Too Grand for Words (BookStrand Publishing Romance) by Natasza Waters Read Free Book Online Page A

juvenile,” Mandy quipped.
    “Shall we do it?” Steven asked.
    Her skin jumped as he slid his fingers through hers and guided her to the car.

    * * * *

    “Uh…” He stopped suddenly.
    Callie had plunked herself in the passenger’s seat of the Mercedes and fastened the seatbelt.
    Moira burst out laughing at his obvious look of surprise. “She makes me laugh, that one does. She’s harmless really.”
    He knew otherwise. Young all right, harmless—he didn’t think so. He’d known a young redhead once. She’d been incorrigible, driven, and a bitch—and he’d almost married her. He’d seen plenty of them in Hollywood since then, and they would do anything to get what they wanted. They were forward, brash, and conniving. Moira unhooked her arm from him and leaned on the car. He stood back, enjoying the view.
    “Out, young lady,” Moira ordered.
    “What?” Callie said, her expression dripping with innocence. “Oh come on, Moira.” She clutched the top of the door with both hands. “I’ve never ridden in one of these before, please.”
    “Callie, you’re twenty-one years old and I’m forty, and I’ve never ridden in one of these, so get in the rental car with the rest of the gang.”
    Callie huffed and undid her seatbelt, her hungry eyes following him as he rounded the front of the car. “Maybe he’d like me to stay.”
    “Maybe he would, but you’re not staying.”
    He heard that and hid a grin. Clearly, these five were her protégés. Callie grudgingly opened the door and got out. “What about on the way back?” she piped up, looking hopeful.
    “Not today, Callie,” Moira admonished.
    He had a word with Marcus who nodded and gave a thumbs-up.
    When he got in, he turned to her. “Think they can keep up?”
    “Why?” she asked, giving him a cautious look. “They’ll kill themselves trying to beat you. They’re all A-types, believe it or not.”
    “I believe it.” He pushed the key into the ignition. “I gave Marcus instructions how to get there in case we get separated.”
    “And by the way,” Moira said, narrowing her eyes.
    He was laughing already as he started the car. His brows rose as he turned to look at her innocently.
    “Don’t give me that look,” she chastised as if she’d said it to him a thousand times before. “You know what?”
    “Don’t know what you’re talking about, sweetheart.”
    “Don’t call me sweetheart. I’m not sweet.”
    “Maybe not to them, but I can see it.”
    “Ah-huh.” Moira turned her attention toward the lobby entrance, her fingers knotting together.
    His smile broadened as he moistened his lips. “I forgot.”
    She narrowed her eyes. “What, you’re going to tell the truth about who you are? Surely you’re feeling badly about beating me to it with the driver last night?”
    He bit down on a grin, and reached up to weave his hand through her hair. “No, this.” His mouth devoured her soft, full lips. Just like last night, a swell of warmth filled him. It wasn’t lust, it was passion, a hot, blazing need for her.
    Moira was different. He’d looked into her eyes last night and saw something completely unique. Maybe that’s what had intrigued him, her bold, beautiful eyes trying to figure something out. Figure him out.
    He released her but only moved a few inches away. “How did you sleep?”
    “Eventually.”
    He wove his hand through her hair, finally able to feel it after dreaming about her all night. “Let’s see how good the twenty-five-year-old can drive?” he said.
    He pulled out, using the power of the vehicle to get them through the traffic and onto the freeway quickly. Poor Marcus never had a chance.
    Eventually huh? He grinned to himself once they were at cruising speed, and the kid trying to catch up was left in the dust. His dreams stuck with him even as he’d begun to wake this morning. He’d been so hard he thought he would explode. Moira’s siren eyes and beautiful face had stayed with him all night.
    A coil