The Billionaire's Hotline (Men of the Capital Series Book 1) by Cara Nelson Read Free Book Online

bombshell dress called for a definite change in plans. If he took her where he’d intended, he knew she’d be spooked—she’d be so busy worrying about how overdressed she was that she couldn’t enjoy herself.
    “Beautiful,” he said. He pulled out his phone and punched in an email to Miss Hollingford to produce tickets. “First, a drink.” He led her down to the Blake for a cocktail.
    “I don’t drink very often. It kills throat cells,” she whispered.
    “Two Shirley Temples,” he ordered, straight-faced, and soon a juicy concoction with three maraschino cherries speared on a plastic sword appeared before them. She sipped it happily and he relaxed when he got a message from Miss Hollingford.
    “The car will be here momentarily. We’re going to the symphony. It doesn’t start until nine. Are you hungry?”
    Hannah was torn between eating because she was hungry and abstaining because she didn’t want to spill or burst her girdle. She shrugged in what she hoped was an expressive European way and ate a cherry out of her drink. Jasper kissed her then, suddenly and in front of the crowd at Blake Bar. He tasted of tart lime and salt. She kissed him back without hesitation. When he put his hand to her waist, she flinched, worried he would feel the boned mechanism restraining her midsection, and sat up straighter.
    “I have ideas of where we could spend our two hours,” he said, wiping red gloss from his mouth with a scoundrel grin.
    “No, thanks. I don’t want to be the first entry of dial-a-brunette. I’ll pass on the nudity portion of the evening,” she said flippantly, although the thought of spending two hours in various stages of undress with Jasper Cates in a hotel room made her start to sweat in a way she was certain Becca would disapprove of.
    “Then come to the park with me. It’s a nice evening. The sun’s gone in, so you won’t get any Vitamin D but we can enjoy the fresh air.”
    She hobbled after him in the stilettos until they reached the park a few blocks away. She occupied the first bench she saw, remembering to keep her spine ramrod straight.
    “You’re tense,” Jasper said. “Tell me about your work. What did you do today?”
    “Put on the most agonizing shoes known to mankind,” she said, indicating her feet.
    Jasper knelt on the ground in his jeans and popped off her right shoe. He pressed his thumbs into the arch of her sore foot, stroking and massaging until she was nearly purring. He replaced the shoe and removed its mate, beginning on her left foot. She made a half-hearted protest before reveling in the unaccustomed pampering. When he was finished, he put her shoe back on and sat beside her on the bench, reached into his pocket for his hand sanitizer, and rubbed his hands together.
    “More relaxed?” he asked.
    “Mmm-hmm,” she assented, dropping her head to his shoulder. “Thanks.” He turned and kissed the top of her head, putting an arm around her so she fitted against his side.
    “I know you’re a sound engineer…I thought you’d appreciate a concert. It’s the Brandenburg Concertos.”
    “Ah, Bach. The Baroques aren’t my favorite, but I do enjoy the Brandenburg Concertos, if only because I feel sorry for Bach. He was such a genius—hard to get along with, but a genius. The Brandenburgs were never even performed in his lifetime…he sent them as an audition for a king, like a job application, and the musicians at court were so shitty that they just put away the scores unused because they were too complex. Think how sad that was,” she said vehemently.
    “It’s hard not to kiss you sometimes.”
    “Even though I insulted the Baroques?” she teased.
    “Handel and his ilk can go to hell for all I care. I’m only going for you.”
    “You don’t like Bach? Or it’s just a waste of your valuable time?”
    “I don’t have any strong feelings for Johann Sebastian, favorable or otherwise. The only reason his concertos are worth my notice is that there’s