My Man Michael by Lori Foster Read Free Book Online Page B

nurses will find the note and alert your friends, and they’ll have no option but to accept that you’ve made your own decision.”
    “My decision to jump ship without talking to them first?”
    “You’re distraught,” she explained. “You’re in a difficult stage of your life. It would not be uncommon for you to flee.”
    “Flee?” Now that just plain pissed him off. “I don’t flee from anyone or anything.”
    Witnessing the level of his insult had her fighting a smile. “Very good to know, truly, but it would be understandable if you did—as I’m sure your friends would agree. Also, there won’t be the uncomfortable issue of them trying to talk you out of your decision.”
    Which, she likely figured, would force her to talk him into it again.
    She waited, and when he did nothing, she finally said, “Go ahead, sir. Write your note.”
    Disgruntled, Mallet put pen to paper. He didn’t take it too seriously because, really, who would get a chance to read it? But just in case Kayli wanted to see it for herself, he made the explanation believable enough.
    He told his friends not to worry about him because he planned to travel a bit. With Kayli at his side, he would explore surgical options for his leg in various countries, and have some fun along the way. As he added, “She’s hot, and I’m ready,” he anticipated her reaction. He signed it with a flourish.
    There. It all sounded plausible, didn’t it?
    Hovering anxiously at his beside, Kayli asked, “All done?”
    Pushy broad, when she had a goal in sight. “Yeah, sure.”
    She rolled in her lips, fretted, and then asked, “Did you make a special notation to your friend who was just here?”
    “Drew?” At her nod, he said, “No, why would I?”
    “He wanted to hire you for specific employment. I think it would be nice if you gave him the courtesy of turning him down.”
    “Turning him down is a courtesy?”
    “Wouldn’t that be preferable to giving him false hope, to leave him waiting for you without knowing if you planned to accept his offer?”
    “Maybe.” Not that Drew really waited for anyone. He was a mover and a shaker, always on the go with new plans, better plans. He was never content to be idle, either in body or mind, for too long.
    Mallet jotted a P.S. to Drew, thanking him for his offer but refusing. He handed Kayli the paper. “I know you’re dying to take a look, so go ahead.”
    She read it in a mere glance. Toward the end, she frowned at him, but said nothing.
    “It appears convincing.” She fidgeted a moment, and then, somewhat unwillingly, said, “You could tell them that you’ll be in touch. It’s not impossible. If you found it necessary for your peace of mind, you could make contact with them, even from my time period.”
    “That’s done, huh?” In a way, her spacey imagination was adorable. She should be a writer. Maybe she was a writer.
    “I’m here, aren’t I?” Her mouth softened into a smile. “Time travel is not encouraged because it’s costly to execute. Only the most advanced systems—known as super-computers—have the capability.”
    “I take it that you have yourself a supercomputer?”
    “One of the very best, yes. Even so, we don’t utilize it often because to do so leaves open the possibility of causing a rift in the future. But as I explained, you will be an important part of the hierarchy, and as such you will be given more freedom.”
    Yeah, almost like he’d be a king. Mallet shook his head at that absurd image. He was better suited to grunt work than leadership.
    Although, when it came to sex, he enjoyed being in charge—a lot. With just that thought, his voice deepened and his flesh warmed.
    Patting the side of his mattress, he said to Kayli, “Now that we have the note all right and proper, how about you come a little closer? We have some unfinished business, remember.”
    Her smile disappeared and a new wariness turned her hazel eyes glittering gold. “Yes, of course.”
    She