Read The Billionaire's Secretive Enchantress (The Berutelli Escape) for Free Online Page B

patiently.  “This is Drake Harrison.  He’s took over the firm as of last night at midnight.  You would know that if you’d taken the time to read your e-mail this morning before you dove into your work.”  Todd looked at her over the top of his glasses, his message both amused because he knew that she’d probably put in too many hours of overtime recently, and slightly admonishing because he’d told her several times over the years to check her e-mail every morning before she became too absorbed in her work.  “Everyone was informed about three hours ago.  There’s a big luncheon in the main conference room in two hours to get to know Mr. Harrison better.  Will you be there?”
    Sierra was about to decline, not wanting to be around when the extremely tall, now-healthy and somewhat terrifying Drake Harrison decided to do his meet and greet.  The less time she was around him, the less chance he had of recognizing her and the less time she had to experience this disconcerting reaction her body had to his nearness. 
    She looked from Todd to the stranger who really wasn’t a stranger, wanting desperately to hide somewhere.
    “Um…I wasn’t…”
    Drake could see where this was going and he wasn’t going to let her off the hook.  She was fascinating, he thought while he watched the expressions change on her lovely features as she tried to get out of the meeting.  “She’ll be there,” he contradicted before she could even decline the invitation. 
    She blinked and looked up at the man’s blue eyes.  “I will?” 
    She took a deep breath, trying to remember that she should be thrilled that Mr. Harrison was so vital and healthy.  He’d come such a long way and he’d been laid low by some cruel men but had persevered.  In her mind, she knew she should be celebrating his health. 
    Unfortunately, confronted by him now with that arrogance on his handsome features, and with him standing here telling her what she was going to do when he clearly knew that she didn’t want to attend the luncheon, something snapped inside of her. 
    She turned to fully face him, her eyebrows going up in inquiry. “I didn’t know I was going to attend.  What time was I going to attend?”
    Todd started to interject but Drake stepped forward, looking down at her and doing his best to intimidate her.  “You’re going to be there at noon, just like the message stated.”  He waited a long moment, daring her to ignore the summons. 
    Sierra kept her mouth shut.  Her initial reaction was to tell him to go to hell.  But Todd had just explained that this was her new boss.  Telling off one’s boss in the first two minutes after meeting him would be a pretty bad career move.  But she couldn’t simply accept his summons meekly.  That simply wasn’t in her coding. 
    She actually squirmed slightly under his steady, challenging gaze.  Was he daring her for some reason?  She tried to look meek and mild but it irked her too deeply that he was doing this to her. 
    If only she hadn’t felt the heat in his hand when he’d touched her a moment ago.  If only he hadn’t felt that shiver go through her whole body as he’d looked down at her. 
    “I really need to get these plans finalized for a meeting in thirty minutes,” she replied, not committing to being at the lunch but not blatantly ignoring the summons either.  At least not in his presence.
    Drake watched the younger woman’s features and knew that she was going to skip the lunch.  He wanted to laugh at her bravery but he was having too hard of a time controlling his body’s urges to pull her into his arms and kiss her until she obeyed the summons.  Or maybe simply because she was going to defy him. 
    He enjoyed her blush though.  And the way she gripped the table behind her.  All little signs that she was completely aware of him, just as he was very aware of her as well. 
    So be it, he thought silently.  The gauntlet had been tossed and he had never