The Proviso by Moriah Jovan Read Free Book Online Page B

her, of actually meeting her. Here.
In his own lawyer’s office. Working as a second-shift
transcriptionist.
    It hadn’t occurred to him that Knox’s lover might
work for a living. Knox always took care of his women well; he
could afford to with all the untraceable money that ran through his
office. Certainly, Leah had had the best of everything.
    He fought the urge to turn around and walk backward
just so he could inspect her more closely: faded Levi’s, white tee
shirt, and flamboyant vest that looked like a refugee from a Mardi
Gras rag bag; rich golden-red hair— why had he thought it
dull blonde?—in a ponytail, bound with a pert yellow ribbon and
dripping those large, loose corkscrews down to her nape.
    If only he didn’t know that she wore a gun under
cocktail dresses at funerals.
    If only he hadn’t heard her say I am not going to
fuck you with the bored amusement of a woman who knew what to
do with a man who couldn’t understand the word no.
    If only she hadn’t turned on the charm once Ralph
had been disposed of and looked at Bryce like that .
    He sucked in a sharp breath and it caught.
    Women just didn’t look at him like that anymore and
hadn’t since the fire. More than one who’d found his wallet
intriguing had spoken to his necktie in an effort to avoid looking
at his face. Most children scrambled to stay away from him, the
combination of his big body and scarred features overwhelming.
    Monster.
    He almost laughed. He could afford to now that he
knew that the woman who’d tormented him for the last six months, a
woman he’d assumed would react the same way the rest of the female
population did, had found him attractive enough to let him know
exactly what she wanted from him and how she wanted it, Knox be
damned.
    He must have imagined it.
    Deep breath. He held it, then puffed it out again in
a whoosh. She’d completely blown his mind.
    Again.
    All the way through the meeting with his attorney he
felt distracted, scattered.
    “Bryce? You with me?”
    He shook his head to clear it. “That typist you have
out there—the redhead—”
    “Giselle? What about her?”
    “Your idiot attorney Ralph ‘Call Me Rafe’ hit on her
as I was walking in. He’s a walking sexual harassment suit. He
threatened to get her fired if she didn’t sleep with him.”
    Geoff Hale’s eyes narrowed. “I’m going to get rid of
that son of a bitch.”
    “I suggested he have his office cleaned out by the
time I left here tonight. I hope you don’t mind me stepping into
your business like that, but he was a little too pushy for my
comfort.”
    Hale’s eyebrows rose. “Oh. Well thank you, then.
I’ll send a quick email to HR.” He turned to his computer for a
moment and as he typed, he continued, “You know, he’s been nothing
but trouble from day one. Giselle’s more valuable to me than three
of him.”
    “Oh?” Bryce kept his voice casual to invite more
comment, the perfect way to glean more information about her
without arousing suspicion.
    “Brilliant woman. Going to law school on the
five-year program and she’s interning for me this summer.” Bryce
hid his surprise. “She’ll be a good trial attorney. Enough ego and
charm to pull anything off and the brains and wit to back it up.
I’m just hoping not to lose her to Hilliard’s office, since that’s
where everyone wants to go. Not that I’ve asked her, come to think
of it,” he added absently while finishing his email with a
flourish.
    Bryce’s heart quickened, but he controlled his
expression. “Ah. Does she, uh, have any connections to any local
attorneys?”
    “Not that I know of. Why?”
    “Curious is all.”
    For some reason, Bryce kept what he knew to himself.
Mentioning her intimate involvement with Knox Hilliard would
definitely get her fired, but he didn’t know why he felt compelled
to protect her.
    “Is she married?”
    Hale glanced at him then and his mouth twitched. “I
forgot to mention that she’s pretty,” he said,