Free The Curse of a Single Red Rose (Haunted Hearts Series Book 7) by Denise Moncrief Page B

something had put duct tape over my mouth so I couldn’t say anything. Like chains had been wrapped around me so I couldn’t do anything.”
    Her answer startled him. And scared him. “Like someone or something was controlling you?”
    Collin didn’t think he’d ever seen the woman this close to tears. Except once, and that was earlier that night when she’d almost dove three stories off the balcony of the hotel onto the courtyard below. Even then, she’d managed to keep her composure.
    “I’m so sorry. I know this sounds lame.” She blinked back tears. “I promise I’m not making this up. It bothers me that I didn’t seem to have any control over it. I don’t know what changed so that I’m able to talk about it now. It feels like something’s busted loose inside my head. The thought that someone is manipulating me freaks me out, especially since I don’t know who or what is doing it.”
    He tightened his hand around his whiskey glass to keep from reaching across the table and grabbing hers. “I believe you.”
    “You don’t think I’m trying to cover up my stupidity or my incompetence by dumping a load of bull on you, do you? Really, I could make up a story better than this one.”
    He shook his head slowly. No, he didn’t think she was stupid or incompetent.
    “I mean…I’m a woman trying to do a job that a man usually does. A lot of people would think failing to notice the plans were off proves a woman shouldn’t be doing the job.”
    He loosed a chuckle that rumbled up from deep in his gut.
    “Don’t laugh at me, Collin.” Her eyes shot bolts of heat lightning at him.
    “I’m not laughing at you. I promise.” He shook his head to remove the last bits of amusement from his attitude. “I was just remembering our conversation. You said I was sexist.”
    She sniffed in disgust. “Well, aren’t you? You’re judging me because you think I’m a woman who can’t handle a man’s job.”
    “Elsa, you should never decide what someone else is thinking. Most of the time, a person will get it all wrong when they’re putting thoughts in someone else’s head.”
    “Oh, really? I’ve read you wrong?”
    “As far as being project manager… It doesn’t matter to me if you are a woman or a man as long as you do your job, and I think you’ve been doing a good job. If you asked me to, I’d work for you again. I’ve had better project managers, but I’ve had a whole lot worse, too.” He paused. “That is my opinion, and I will stand by it.”
    His honest assessment didn’t seem to faze her. She continued to stare at him as if she expected more.
    “I’m sorry I implied you couldn’t take care of yourself because you are a…person of less than average stature.” He didn’t dare call her short. “I am sure you are fully capable of taking care of yourself. I’m actually a bit frightened of what you might do with your stun gun.”
    She smiled. “It stays in my bag.”
    He lifted his hands. “Your business.”
    “I promise I’ll never use it on you…as long as you act nice.”
    “I can be nice… And I’m not worried about the gun stun. I’m more worried about what you will do to my…” Their teasing banter had fooled him into being forthcoming.
    Her attitude changed before his eyes as if she discerned he meant he was frightened of the damage she could do to his heart if he opened the door to something more than being business acquaintances. Silence fell between them as he continued to hold her gaze. The moment should have become awkward, but it didn’t.
    Time seemed to stand still and wrap around them and move them past the point of being strangers. Gazing into her eyes, he sensed the depths to which their attraction for one another could go. The first flickers had already sparked between them, and he wanted to fan the flames.
    For a long moment, she was the only other person in the room. He craved human-to-human contact, to feel the warmth of her skin. Would she allow him to