Reflected Pleasures by Linda Conrad Read Free Book Online

being taught.
    â€œOkay. Why don’t you consider scheduling the reception for early April?” he proposed. “We could hold it on my ranch. The weather should be nice enough then to set it up outside under the trees.”
    â€œThat would be lovely. I’ll begin working on it right away.” She hesitated and wondered what else was left to be said.
    Finally, Ty cleared his throat and told her what was on his mind. “I plan to be back in town by midafternoon tomorrow. I thought, if you weren’t scheduled for a meeting at the garden club, that you might like to go out to the original Nuevo Dias Children’s Ranch and see what kind of things our foundation supports.”
    â€œNuevo Dias? The New Day. I’d like that, yes. Thank you.”
    â€œGood. And while you’re in the mood for saying yes, I’ll ask if you’ll let me take you to dinner afterward. I have to keep my word to Aunt Jewel, you know.”
    She could hear the chuckle in his voice and tried to keep the smile out of hers. “That wouldn’t be like adate, would it? Because I don’t think it’s a good idea for a boss and employee to date.”
    â€œNo. It wouldn’t be like a date.” His laughter hummed over her skin and set her blood on fire. “It would be like a boss making sure his employee took care of herself.”
    Yeah, right. But she remembered her promise to his attorney. Maybe outside of business hours were the best times to find a way to mention his appearance and manners.
    On top of that, there was something terribly compelling about Tyson Steele. She decided to put her terrific opportunity for a new life in jeopardy in order to spend more time with him.
    â€œI think you might be telling just a tiny fib with that one,” she said with a sigh. “But…”
    â€œI never lie,” he interjected in a sober tone.
    â€œOkay, then.” She took a deep breath. “I’ll go to dinner with you tomorrow night after we visit the children’s home. But don’t think that means I’m giving you permission to watch over me. I can take care of myself.”
    â€œYes, ma’am,” he said in his deep, sexy voice. “Good night, Merri. I’ll look forward to seeing you tomorrow.”
    After he’d hung up the phone, she sat for a long time, still holding the receiver in her hand. What had she done?
    She really couldn’t let Tyson Steele get that close. They shouldn’t be seen out together.
    But, well…he was just so tempting. And he’d actually flirted with her, even though she hadn’t worn her usual tons of makeup and fancy clothes. Ty seemed to like the plain Merri Davis just fine.
    All she could do now was pray that her wonderful new life would not be ruined by getting too close to someone who was so earthy…and so very real.
    Â 
    Ty’s gaze moved past the giggling little girls in the lounge and landed on the fascinating woman who sat cross-legged on the floor amongst them. The whole time he’d been outside, playing ball with the older boys of Nuevo Dias Ranch, he hadn’t been able to think of anything else but the green of her eyes behind those glasses. And the tiny beauty mark at the side of her mouth that he’d spotted while in the car on the way out here.
    He leaned back against the doorjamb and folded his arms to watch her interact with the children. She had her back to him, but he had a clear view of what she was doing.
    She’d removed the restrictive navy jacket that was part of the dress suit she’d worn today so she could play with the girls. The crisp white shirt she’d had on under it shouldn’t have looked sexy at all.
    But it did.
    Letting his eyes wander where they would, he started his perusal at the back of her long slim neck above the shirt’s collar. A few soft tendrils of hair had escaped the bun and they trickled across her flesh at the hairline. He wondered