Free At the Tycoon's Command by Shawna Delacourt Page A

need to work on. Maybe I should just take off one of these days and go sailing…clear out my head and totally relax.”
    Jared heaved an audible sigh. “And as if all that isn’t enough, I have to confront Terry in a little over an hour about his latest caper.”
    Kim saw a hint of fatigue on Jared’s face as he recited the list of problems he’d been wrestling with. As much as she hated to admit it, she felt a rising admiration for hismanagement abilities and his willingness to accept responsibility.
    Jared handed the empty carafe to Fred, then turned toward his desk. Kim saw a look of surprise dart across his face when he spotted her standing in the doorway.
    He offered a tentative smile. “I didn’t hear you come in. Have you been standing there long?”
    â€œNo, I just arrived.”
    Jared motioned toward the open French door. “Fred will have some coffee here soon.” He glanced at the nearly empty cup in his hand, then looked at her with a guilty grin. “Apparently I drank the entire pot I made a couple of hours ago.”
    Kim glanced at her watch. “It’s only eight forty-five. How long have you been at your desk?”
    â€œSince about six-thirty. I have a lot of things to do today and needed to get an early start.”
    Jared had not made any mention of what happened between them the previous night. Had that type of behavior been so routine for him that he didn’t give it a second thought? Kim wasn’t sure what to say or how to act. An involuntary reaction to the memory of his kiss caused her fingers to go to her lips. She could still feel the heat of his passion, which only went to inflame the memory. Tension churned in the pit of her stomach.
    She nervously ran her fingers through her hair and shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “Well, if you’ll give me my list of chores for the day—” she inwardly cringed when she heard the negative edge she had put on the word chores, something she hadn’t intended to do even though she still felt a certain level of resentment about the menial tasks. “Uh, I mean if you’ll tell me what you want me to do, then I can get out of your way so you can go back to work.”
    Jared immediately caught her uneasiness and the edge in her voice. He had been so busy all morning he hadn’t had time to think about the previous evening…or perhaps it was that he didn’t want to think about it. He had managed to do away with the awkward feeling until he turned and saw her framed in the doorway.
    Myriad emotions, thoughts and feelings circulated through his consciousness. He regretted making the advances toward her, but at the same time he was not sorry he had kissed her. Her taste, the sensation of having her in his embrace…they had left an indelible impression on him. And he didn’t know what to do about it.
    â€œUh, sure.” He turned toward his desk and picked up a list he had made first thing that morning. The tension shoved down on him. Perhaps not mentioning the incident would be the best way to proceed. He held out the list to her.
    She took it from him and glanced over the items. “Well, another day of mostly menial tasks and errands.” The words had escaped without her meaning them to. She regretted having said them but could not deny her displeasure. She caught the quick look of amusement that darted across his face—as if he was taunting her with lowly errands. Was that his game? His purpose in having her work? She glared at him, which he seemed not to notice.
    Jared gestured toward the list. “First thing is a trip to the vet for Lurch. It’s time for his annual rabies shot and new tags—”
    As if on cue, when his name was mentioned, Lurch came charging in through the French door and headed straight for Kim.
    This time she was prepared. She braced herself against the desk and waited for the inevitable, but it