All Through the Night by Kate Hoffmann

Author:Kate Hoffmann
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

6

“GOOD GRIEF! Who died?”

Nora peered around the giant bouquet on her desk and frowned at Ellie. She’d been expecting the Spanish Inquisition since she’d arrived, but a computer crash in Circulation had kept her friend busy for the entire morning. In truth, she’d hoped to hide the flowers before Ellie wandered downstairs. But trying to hide an arrangement so large in her tiny office was like hiding an elephant in a teacup.

“No one died,” she said. In truth, the flowers should have been cause for celebration, if she only understood why they’d been sent. But the card tucked among the blossoms did not identify the motive, just the sender: Pete Beckett.

“Then what are the flowers for?” Ellie asked as she strolled into Nora’s office and sat down. “A bouquet that big must mean you did something pretty spectacular.” Ellie leaned over to sniff at a Casablanca lily. She closed her eyes as she inhaled and smiled dreamily. “Who sent them?”

“Maybe I bought them for myself,” Nora said, straightening a stack of letters she’d been reading. “I thought the office needed a little cheer, so I—”

“Did I do well?”

They both looked up to find Pete standing in the doorway. Nora jumped up from her chair, scattering folders on the floor and ignoring the befuddled look in her friend’s eyes. Her heart skipped a beat or two and her stomach fluttered. How was it that he looked more handsome every time she saw him? She felt like singing and dancing and giggling like a teenager. And at the same time, she felt like tearing her clothes off and throwing herself into his arms and begging him to take her, here and now. Could she feel more utterly confused by a man? She opened her mouth to speak—

“You sent these?” Ellie asked, her voice tinged with utter disbelief.

Pete grinned and nodded. “I picked them out myself. White lilies and red roses.”

“They’re beautiful,” Nora said softly, reaching out to touch a velvety crimson rose.

Their gazes locked for a moment. “They reminded me of you,” Pete said. “A study in contrast. Purity and passion.”

Ellie coughed. Nora looked over at her friend and sent her a warning glare. If she could have shown her the door in any way that appeared remotely polite, she would have. At least then she’d be able to thank Pete in private.

He grinned at Ellie. “Smooth line, huh? I figured after the first date, flowers might be a nice touch. And the fact that I chose them myself is a plus. More romantic that way, right?”

“First date?” Ellie asked.

Nora’s fingers froze on the petal of a lily. Smooth line? Was this just all more of his damn practice? She cursed herself inwardly. Once again, she’d been caught up in the silly fantasy, thinking that she was the one he really cared about. But this was all practice for that other woman! That hussy! That harlot!

“Very romantic,” she murmured, snatching her fingers away and schooling her voice into cool detachment. “But you needn’t have wasted your money.

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