Read Irreplaceable for Free Online Page B

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    One after another, I crossed out his items and circled things
I liked better. If I wanted to win the bet—and I did — I needed the house to be perfect: feminine and homey. I had it
in the bag, especially since Logan had moved on from the furniture catalogs to
paint chips.
    Before I could snatch the array of colors from his grip,
he moved his hand back, shaking his head with a soft chuckle.
    “Not so fast. You may be taking over decorating the place,
but the color scheme is all mine. I’m not giving you the entire upper hand
here.”
    My brows rose suggestively, and I feigned an exaggerated
pout. “Oh, and here I thought you’d let a girl win. You know, so you could be
my little slave for a couple days. All those possibilities...”
    He was visibly affected by my seductive tone, but it
didn’t take long for his open mouth to shut into a boyish smirk. He leaned
forward, handing over the color palette. “Do your worst, sweetheart,” he
whispered. “I’m already at your will.”
    I rolled my eyes in response. “On second thought, you can
pick the paint. I’m confident enough without it to win this hands down.”
    He only grinned, watching me as I resumed my circling of
knickknacks for the bookshelves I chose. Yeah, I was buying everything Julia
would need and more.

    After lunch, my head began to
throb, and I knew what that meant. I looked to the clock on the wall: after one
o’clock. It was time for my daily exercise—the worst part of the day. I loved
to work out, to run and stretch, but this was different—painful.
    I closed my eyes and yawned to feign exhaustion, hoping
he’d take the hint and leave me to rest so he wouldn’t be around when Marilyn
came to collect me.
    It didn’t work.
    “Feel free to rest. I’m going to step out to call my
assistant to come collect everything that needs to be ordered, then I’ll be
back.” He stood and switched out the light.
    Alone at last, I smiled to myself as he walked to the
door just as Marilyn entered. So close.
    “You know what time it is, Miss Cassandra.” Marilyn’s
voice was soft and sweet but had an undertone of authority, and I’d seen it at
work. No point in fighting the woman.
    “You can go, Logan,” I said, noticing him lingering at
the doorway. Please go.
    Marilyn was beside my bed in seconds, pulling back the
blankets. I held them tightly, earning me a dubious look from the woman. I
wasn’t ready for Logan to see all my wounds.
    “You have to do at least one lap, Cassandra. We can’t
have that leg stiffening up on you.”
    “I said go, Logan!” I didn’t mean to yell as loudly as I
did, but panic was setting in as she pulled the blanket from my grasp.
    Logan stepped closer to me. I yanked on my gown to help
cover the bandage, but I could tell by his stricken face that he saw.
    “I think I’ll stay,” he said softly, now standing next to
Marilyn with a frown.
    Of course he would.
    With a short breath, careful not to awaken the sleeping
beast in my ribs, I shuffled both legs off the side of the bed. The bandage
covered most of my thigh, and thankfully so did the hideous gown.
    I sat there as Marilyn slid on the white robe to cover my
backside and helped me to my feet. It took a moment to let my body stretch,
willing myself to walk down the hall and back with no help. Marilyn was always
there for support, but today I wanted to prove that I didn’t need it. I was
just fine, and ready to leave the hospital in the morning.
    The moment I took my first step, I knew I was in trouble.
My leg gave in and my knees wobbled, but I was able to catch myself on the
railing of the bed. Not that I needed it—Logan’s supportive arm was there,
holding me up.
    “I’m here. Let me help.”
    “It looks like I’m not needed today,” Marilyn said with a
smile, oblivious to the angry frown on my lips. “She needs to walk to the
elevator and back on her own. Stay with her, though.” And with that, she was
gone.
    “You ready?” he asked