Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 35174 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 176(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35174 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 176(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
Two knocks on a heavy door before she pushed it inward. Daisy entered right after her. The office was spectacular. Definitely masculine in tone. Heavy furniture. Darker colors. Two plants that were recipients of the sunlight streaming in the window taking up one wall. And in the center, a massive desk taking up a large portion of the room.
Her skin tingled once more and she fought the urge to run away. Either that or squeeze her legs together to kill the ache that had suddenly popped up.
“His bark is worse than his bite,” the secretary whispered before she snuck out, closing the door after her.
Skin a living flame, Daisy wasn’t positive about that. Shoving down her uncertainty to the bottom of her thoughts, she approached the desk and the man who hadn’t turned to face her as of yet.
“Thank you for coming, Ms. Wentz.”
That voice.
It couldn’t be. Could it?
As he rose from the chair and turned to face her, Daisy swallowed. Sunlight gleamed off the smattering of red in his brown hair, so dark it was nearly black. His facial hair was cut tight to his chiseled jawline. Broad shoulders were covered by an onyx black suit jacket, with a hint of red along the lapel that matched the kerchief in the pocket. A white dress shirt and a checkered red-and-black tie finished the view. At least until he moved around the desk, tugging on his cuffs.
“I’m Livingston Rhodes.”
He stood before her, far more than a head taller than she was. His pants hugged lean hips and powerful thighs before falling straight down. She wrenched her gaze back up to those eyes. Pewter gray. Unmistakable. Definitely unforgettable.
Thankfully, her professional mind worked even while her fanciful one stopped to take a break and ogle the sexy businessman before her. She accepted his hand and shook it.
“Daisy Wentz.”
His brow furrowed ever so briefly before smoothing out. It had to have been her imagination that he didn’t release her hand right away.
“Have a seat,” he barked as he retreated back around his desk to his own chair.
He sat after she had. Ankles hooked and slightly to her left, she took a low breath and loosely clasped her hands in front of her. “When you left a message with my service, you didn’t go into a lot of detail. Could you please explain a bit more to me about what you are looking for me to find?”
Livingston leaned forward, hands linked as he held her gaze with an unerring focus.
“There’s been some embezzling going on and I want to know the who and how long, and when you tell me that, I’ll find the why.”
Danger vibrated up from the last part of that sentence.
The way he stared at her had her wanting to fidget, but she’d withstood peoples’ examinations for far too long to let this man get under her skin. Right?
God, she needed to focus. Not focus on the fact that he was the one man in her life who’d ever given her a nickname.
“Please don’t take this the wrong way, but there are plenty of accountants who could go over your records. I’m sure ones who even live here who could do the job.”
Those dark-gray eyes heated with a simmering anger. “This is implicating my own brother, and I know he wouldn’t steal from me. Not ever. Someone is setting him up and I need an impartial party to dig around and find the answers.”
She licked her bottom lip. “Impartial.”
A languid blink removed any and all traces of rage, leaving behind a look almost as if he weren’t sure she understood the meaning of the word and he were debating if he should give her an explanation.
“Yes, we have no ties to one another. You are here strictly for business. Not in New Orleans in hopes there will be a discount if you give me the answers I want.” He sighed and shook his head. “I’ll do whatever it takes to protect my family, Ms. Wentz. Money isn’t an object and I want you.”
Daisy opened her mouth but he continued on.
“Gareth Ericsson recommended you. He said you’ve done work for his wife and his company.”
The first real smile of her day lifted her lips. “Xandra.”
Another minute head tilt before he seemed to shake himself free of whatever spell had gripped him for however short a time. “I have a suite ready for you in the hotel. All your needs will be comped. Whatever you require to get digging into this, let me know and I’ll have it brought up to you.”
He stood and she took her cue from him. “You don’t think this is improper? Because of the connection?”
Livingston arched an eyebrow, somehow managing to look even hotter even as the thick condescension dripped. “Our connection is a business one. I trust Gareth and he trusts you. That’s enough for me and there’s nothing improper about that. I’m sorry, I hate to cut this short, I have another matter to attend to.” He walked to the door. “Monica will show you to your suite and start you with whatever you need. I’ll swing by this evening and we can finish going over everything.”