Obsession

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Book: Read Obsession for Free Online
Authors: Tori Carrington
company.
    Back then, Drew had still been testing the boundaries of how far he would go to close a deal. He’d had the grandson investigated and discovered David had more than a taste for gambling. Worse, he was in trouble way up to his neck, owing a loan shark near Boston University, which he attended, far more than he could ever hope to repay on his own.
    Drew had shamelessly used the information, and played up the grandson’s lack of direction in life beyond finishing university, to convince the old man he needed to sell his company rather than leave it to the grandson.
    A month later Drew had received a visit from the old man, who had finally figured everything out.
    “You have no conscience, Drew Morrison. And one day you’ll be paid back several times over for all the wrong that you do.”
    He’d tried to deny his part in the scheme. Strangely, he’d grown attached to the old man, who had built his company with his own two hands. But Bernie wouldn’t hear him. He’d merely said his piece and left Drew with a new awareness of boundaries he hadn’t recognized before.
    From there on in he’d left families out of the business equation, no matter how easy the target. He’d relied solely on his own skills to accomplish the task he was being paid for—most times very well.
    Then there was Josie…
    Certainly, he’d come across his share of marks attached in some strong way to their companies or interests. But usually they were neglecting another part of their lives that was easily amplified. Children who wanted more of their attention. A hobby that could be turned into a career. Sometimes he even allowed himself to believe he was doing the marks a favor by helping them improve their lives, although that feeling never lasted more than a couple of seconds if only because he knew his clients were the ones benefiting monetarily. After all, a mark wouldn’t be amark if that person didn’t have something the client wanted.
    In Josie Villefranche’s case, he’d never expected he’d be the one doing the wanting and that what he wanted had absolutely nothing in common with what his client wanted.
     
    J OSIE SWIPED THE BACK of her wrist across her forehead as she stirred the boil pot on the old, industrial stove in the kitchen of the Josephine. She’d coerced Philippe into looking after the front desk again, telling him she wanted to take care of dinner tonight. He hadn’t said anything. After all, they often traded spots if just to keep things interesting, or if she felt the itch to keep her cooking skills fresh.
    But she had received a raised brow when she’d instructed him to send Drew back to the kitchen when he arrived.
    That was if he did arrive. She looked at her watch. It was ten past three. Considering their kiss on the street that morning, she’d half expected him to stick around the hotel until the time she’d set for their late lunch.
    Instead, he’d left and had yet to return.
    Second thoughts, maybe?
    She shut off the fire under the pot then moved it from the burner, continuing to stir.
    Since their spontaneous connection, she’d been running their kiss and their conversation through her mind, over and over again. She’d made the request of their temporary liaison for her own emotional safety. But by doing so had she taken the thrill out of it for Drew? Having a woman fall head over heels for you then leaving her when it was time to go might be part of the fantasy. By stating up front that she had no intention of falling for him, had she ended their liaison before it had a chance to get interesting?
    Josie realized she’d stopped stirring and continued, doubling her efforts. Even if Drew wasn’t around for the meal, she and Philippe would enjoy eating something other than the staple gumbo they kept on hand for potential guests.
    The old black cat that called the hotel home jumped up onto the counter next to the burner.
    “Jezebel, what are you doing in here?” She plucked up the curious feline

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