Free Kitty: Bride of Hawaii (American Mail-Order Bride 50) by Janelle Daniels Page B

preferences.
    “I’ll need you to arrange it all. Think of this as our test run. These aren’t business associates, but they’re members of high society and, as such, will need to be impressed. No expense should be spared.”
    “Two weeks?” She didn’t wait for his nod. Her mind already swirled with possibilities. He wouldn’t be disappointed.
    She rose from her chair. “I’ll get started right away.”
    Warren stood, taking her hand in his. As heat filled her body from his touch, her eyes slowly met his.
    “Warren—”
    “No.” He shook his head, lifting her hand to his lips. “I know you said we can’t be together, but that doesn’t mean the attraction will go away. Too much has happened to go back to being strangers.”
    He was right. They could never go back. “That might be true, but we can’t continue on when there’s no future for us.”
    As if refuting her words, he lifted her hand higher, scorching her wrist with a warm brush of his lips across her pulse.
    “Don’t,” she breathed, but her denial lacked force.
    “Don’t what?” His lips skimmed her skin again. “That?”
    Her eyes half shuddered as sensations stormed her body. How could one touch, one tiny caress, affect her so strongly? “Yes. I can’t think when you do that.”
    His thumb swirled over the skin he’d kissed as if sealing it in. “And is that bad? I think you do too much thinking.”
    “I have to. If not, I’ll make a mistake.”
    “And I’d be a mistake.”
    She drew in a ragged breath when he pulled her arm toward him, inching her closer.
    The study’s door crashed open, jolting Kitty out of the haze Warren’s touch had created.
    An older, pinched-faced woman with the same chocolate eyes as Warren trailed in.
    Kitty straightened her worn clothes, a guilty flush cresting her cheeks. By the woman’s impeccable dress, Kitty knew she’d practically been caught in Warren’s arms by his own mother. Heavens, what a terrible first impression. There had to be something she could say to smooth it over.
    “So, I see it’s true.” His mother looked down her nose at Kitty before dismissing her and giving Warren her full attention. “You’ve brought your mistress home with you.”

Chapter Nine
    R age fueled Warren’s blood . He should have known his mother, the bane of his existence, would do something like this. He expected her displeasure about hiring Kitty, but to openly attack her while she was here…
    Kitty gasped at his mother’s barb.
    “Mother,” he gritted his teeth around the word, “I’d like to introduce Miss Catherine Jones, my new social secretary.”
    Fire lit in the deep brown depths of the aging woman’s eyes. “How dare you bring her here! How dare you hire someone else to fulfill a position that is already mine.”
    “You were in charge of entertaining when Father was alive. You are not my wife, and I have no need of your help. I’ve hired Miss Jones for the task.”
    Red mottled his mother’s cheeks. If only there was some way to get Kitty away before she exploded. But because his mother blocked the only exit, that was impossible.
    He cursed. It was his own fault, really. Attacking was right up his mother’s alley. Dramatic, confrontational, and inconvenient.
    His mother’s eyes sharpened on Kitty, but she didn’t flinch. “So, you think you can do the job better than me?” A brittle laugh escaped her lips. “You? A common nobody my son picked up on his travels.”
    Kitty’s chin raised. “I am not a common nobody, as you put it. I came here to marry Timothy Banner, but after his demise, I was left floundering. Your son stepped in and offered me a job. While kind, it doesn’t change the fact that I’m qualified to take on the task.”
    “Qualified? My dear, have you looked in the mirror lately? Those society women will tear you to pieces the first chance they get. Let me give you some advice, quit now. Ruin will befall you if you take this on.”
    “Enough.” Warren’s