Naked Disclosure by Michele Bardsley Read Free Book Online

you?”
    “Yes,” said Adam, knowing that he’d made up his mind but good.
    “I would like you to stay away from her, Mr. Redmont. And I’m willing to pay you to do it.”
    Flummoxed by this firmly delivered edict, Adam stared at her. Obviously, Miss Odie was used to verbally walloping people in conversation because she met his gaze head-on without apology.
    “I won’t take your money. And I won’t stay away from Victoria. I like her.” The moment the words popped out of his mouth, he realized it was more than true. He did like her. Liked her a whole helluva lot. Well, then. What was he doing here jawing with her grandmother?
    “I’m a powerful woman, Mr. Redmont. Powerful and wealthy. Only a fool defies my will.”
    “Then I’m a fool.” That said, he rose to his feet, nodded good-bye, and left the parlor. Mettie waited in the foyer with his coat and gloves. He put them on and went through the door she opened.
    Once he got into his truck and turned it on to warm the engine, he put his shaking hands on the wheel and squeezed until his heart stopped trying to leap out of his chest. He’d just told Odemina Wilson to stuff it. Let the old biddie do her worst. He had something more important to worry about. He started the truck and headed back toward town.
    Toward Victoria.
     
    INSIDE THE WILSON house, Odemina sat in her chair, staring into the distance, thinking about the past and the present. When Mettie entered, a smile playing on her lips, the old woman heaved herself out of the wingback. “Well? What’s he doing?”
    “Mr. Redmont got into his truck and took off,” she asked, wrapping her arm around the fussy old woman to lead her out of the parlor. “You think he’ll go to Victoria?”
    Odemina gave a rusty chuckle. “Oh now, Mettie. Only a fool defies my will.”

Chapter 6
     
    “MIND IF WE talk?” asked a familiar male voice.
    Victoria dropped the paperwork in her hand, not caring that it missed the desk and scattered onto the floor. She whirled around and cried, “Adam!”
    He lounged against the doorway, his fists clenched by his side. He looked at her for a long time…so long it felt like a year passed. Then he said, “I’m sorry I hurt you.”
    His apology was unexpected. Her heart tripped over in her chest. “I’ve been trying to figure out how to apologize to you. I should’ve told you who I was, even if that meant you walked away.”
    “Ian told me, Victoria. I called him on my cell to tell him I was coming to see you. He said you called ProCare today to tell us you were shutting down.”
    “It was the only way to—”
    “To reward a foolish, prideful man?”
    Oh wow. He was so tender-hearted. Stubborn, yes. But so was she. “It just makes me wild when you say things like that,” she admitted.
    “I don’t want you to shut down your business just to say you’re sorry. Please, don’t do that.”
    “Okay,” she said, relieved that he felt that way. She liked Hunny Do. Liked running her own business and keeping townspeople employed. She knew Adam felt the same way about ProCare. They could come to some understanding, she was sure.
    “I could fall for you, Adam.”
    Adam crossed the space between them and gathered her into his arms. “I do believe you already did.”
    The laugh caught in her throat. In his eyes glimmered with what might one day called love. And she felt the same way. In fact, her whole self seemed to be brightened just by being near the man.
    “I fell for you, too,” he said softly. “Would you like to go dinner? Maybe a movie? Casablanca is playing at the old theatre.”
    “Don’t you think we’re past the courting stage?” She was thrilled that he wanted to spend time with her in and out of the bedroom.
    “We can start wherever we want,” said Adam.
    She nodded. “So, how do you want to start then?”
    “With a kiss.” Then Adam lowered his head and pressed his lips to hers. Torie wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him