The Paris Assignment by Addison Fox Read Free Book Online Page A

to her to understand what drove him.
    His words were quiet when he finally spoke again. “I want more out of my life than watching my stock portfolio all day.”
    “Your parents raised you and your siblings with a work ethic. There’s nothing wrong with that. There’s also nothing wrong with enjoying the fruits of your labor, however you choose.”
    “This from a woman regularly known to work ninety-hour weeks. Tell me, Abby—” he leaned toward her across the expanse of the limo, his voice husky “—how often are you enjoying the fruits of your labors?”
    She could hardly argue with the assessment, even if it suddenly struck her as a rather cold view of her life. “I enjoy a full life.”
    “Outside the boardroom?”
    She laughed, the sound surprising her with its hollow echo. “I lead a privileged life. I’m hardly in a position to complain.”
    Their driver pulled to a stop and Abby sensed their conversation was at an end. “Speaking of privilege, what you do does have a few perks.”
    “Perks?”
    “You weren’t exactly fending off the advances of a world-renowned diva, now were you?”
    She purposely looked away from Campbell’s widened eyes as the driver held her door open. Abby took the man’s proffered hand and stepped from the car, satisfied that—for the moment—she’d had the last word.
    * * *
    Campbell walked behind Abby through the ornate entryway to one of his favorite bars, his gaze returning again and again to the long cascade of her hair falling rich and lush over her back. The woman was a sight and he couldn’t quite shake off the small kernel of enjoyment that Carlotta had gotten to her.
    He also thanked his lucky stars the diva hadn’t ruined his cover.
    Carlotta had a rather sizeable chip on her shoulder at her ill-fated seduction attempts and this evening could have gone sideways faster than a computer virus in a mainframe if she hadn’t recognized the financial value in sucking up to Abby.
    He could only offer praise to the few brain cells he possessed that he’d never taken the diva up on her more than generous offer—one given while stark-naked—the previous fall. She was an assignment—the victim of a high-end ring of identity thieves—and he didn’t mix business with pleasure.
    So why was he struggling to keep that in the forefront of his thoughts as he spent time with Abby?
    And what the hell was he thinking coming on to her in the limo? He had no idea how she chose to live her life and insinuating otherwise was seriously out of line. Despite the knowledge he needed to stop this ridiculous curiosity about his newest client, he couldn’t deny how the woman intrigued him.
    Nor could he deny the overwhelming urge to wipe away the sadness he saw in the depths of her lush brown gaze.
    He was neither a fanciful man, nor a poetic one, so the fact that thought even crossed his mind was proof positive he was far more gone than he’d realized.
    The hostess led them through the bar to a prime seat in front of the oversize windows. The south entrance of the park sat open before them and he could see several horses with their riders waiting to ply their trade.
    With deliberate movements, he slung an arm around Abby’s shoulders once they were settled on a small high-backed settee before the window.
    “There’s no one here,” she hissed as she looked up at him.
    “What’s the matter? Not enjoying my company?”
    “That’s not what I meant. The event is over and we’re not on display any longer. You said the evening didn’t seem out of the ordinary.”
    His impressions earlier in the day as well as observing her throughout the evening were one of a woman used to being in control. Add on her comments in the car when he tried to probe deeper and he knew she wasn’t used to giving up one precious bit of that power.
    Whether it was his own stubborn, subversive nature that his family regularly cursed him for or the fact that the woman tantalized him like no other he wasn’t