Read Fixing Freddie for Free Online

“Don’t avoid the question.” She spoke in a lawyerly voice. “Do you or do you not wonder about the size of Freddie’s package?”
    “No. Yes.” Samantha swallowed. “Maybe.”
    A key turned in the lock and Zach came in, bearing a bouquet of flowers.
    “Saved by the boyfriend.” Samantha shot a warning glance at her friend. “I’ll get going and leave you guys alone.”
    * * *
    He was waiting for her when she arrived the next morning. “I wasn’t sure if you wanted coffee, but I ordered one anyway.” He waved at the barista; she acknowledged and sent an employee around with Samantha’s coffee.
    “You must tip them well for this kind of service.”
    He shrugged. “It’s worth it.”
    She took an appreciative sip then looked across at him. Lauren was only partly right. She wasn’t starting to fall for him–she’d already fallen. But there was one thing that had been bothering her. “I need to ask you something,” she said. “It’s about this work you do.”
    Something moved behind his eyes. “Okay.”
    “The company you work for. Do they make games that demean women?”
    Relief flooded his face. “Why, is that a deal breaker?”
    “Just answer the question.”
    He reached across the table and picked up her hand. “No. We don’t make games that demean women, and we never will.” His touch sent sparks zinging through her veins. “As a matter of fact, some of our most popular characters are kick-ass women.”
    “What if they decide to change the rules? I understand that games featuring women-bashing are popular with some guys.”
    “Not gonna happen,” he said, releasing her hand. “You have my word on it.”
    She studied him for a moment. “Okay, then; enough said. Where are we having breakfast?”
    “Shall we go over to the North Shore? I understand there are some good menswear stores over there. There’s a good restaurant there as well, overlooking the SeaBus terminal.”
    “Are we going on the SeaBus?”
    He looked down at her shoes. She’d worn strappy, high-heeled wedgies.
    “Nah, I think we’d better take my car. I live right around the corner.”
    “Downtown?” Her eyes widened. “In that new building?” It had been heralded as the most exclusive condo complex in Vancouver. “And I suppose you have the penthouse.”
    He laughed. “Of course.” He stood up and held out his hand. “Come on, let’s get going. I’m starving.”
    * * *
    They walked down the ramp into the basement and he guided her to a Land Rover.
    “And here I thought we were going in that.” She motioned toward a low-slung gunmetal-grey sports car parked against the opposite wall. “What is it?”
    “An Aston Martin.” He stopped to admire the car. “It’s a beauty, all right. It belongs to the guy who owns the penthouse.”
    “Like James Bond. You’re sure we can’t take it?” she teased.
    “Next time,” he said with a laugh. “Come on, let’s go get some breakfast.”
    * * *
    Samantha sat back and patted her stomach. “Oh, I do love Eggs Benny. I so rarely go out for breakfast. This is a real treat.”
    “Doesn’t he take you out for breakfast?” His gaze went to the precise spot on her neck where the hickey had been. Thankfully, it had faded.
    “I...” She didn’t know how to answer.
    “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.” He didn’t look sorry. “It’s just that I have some pretty old fashioned ideas on how a woman should be treated.” He gave her a look that curled her toes.
    Warmth flooded her body. If she hadn’t been hot for him before, she certainly was now.
    The awkward moment passed when the server brought a fresh carafe of coffee and removed their plates.
    “Why are you doing this for me?” he asked, fingers absently caressing the side of the cup. He watched her intently as the silence stretched out.
    “I guess...” she hesitated, staring into her cup. “It’s partly because you were so nice to me that time when we were in high school.” She raised