Lynne Graham's Brides of L'Amour Bundle by Lynne Graham

Author:Lynne Graham
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Harlequin Presents
Published: 2008-03-02T00:00:00+00:00

‘I need time to bone up on the latest projects.’ The following morning, Cheryl angled a bright, determined smile at Pippa. ‘You’ll have to stand in for me at today’s meeting.’

Secure in the knowledge that she had no intention of remaining at Venstar, Pippa was able to tolerate Cheryl’s barefaced cheek in demanding that she take her place in the hot seat.

Ricky Brownlow accompanied Pippa into the lift, clearing his throat to say, ‘The directors asked for you specifically. Miss Long was nervous yesterday and Mr D’Alessio became quite impatient with her.’

In the act of wondering why Ricky now seemed to take it upon himself to make excuses for Cheryl, Pippa drew in a short sharp breath at the more challenging news that Andreo would be present at the meeting.

She saw him the minute she entered the room. He looked spectacular and she found it almost impossible to drag her eyes from his lean, powerful face. In a navy business suit, silver-grey shirt and silk tie, he stood more than half a head taller than the men around him. The high heels she had selected from the back of her wardrobe that morning clicked on the polished wood floor. He swung round and watched her progress towards the circular conference table: a tall, slender woman with a tumbling mane of cinnamon curls and blue eyes concealed behind large spectacles with dark frames that only accentuated the delicacy of her fine bone structure and the purity of her skin.

For a split second, when Andreo studied her without any hint of familiarity, Pippa believed she was about to succumb to an attack of stage fright, and then a director voiced an enquiry, helpfully prompting her into her usual working efficiency. She delivered a detailed breakdown of the figures that had caused Cheryl such grief a day earlier. Nobody was left in any doubt that she knew her field inside out and backwards.

On that same score, Andreo suffered a rare attack of conscience for he could not disprove Pippa’s belief that his criticism of her appearance had led to the promotion of an unsuitable candidate over her head. Yet he could barely credit that a single censorious comment from him could be responsible for the downright stupid decision to appoint Cheryl Long to a position for which she was demonstrably unfit.

As silence fell in the wake of the question-and-answer session Pippa studied Andreo, wanting him to look at her, needing him to notice her, shaken by how fierce that craving was. His intent dark golden scrutiny rested on her for only the briefest moment. But for Pippa, while that moment lasted it was as though their companions just faded out from her awareness. Butterflies broke loose in her tummy and an irresistible urge to smile almost overcame her self-discipline.

‘You have an exceptional grasp of financial planning,’ Andreo acknowledged with approval.

An unearthly silence fell round the table.

At the compliment, Pippa turned pink with pleasure. Andreo sprang upright and shifted a lean staying hand in an indication that he would like her to remain behind.

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