Free A Perfect Match: (Raining Romance Series) by Lynn Cooper Page B

it, we’re not invincible, this company isn’t infallible and we can’t always have our way about everything.”
    “Everything? I only want my way about one thing.  Do you not understand how badly I needed this?”
    Michael blew out a hard breath.  When he spoke, his voice was soft, almost a whisper.  “Buying up all the medical facilities in the world won’t save Sahara.  What she needs can’t be bought.  It has to be freely given.”
    “So I have been told repeatedly.  What I have not been told is where this life-saving gift is to come from.  Tell me, Michael, who will make such a selfless donation? If —and it is a big fucking if—the offer ever comes, will it be a perfect match?”
    Shaking his head, Michael’s eyes misted.  “I don’t know.  An answer will present itself but, until it does, you mustn’t give up hope,” he said, checking his phone.  “Bree just texted me.  The temp’s here.  Should I tell her to come back tomorrow?”
    “No.  Have Bree show her to my office.  There is work to be done.”
     
    JASLYN FELT RATHER BREATHLESS as she and the lovely receptionist, Bree, took a whirlwind tour of the company.  The petite redhead talked fast, spastically pointing out one thing and another.  By the time they returned to her desk in the lobby, Jaslyn knew the precise location of every bathroom, breakroom, copier machine and watercooler in the building.
    The excitement, combined with brisk walking, had made Jaslyn thirsty.  While Bree’s thumbs flew over the QWERTY keyboard on her smartphone, Jaslyn grabbed a tiny paper cup and filled it with spring water from the cooler adjacent to the breakroom.  She had just taken a sip when the smartphone pinged with the awaited response.
    Bree’s eyelids flitted nervously for a second, and her facial expression turned odd.  Jaslyn couldn’t decide if the look was one of pity or angst.  Either way, it caused a fluttering in the pit of her stomach.  Her palms felt sweaty as she crumpled and discarded the cup in a nearby receptacle.
    The fluttering turned into full-blown summersaults when the look on Bree’s face grew stranger still.  “Mr. Birkner is ready for you now.”
    Jaslyn nodded and fell into step with the receptionist.  When they reached an enormous office with a gigantic, gold-carved plaque that read RHEIN BIRKNER CEO on the door, Bree grabbed Jaslyn’s forearm.  “Whatever you do, don’t piss him off.  He can be a bit of a Nazi at times.”  Without another word, Bree took off, leaving Jaslyn trembling and wide-eyed. 
    Taking a deep, steadying breath to calm the clamoring of her heart and the knocking of her knees, she timidly tapped on the door.  From the other side she heard a deep, gruff voice.  “Enter.”
    She rested her clammy hand on the doorknob, then paused before turning it.  Inwardly, she scolded herself.  This nervousness and apprehension was ridiculous.  Bree must have been exaggerating.  Jaslyn had been working temp jobs for the last five years.  Almost every assignment came with first-day jitters.  There was always some employee who got a kick out of teasing or scaring the temp.
    That’s all this was. 
    It was senseless to let unsubstantiated fear sap her joy.  Just an hour ago, she had been elated over this opportunity.  Now, she was letting someone else’s behavior influence her own.  No, Jaslyn would proceed as she always did, looking on the bright side and seeing the good in everyone.  She would behave normally, cheerfully and optimistically.  Winning over grouches was her forté.  After all, she lived with the world’s biggest grump, didn’t she? How bad could Mr. Birkner be?
    She jumped when the door was suddenly jerked open.  Because her hand was still on the knob, the unexpected force caused her to lose her balance and slam face-first into the CEO’s chest.
    Despite being stunned, her senses were sharp.  A dreamlike state settled over her as she inhaled deeply.  Mr.