Read Claimed for Free Online Page A

stared at them, suddenly becoming aware of their physical resemblance. She flushed with embarrassment. “Well,” she stammered. “That makes it all the more worse then, doesn’t it? Brother or husband, a man can’t just drag a woman out of her workplace. It’s undignified and certainly heartlessly shameful to her.”
    Jared stepped around Tara and moved closer to Ellie. He was only a breath’s away from her and the temptation was too great for him to simply tug her into his arms and possess the lips that berated him with such daring rage. “My sister will never work for a Callum. And I will see to it she never does again from now on.”
    She stepped back, horrified by the hatred with which he spoke. “ Mr… Jared, my family has done a favor to your sister-”
    “Your family-” he minced, his animosity surfacing into his voice.
    The door opened and Sam stepped into the hallway. He looked at them with a raised eyebrow and then turned to Tara. “Your wages, Tara.”
    “Thank you, Mr Glover,” Tara said, graciously accepting the envelope he was handing over to her and even more grateful that his presence had quieted the raging couple.
    The elderly butler cleared his throat. “Miss Ellie,” he addressed. “Mr. Edmund would be arriving soon to pick you up for tonight’s dinner with the Lintons. You have only a couple hours left before he would be here.”
    Ellie closed her eyes, biting her lower lip to stifle her temper. The butler’s disguised cue for her to leave this infuriating young man before her, did not fail her sharp sense s.
    She opened her eyes and suddenly grew riveted to her spot. He was looking down at her, his molten brown eyes impaling her soul, affecting her in ways she could not describe. She pulled away from him before he could mesmerize her any further.
    “Tara,” she stammered. “Your basket of fruit.” It was all she could manage to say with him standing so close to her; she felt he would burn her.
    “Thank you, Miss,” Tara muttered, willingly accepting the basket. She’d deal with the consequences of her gift later. At the moment, she wanted to leave as soon as she could without any further furor.
    Ellie though, kept standing frozen to her spot, writhing her fingers and unable to move away from him.
    “Miss Ellie,” the butler reminded.
    Ellie staggered back, trying to break free from the spellbinding gaze of the man. Her heel caught into the hem of her robe and she slipped. She let out a small cry as her legs gave way. She closed her eyes, waiting to hit against the cold hard floor of the hallway. She felt his muscular arms catching her waist instead and the heat of his body as he tugged her against his hard chest.
    Her hands involuntary wound around his nape , his breath rasped against her face as he held her, continuing to captivate her with his eyes.
    “Miss Ellie… Miss Callum!” Tara fumbled carelessly between the names, utterly worried if her mistress was hurt at all. Could this day get any more worse?
    Jared reluctantly loosened his grasp on her, his hands now resting at her waist.
    She withdrew her hand slowly from his nape, dragging it against his flesh, feeling the softness of it.
    He let out a sharp breath, his fingers clutching onto the sides of her gown.
    “Miss Ellie, are you okay?” Tara peered at her.
    Sam coughed. “Miss Ellie?”
    “I… yes,” she stuttered, withdrawing quickly. She felt the loss of his heat almost immediately. She dared not look at him again, fearing she would be entranced by him once more. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened there,” she gave a nervous chuckle. “I think it was my shoe… my heel… in my skirt….” She was rambling. She held her breath and then started again. “I have to go.”
    She turned around and hurried out of the hallway, her long robe fluttering behind her.
     
    *****
     
    Tara marched into the house, grumbling to herself. She threw her cardigan onto the couch with frustration.
    “Mom!”