Free Bride by the Book (Crimson Romance) by Kathryn Brocato

of butter for one person to eat. What are you trying to do? Drop dead in my office?”
    “I’m only twenty-si—seven years old,” Angie said, amending hastily. “My parents are still alive and well, and so are my maternal grandparents. My paternal grandparents died in an accident years ago. They were in perfect health, by the way. And just look at Great Aunt Loretha.”
    “Aren’t you worried about your heart?” Garner winced when she put more butter atop her scrambled eggs, and spread the remainder on her toast. “You must have added at least two thousand extra calories to that meal.”
    “I have a fast metabolism.” Angie spread strawberry preserves on the buttered toast. “If I don’t eat lots of calories, I lose weight and look hollow-eyed.”
    “If you look hollow-eyed, it’s probably because you don’t get enough sleep,” Garner said.
    “Yes, I do.” She smiled serenely at him. “Last night was an exception. I wanted to have the place clean and ready to work in by this morning.”
    “I’ll bet you haven’t had enough sleep for quite a while now.” Garner’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “You’ve gotten used to it. You probably wouldn’t know how to sleep a full eight hours. No wonder you burn up so many calories. Anyone would if they stayed active twenty hours a day.”
    “Look out, Angie,” Cliff said, brown eyes twinkling. “He’s about to take over your life. I think he’s one of those high-priced personal trainers at heart.”
    Angie took her time processing a succulent bite of buttered toast and strawberry jam. “I’m impervious to people with sadistic tendencies. Believe me, I’ve been stalked by experts at torture.”
    “What an excellent choice of words,” Cliff said, chuckling. “That just about describes him. An expert at torture. Definite sadistic tendencies.” He winked. “He jogs every morning at dawn.”
    “Please. You’ll put me off my food. If he wants to torture himself, I have no objections. But I have to draw the line at broiled chicken for breakfast.”
    “If I’m going to be vilified like this, I may as well be shot for a sheep as for a lamb,” Garner said. “Miss Brownwood, consider it entered into your employment contract that I now have supervisory control over your diet and exercise regimen.”
    “My what?” Angie didn’t look up from her plate. “The only way I’d sign a document like that is if you agree to give me control of your office and computer.”
    “I thought you already had complete control of my office and both my computers. It’s obvious enough that I don’t.” Garner eyed her plate meaningfully. “Enjoy it, because you’re now on a new regime. It’s going to be my personal mission in life to get rid of those circles under your eyes.”
    “What circles?” Angie stiffened indignantly. “I don’t have any circles under my eyes, but I will have if you start trying to starve me.”
    “He’s right about that,” Cliff said. “Nothing can hide the effects of a sleepless night.”
    “Whose side are you on?” Angie smiled at Cliff. “If you ever want to taste butter again, you’d better help me stand against him.”
    “I can’t,” Cliff said mournfully. “He was present when my wife extracted a foolish promise from me. I have to cooperate with his health advice if I want to have a happy home life.”
    Angie turned to look at Garner in a considering way. “I might have known you had no scruples. Although I’ve never worked for a lawyer before, I’ve been warned about their devious ways. Looks like everything I’ve heard was true.”
    “I’m afraid so.” Garner sounded satisfied. “I want you looking really rested by the time I take you to Mindy’s party. Otherwise, everyone will think I’ve worked you half to death.”
    Mindy’s party. Angie could hardly wait, even though she knew she was breaking every rule in the secretarial books. Attending a party would be a great start to getting a life. She would meet