Page 76 of Under Her Skin
Christo grinned despite himself. “You’re such a douchebag.”
“Truedat.”
They drove in companionable silence for a while, then Bertie cleared his throat. “How about putting a private detective on the case? See if he can findher?”
Christo rolled his eyes. “Yes, dude, because invading her privacy just so I can feel betteristhe way togo.”
“Fair point. Thought about going back to theclub?”
Christo shook his head. “No. Look, can we change thesubject?”
“Of course,brother.”
Ten minutes later they were pulling into the parking lot of the radio station, and Christo hesitated. Bertie waited until Christo nodded. “Let’s dothis.”
They were greeted by a bubbly blonde intern, Liam, who was flirtatious and fun and made them relax a little. “Now, once you have your studio i.d., take the elevator to the third floor and follow the hallway around to Studio C. Noosh will look after you from there. You can’t miss her – gorgeous, sexy, and going hell for leather in a wheelchair at themoment.”
Christo and Bertie rode the elevator, and Christo blew out his cheeks. Bertie grinned at him. “Not too late to backout.”
Christo shook his head. “I’mgood.”
They followed the hallway as directed and finally came to the door of Studio C. Christo, his mouth dry, stopped at the water cooler outside of the studio as Bertie knocked on the door, opening it to speak to the womaninside.
“Hey, are you Noosh? Hi, I’m Bertie, Mr. Montecito’sassistant.”
Christo heard a soft voice. “Oh, hey, nice to meet you, I’m Noosh Taylor. Come on in, Ally’s just setting up. I’ll tell her you’rehere.”
“Oh, hey, do you need ahand?”
“No, it’s okay, I’m just getting used to this thing. I don’t really need it, but Ally insists. Won’t be amoment.”
There was something familiar about the voice, and Christo stepped into the room just as the woman turned away from him.No. No way.His heart began to beat faster as he recognized the soft wavy hair falling down her back, the caramel skin, the curvy body, now sitting in a wheelchair.How?Why?
He made an involuntary noise, and she looked up. Her face paled as she stared back at him with a mixture of horror andshock.
It was her. It was his sweetgirl.
ChapterSix
Noosh stared at him, her heart pounding painfully against her ribs. After a moment, she remembered where she was and cleared her throat. Unsmiling, she nodded to him and turned back to Bertie. “Ally will be out in a second. Can I get either of you somecoffee?”
“Please, don’t trouble yourself,” Christo Montecito said in that deep, sensual voice of his, and Noosh felt her belly quiver with desire.No. Nope, this wasn’t happening.She looked away from that intense green-eyed stare, the curiosity in them. She knew he was wondering about her wheelchair and felt a wash of embarrassment. She leveraged herself out of the chair, wobbling, and both Bertie and Christo stepped forward to help her. She waved them away, her face burning. “I’mfine.”
Ally opened the door at that particular moment –damn it– and made a frustrated noise. “Again, Noosh? What was ourdeal?”
Noosh’s face flamed even redder. “I was just practicing. Anyway, our guests arehere.”
Ally immediately switched into her professional mode. “Bertie, how nice to see youagain.”
Bertie winked at her. “You too, Ally, looking good. Can I introduce my friend, ChristofaloMontecito?”
Ally shook Christo’s hand and Noosh could see her boss sizing him up. She risked another glance at the man. If it were possible, he was even more beautiful than she remembered, and he looked better, healthier than when she’d met him in the club. His olive skin was smooth, his beard neatly trimmed, his dark curls freshly washed and brushed neatly. Noosh longed to run her fingers throughthem.
Stop it. You’re hardly in any condition to think about sex.She realized Ally was speaking to her and dragged her attention back to her boss. Ally was hiding a smile, obviously having noticed her preoccupation. “Sorry, Ally, I missedthat.”
“You’ll be sitting in on this interview today,Noosh.”
Oh, god damn it.She could barely stand the tension between them as it was, and to have to sit by him for the next couple ofhours…
