Read Her Charming Heartbreaker for Free Online Page A

trip to Melbourne,”
she mused. “That’s a great idea.”
    She dug inside her back
pocket and pulled out her cell phone. Theo watched her smile
brighten as she began keying in a message. Within seconds, her
phone beeped with incoming text messages.
    “We’re onto a winner
here. Everyone loves the idea.” She frowned. “They want to know if
you can be our chaperone slash bodyguard slash master of
ceremonies.”
    “I doubt the groom will
approve.”
    “He doesn’t need to
know.”
    “That’s asking for
trouble.”
    “Don’t be a killjoy.
What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him.”
    He watched her as she
skimmed through the messages. “Whatever you just read made you
blush.” And moisten her lips...
    “I’d tell you but I’m
sure you’ll disapprove.”
    “Try me.”
    She shook her head
sending her curls into a playful dance around her shoulders. “It’s
too provocative.”
    “Does it involve me
becoming part of the entertainment?” The flush of crimson on her
cheeks deepened.
    She pocketed the phone
and smiled. “Give and take, my friend. If I tell you, you’ll have
to give me something in return.”
    “You’re bartering for
conversation?”
    “Well, since I’m the
one standing behind the bar, I’m traditionally supposed to be the
one doing the listening. So spill. What’s troubling you?”
    Theo had to pull his
gaze away from Eddie before he could even try to recall the
previous day’s encounter with Claire Muldoon, the one he’d been
thinking about only a few moments before. However, even as he
stared into his cup of coffee he could still feel the effect of
Eddie’s smile. Like a soothing stroke of a hand offering comfort.
No, actually it felt more like the tingling of fingertips dancing
across his chest—
    “Most people try to
find answers in the bottom of their shot glasses, not a cup of
coffee.”
    Even the tone of her
voice carried her smile. Not on that first day, he thought
remembering her curtness.
    “I haven’t been driven
to drink yet.”
    “I bet it’s a
woman.”
    Theo checked his cell
phone. Claire had had twenty-four hours to make the next move and
return his call. Mention of his father’s name had sent her fleeing
in the opposite direction. It didn’t make sense. Jon Kendrick was
an A-list movie star and even at fifty years of age, women clamored
for his attention. The tabloids had long ago accepted the fact
they’d never get a ripple of sex scandal from him, labeling him
Sweet Lothario
. No one had a bad word to say about him,
not even Theo’s mother. His parents’ divorce had been amicable and
to this day, they still got together for Christmas. Never mind that
it took Theo months of negotiating schedules to get them all in the
same place at the same time. Jon Kendrick had never married again
and, despite his lack of commitment, he always stayed sweet with
his ex-girlfriends. What had happened with Claire Muldoon?
    Would another
twenty-four hours be long enough for her to change her mind and
hear him out? And what would he do in the meantime? Sweat it
out?
    “What time do you get
off?” he asked.
    “Are you wondering when
you can finally have some peace and quiet?”
    “I can’t stop thinking
about that coffee you taunted me with. Care to show me where I can
get some?”
    She took his empty cup
and placed it in the sink behind her. “You want me to come along
with you?”
    “I would appreciate the
company.” He slid off the barstool and stashed his cell phone
inside his pocket thinking a watched phone never rang. When he
looked up again, Eddie was biting the edge of her lip.
    “You want an answer
right now?”
    “Do you need time to
weigh the pros and cons of being seen with me?”
    She gave the edge of
her lip another nibble. “Since you put it like that... Yes, I
suppose I should give it some thought. Spending any time together
outside of this strictly business environment could be construed
as—” she frowned. “You’re doing it