Free Shiver by Flora Roberts Page A

checking me out with his bushy grey eyebrows raised in appreciation.
    I remember the older woman telling me, “He’s a horny ole’ toad, but he’s my horny ole’ toad. And if you so much as think about touching my husband, I’ll cut your fingers off.”
    Ever since that day I try to stay as far from Gordon as humanly possible . Pretty damned sure the old woman would do some serious damage.
    I lightly smack the marble desk top and suck in a breath. “Thank you for the offer, Gordon, but...why don’t you invite your wife out to lunch? I think she’d really like that.”
    I give Mr. Duggan one last smile and head for the elevator. His face falters and I almost feel bad at having to reject his invitation. Shaking my head of the thought, I swiftly walk to the elevator, not giving him a chance to stop me.
    The elevator ride to the fifteenth floor takes only minutes. I hate having my office so high up but it beats not having an office at all, or a job for that matter.
    When I had first applied for the magazine, the interview process was cutthroat with numerous eliminations left and right. I was sure, sitting in front of Hillary Michaels, the Editor and Chief, that she would kick me to the curb like she had all the others before me. One week after my second interview, I was hired, making top dollar.
    Five years and three promotions later, I’m glad I hadn’t run for the hills out of complete fear.
    As soon as the elevator doors open, I find myself being verbally bombarded by my secretary.
                  “Mrs. Davies, there you are!” The young girl’s arms flail around like an overly excited chimpanzee, and for a minute my thoughts entertain the idea of her trying to take flight .
    I would so pay to see that.
    She lets loose a tiny squeal. “Your got those pretty flowers again.” Emma hadn’t been working for me long, but she sure is getting comfortable.
    A smile widens across my face. The scent of the blooms wafts through my office doors. I close my eyes and take a deep breath, enjoying the way the floral aroma smells. Walking inside the office, my breath catches,
    They’re beautiful! There’s so many of them.
    My eyes drink in the scene. He always knows what puts a smile on my face. White, purple, and pink are the colors he always chooses. Every Wednesday morning at 8:00, I can always count on the fragrant blooms to be nestled on top of my desk.
    “I wish I had a special someone to send me flowers.” Emma sighs dreamily, and part of me can’t stop from hoping that the young girl finds someone special.
    “Thank you, Emma. That’ll be all for now. Oh, and I’ll be leaving for lunch today, so please…”
    “I know. Hold your calls.” A modest grin plays on her face and, for a moment, I want to ask her what she knows. But, before my brain can process an intelligent line of questioning, I’m cut off by Emma’s sing-song tone. “Have a good morning, Mrs. Davies,” she says with a raise of her brows, closing the door behind her.
    Finally alone, I sit down at my desk and start to think about Emma’s words, “I wish I had a special someone to send me flowers.”
    I can’t help but think when I hadn’t had someone “special” in my life. Hell, there was a time when I was hell bent on being alone. But all that changed in an instant.
                  When Marcus and I met, it was completely surreal. I’d never known anyone like him and to say that I wasn’t completely captivated by his charm would be an outright lie. He’s shown me things that many would consider taboo, inappropriate. I disagree. They’re delicious.
    I can still remember the day I met him. The moment we locked eyes, I had to find out more about him. His strong physique captured my attention unlike any other man had ever done.
    When he caught me looking at him that night, a wicked grin slowly tugged at the sides of his mouth, and it had my insides tangled in knots. In that very moment, my body gravitated toward