Wait for Me by Elisabeth Naughton Read Free Book Online

moron. I’m not interested.”
    “Why? Was she fat? Ugly? What’s the story?”
    “God, you’re a piece of work. No, she was attractive, at least she was the last time I saw her. Petite, brunette, big eyes. You’d like her.”
    A grin tugged at Mitch’s mouth. “Maybe I should pop over to her office tomorrow, scope her out.”
    “I thought you were gonna scope out the tree hugger at the publishing house.”
    “I can do both.” Mitch’s eyes flashed in the dashboard lights. “Now there’s a thought.”
    “You’re a sick and twisted man.”
    “You have no idea.”
    Ryan raked a hand through his hair. “I think I’m gonna need at least two beers tonight. Preferably big ones.”

 
     
    Chapter Four
     
     
    Kate stared at the computer screen. Photos of the Stromboli Volcano in Italy stared back at her, an article half done that needed a lot of work. She heaved out a sigh and pressed the heel of her hand against her forehead. There was no possible way she was going to be able to focus on editing today. The article would just have to wait until tomorrow.
    Jill stepped into her office a few minutes later with a steamy mocha. “Sure to cure writer’s block every time.”
    “Thanks.” Kate smiled and reached for the cup. “You’re a peach.”
    “I’m just buttering you up.”
    Kate sipped her drink and glanced over the cup with raised brows. “Why do I get the feeling I’m not going to like what you have to say next?”
    Jill wrinkled her nose, the nose ring the twenty-something assistant wore making a clinking sound Kate didn’t want to ponder too much. “Because I’m really bad at this kind of stuff. Here.” She held out a note. “This guy stopped by today while you were out. Really familiar looking for some reason, but I can’t remember where I’ve seen him. Anyway, he wanted to speak with you about something, but since you weren’t here, he left you a message. His phone number’s at the bottom.”
    Kate scanned the note, then looked back at Jill. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
    Jill cringed. “Sorry.”
    Her day was heading straight for the toilet. Kate reached for the phone. The jerk had listed about ten facts from her article he deemed inaccurate and inconclusive.
    She dialed and tapped her foot against the floor while she waited. With everything else going on in her life, she didn’t need this crap right now. A woman answered. “Mitch…” Kate checked his name at the bottom of the paper, “Mathews, please.” She waited another minute. “No, that’s fine, I’ll leave a message.”
    Cradling the phone between her ear and shoulder, she fished out a bottle of aspirin from her desk. After dry swallowing two pills, she glanced up at Jill, who was hovering in the doorway. A male voice clicked on the line, and Kate grasped the phone with her hand, wrinkled her brow. Something about the voice was vaguely familiar.
    She looked back at the name. Mitch Mathews. Ran it around in her head. Didn’t recognize it. But there was something so familiar in that voice...
    Whatever. She’d never met the jerk before. After this wouldn’t talk to him again. She waited for the incessant beep.
    “Mr. Mathews,” she began in a smug voice. “This is Kate Alexander at McKellen Publishing. I wanted to take the time to personally thank you for the kind note you left with my secretary today. We really appreciated the pointed and colorful language. Seeing as you had the time to not only track me down but also leave such a lengthy thesis on Queen Charlotte Sound, I must assume you are the expert in this field. From now on I’ll be sure to defer all questions and comments about this and future articles straight to you. One note, however. Jackass is spelled with two s’s, not one. I would have thought they’d teach you that in donkey school. Good day, Mr. Mathews.”
    Kate gathered the papers in front of her and pushed to her feet. “I have an appointment this afternoon, Jill. You can forward my