Free Katie Rose by Courting Trouble Page A

coming true, without the worry of complications. Charles Howe was the one man in the world who could truly make her happy. And if she could enjoy only that for a time, she would take it.
    A FEW DAYS LATER , she had an opportunity to approach him.
    “Yes, Winifred? Come in.” Charles gestured to achair before his desk while trying to clear the oak tabletop of paper. She entered and took a seat, waiting patiently for him to finish. He expertly placed one document on top of another, handing some to Mr. Crocker, tossing others into a cardboard bin. When the secretary was nearly buried under the stack of papers, Charles turned to her expectantly.
    “You wanted to see me? I’m afraid this is not a very good time—”
    “I need to talk to you, Charles,” she said loudly. “Alone.”
    Charles nodded toward Crocker, and the little man exited, closing the door behind him.
    “What is it? Are you out of work already? I have a few other cases you can take a look at—”
    “No, nothing like that.” She smiled softly, then took a deep breath. “I—”
    There was a loud knock on the door. Charles swore beneath his breath, then yelled, “Come in!”
    Jared Marton entered, clutching a handful of briefs.
    “There you are,” Jared said. “I heard you had come back from court. I have a few cases to review with you—hello, Winifred.”
    Jared’s tone changed from brisk to warm. Charles could not help the irritation that arose in him at the handsome lawyer’s attentions to Winifred. He scowled in the man’s direction.
    “Mr. Marton, Miss Appleton and I are in a meeting. I will be happy to go over your cases later.”
    “All right,” Jared said, flashing Winifred a smile. At Charles’s continued scowl, he withdrew quickly, closing the door behind him.
    “Charles,” Winifred began again, “I mean, Mr. Howe, the reason I asked to see you—”
    There was another knock, followed by MilesWitherspoon’s entrance. The clerk placed another stack of papers on Charles’s desk, along with a pile of mail. After a prolonged silence, he finally took the hint and departed.
    “One would think this was the train station instead of my office,” Charles grumbled. He turned once more to Winifred. “Please continue.”
    Winifred had just started to reply when the door burst open once more. This time two of the attorneys entered, loudly arguing over some legal semantics. Charles rose impatiently and held open the door.
    “Gentlemen, I am speaking with Miss Appleton,” he said firmly. “Would you mind taking your disagreements elsewhere?”
    The two men glanced at Winifred in surprise, then shrugged. One of them spoke. “Sorry, we didn’t realize—”
    “A closed door around here apparently means absolutely nothing,” Charles said sarcastically.
    The two lawyers reluctantly took their leave. This time when they had exited, Charles bolted the door, then returned to his desk. Shaking his head, he absently picked up another stack of papers.
    “I am sorry, Winifred. Now you were saying?”
    “Charles, I have decided I want to be your mistress.”
    “What?”
    The papers he had picked up fell to the floor. Winifred scrambled to her feet, attempting to retrieve the scattered documents. Charles grabbed her hand and held it tightly, preventing her from bending over. “Charles, your work!” she exclaimed.
    “Don’t worry about that. I will pick up the damned papers later. I am far more interested in this conversation. What did you just say?”
    “I have given this a lot of thought,” Winifred saidquickly. “It is the most logical decision for both of us. This solution is the best for everyone involved.”
    “Go on.” Charles released her, then fumbled to sit down on the front of his desk like a blind man. This had to be some kind of wile, he thought, an Appleton ploy to trick him into Lord knew what. Still, like a starving man being offered a feast, he was helpless to do anything except go where this led. His pulse pounded at