Free Beauty and the Greek by Kim Lawrence Page A

out a leg to examine the effect as the folds of fabric pulled tight against her thigh. She pointed her toe and, thinking of the hand-sewn label she had spotted, admitted, ‘I’m sure it would look tremendous on someone who could carry it off.’ And someone with less in the breasts department; the lift effect of the boned bodice and loose cowl neckline was alarming, she decided, squinting down at of the amount of cleavage on display.
    â€˜Why can you not carry it off?’ Theo asked.
    Assuming he was joking, she gave a snort of laughter.
    â€˜If you’re worried about the money…’ Beth grimaced. She wouldn’t blame him if he was; there hadn’t been a single price tag on any of the outfits hanging on the rail they’d wheeled in but she was pretty sure any one wouldhave cost more than her yearly clothing budget ‘…I’m sure they’ll take the dress and the other things back.’
    Which would leave her wearing very little. Without warning, a picture formed in his head to illustrate the point; he saw her standing there minus the slinky dress, and in his expert opinion, she was not wearing a bra.
    It took him the space of several heartbeats before he could banish the steamy, distracting image.
    â€˜Just what is your problem?’
    Honesty prevented Beth from yelling I’m looking at it , because he hadn’t made her spend the day being pampered and primped. But it was tempting, really tempting.
    What he had done was what he did best—he had exploited her weakness, made her do this.
    Why would any woman hide a body like that? he wondered as his gaze moved over the slender female curves. Her breasts were surprisingly full, her hips narrow by contrast and her waist incredibly narrow; her slim hips had a deliciously feminine flare.
    â€˜Or maybe you could get someone my size to take my place—’ Beth suggested hopefully. ‘Enough!’
    The sharp command cut her off. Beth opened her mouth to protest, then, as her eyes moved from his sensually moulded mouth to his eyes, she stopped abruptly. Something kicked low in her belly, her eyes connected with his hooded stare and a little shiver trickled down her spine.
    â€˜Thank you,’ he murmured ironically.
    The silence between them ticked on for another few uncomfortable moments before he dragged a hand back and forth across his dark hair, rumpling it and making it stand up spikily at the front.
    â€˜You should consider professional help with your body issues, but I am not a therapist.’
    â€˜No, you’re the big boss.’
    â€˜You don’t seem impressed?’
    â€˜Of course I’m impressed. You sit at a big desk that is never untidy because you don’t do any work—you just make decisions. Which I am sure is very difficult,’ she jeered.
    The breath whistled through his clenched teeth. ‘I have had a very trying day and my patience is limited. It might not be a good idea to wind me up, Elizabeth.’
    Beth flung up her hands in an attitude of utter frustration. ‘ You’ve had a trying day?’ My God, she had not credited him with a sympathetic nature but, even by his egocentric standards, this statement struck her as incredibly selfish. ‘Have you been sitting there all afternoon while people poke, prod, peel and act like you’re some sort of freak of nature? My skin is wrong, my hair is wrong, my…’
    Without any warning, he took her chin between his thumb and forefinger and tilted her face up to him. Beth froze, her mouth half open, her pupils dilating as she lifted her eyes to meet his.
    A slow insolent smile tugged at the corners of his sensual mouth but his dark eyes stayed sombre as he ran a finger slowly down the curve of her cheek.
    Beth had no control over the shiver that ran through her body in response to the light touch. Mouth dry, she swallowed. Her heart was thudding, the charge in the air made it hard for her to catch