playing favorites.”
    “Tell your boss you can’t decide.”
    “That’s what he’s paying me to do, decide.”
    “Tell him it was a close call, and you really want his input. Let him make the ultimate decision, then he can’t say you were influenced by anything that happened in the bedroom.”
    Emmy still had to wonder if she had been influenced. Did Jared’s presentation only seem better because she was utterly besotted with him? “You’re right. I’ll do that. This way Frank can see for himself how good the presentation is.”
    “And if he doesn’t choose Jared’s company, it won’t be on your head.”
     
    * * * *
     
    “Do you realize you’re whistling?” Max Shannon, Jared’s roommate, stuck his head into Jared’s room late Sunday afternoon. Jared had been unpacking and thinking how soon would be too soon to call Emerson’s cell phone.
    “Was I?”
    “So the presentation went well? All those overtime hours paid off?”
    Jared eyed his satisfied grin in the mirror above his dresser. “I think they did.”
    “Awesome. Congratulations.”
    “Thanks. Hey, are you on your way out?”
    “I’m picking up Audrey. I’m going to take some pictures by the river, and then we’re going to get something to eat. She won’t mind if you want to come along.”
    “Nope, I was just thinking I might invite someone over, if you’re going to be out.”
    “Like a woman ?”
    “Maybe.”
    Max shrugged. “No issue here. Leave a sock on the bedroom door handle if you don’t want to be disturbed.”
    Max disappeared before Jared could say more, and he was a bit relieved. As much