Tycoon Takes Revenge by Anna DePalo Read Free Book Online Page B

about the CEO of a troubled department-store chain—”
    â€œI remember when he hit the papers,” Noah interjected.
    She nodded. “It turned out he was buying five-thousand-dollar shower mats for his penthouse while his shareholders were bleeding money.”
    â€œOuch,” Tim said.
    â€œWhat happened?” Ben asked.
    â€œHe’s no longer CEO,” Noah said, answering for her.
    â€œJust like, if Kayla has her way, I’ll no longer be the playboy of the northern hemisphere.”
    Tim stifled a smile, while Ben looked from her to Noah and back.
    Kayla groaned inwardly. Great. Tim and Ben obviously thought something was going on between her and Noah.
    After dinner, they headed to a karaoke bar. Though going to a bar where the patrons were encouraged to stand up and sing popular tunes wasn’t her thing, she was soon laughing and clapping along with everyone else as one guest after another tried to carry a tune, assisted by a microphone, a DJ who loaded the right soundtrack and a TV monitor that displayed the song’s lyrics.
    The dim lighting in the bar, as well as the intimacy of their seating arrangement at a small table, kept Kayla acutely aware of Noah, who was seated next to her.
    So intent was she on the accidental brush of his leg against hers that she was startled when Noah spoke. “So what’s it going to be?”
    â€œWhat?” she asked uncomprehendingly.
    He indicated the small stage with a quirk of an eyebrow. “What are you going to sing?”
    â€œNo,” she said, shaking her head.
    â€œChicken,” he teased.
    She straightened her spine. “I haven’t sung since I was in the junior-high-school chorus.”
    â€œNot even in the shower?”
    â€œThat’s not in public.”
    â€œSo you do sing in the shower?” he asked. “Funny, I didn’t think you were the singing-in-the-shower type.”
    â€œAnd you are?” she parried.
    â€œI’ve done many things in the shower,” he said, his look wicked. “Singing is just one of them.”
    â€œThe question is, are you good at any of them?”
    Noah threw back his head and laughed, drawing the momentary attention of Ben and Tim, who were seated in front of them, closer to the stage, watching someone do a torturous rendition of “Midnight Train to Georgia.”
    Kayla felt Noah’s laugh to the tips of her toes. It was low, rich and seductive.
    â€œCome on,” he said. “I’ll get up there if you will. It’s practically required. Even Ben and Tim are taking a turn.”
    As it turned out, Ben and Tim did a passable rap duet.
    She was sort of stunned actually, but all Noah said was “Like I said, the name of the game is novelty.”
    â€œWhere do they find the time with their work schedules?”
    Noah shrugged. “Rapping helps them attract women.”
    Her turn came a few minutes later. She walked to the stage and, in a snap decision, told the DJ to change her song selection.
    If the name of the game was doing something out of character, she knew how to oblige.
    As the first notes of the song vibrated through the room, she closed her eyes for a few seconds and let herself get caught up in the mood.
    Finally, she opened her eyes and began singing “Come Away with Me.” Norah Jones’s hit song was slow, romantic and suited to her own husky singing voice.
    For the first minute or so, she avoided looking at Noah. When she did chance a glance at him, her eyes locked with his and she almost stumbled over a note.
    At that moment, the strangest set of feelings passed over her. She felt the exhilaration of racing with the wind in her hair alternating with the languor of lying in a hammock on a hot, sunny afternoon. The sensations thrilled and warmed her at the same time.
    She sang on about walking together on a cloudy day and a love that would never stop.
    Noah’s gaze flickered, though the rest of his face