Bound to be Tamed: Emergence, Book 2 Read Online Free Page B

Stephanie, do you have a preference? If not, red is always easy to remember. It’s also the universal safe word you’ll use in a club, including Emergence.”
    “Red is fine.” Stephanie cringed imagining having to use it.
    Lori smiled. “Well, I have to get to work. Let’s do lunch in a few days. Alone. So we can talk without these men leaning over us.” She stood and picked up her purse, leaving the bag of reading material behind.
    “I resent that statement,” Dane joked as he stood and led her to the door. “But I think it’s a good idea. Maybe you can get her to open up more in a few days, and when you two are alone.”
    “I’m betting on it. Oh, and I’ll call Emergence and make sure you have membership ASAP. A simple recommendation is all they really need.” Lori winked at Aiden and Dane. What was that about?
    “Thanks, Lori. I appreciate the help. We heard the waiting list for Emergence was long.”
    Lori winked. “It is. But I’ll get you fast tracked.”
    Stephanie breathed deeply. Would she be prepared to enter that realm so soon? She was going to hyperventilate with everything happening so fast.
    Aiden tugged her hair to lift her face toward him. He kissed her lips gently. “It’s going to be fine.”

Chapter Two
    Jason Garwood stepped through the front door of Seabring Inc. fifteen minutes early. Ever since he’d decided to hire an IT company to handle his company’s computer system, he’d been on a path to craziness.
    And it kept getting weirder.
    The proposal he’d gotten was from a Stephanie Parkins. That name jumped out at him and made him drop the pages on the floor when he’d opened the file. Could it be her? The Stephanie Parkins? He’d never expected to see her again. What were the chances? The name was common enough it could be anyone, but he wondered if this was the woman he’d known years ago when she’d been just a child.
    As Jason stepped into the office, a cheery voice spoke to him from behind the front desk. “Welcome to Seabring. How may I help you?”
    “I have an appointment with Mr. Cane and Mr. Reeves.” The owners themselves were meeting him this morning. He had no idea why. His needs weren’t really big enough to warrant such an act, but he’d received an e-mail over the weekend that the gentlemen would be handling his account.
    He’d thought he’d come face-to-face with Stephanie Parkins, and hell, he still intended to, but first he had to make the owners’ acquaintance.
    “Right this way, sir.” The perky woman from the front desk bopped out from behind and led him down the hall, her blond ponytail bouncing and swaying with her hips as she walked.
    When she reached a door halfway down a long hallway, she pushed it open and held it for Jason to pass. “Mr. Cane and Mr. Reeves will be right with you. Please have a seat. There’s coffee on the counter. Help yourself.” With that, she was gone.
    Nice place. He held back a whistle. Mahogany table, leather chairs, fancy coffeemaker that dispensed a single serving of whatever flavor a person might desire.
    Jason headed straight for the coffee. The caffeine might perk him up.
    No sooner had he set his briefcase down on the table and pulled out a chair than the door opened once again and two gentlemen slightly older than himself entered.
    “Mr. Garwood.” The first man reached out his hand and shook Jason’s firmly. “Nice to meet you.” He motioned to the chair Jason had been about to plop down in. “I’m Jack Cane. This is my partner, Harold Reeves.”
    All three men sat at the end of the long table. It could accommodate twelve people. The room was large.
    Mr. Reeves opened a file he’d been carrying and spread out the papers as though seeing them for the first time. “Let’s see, you’re looking for some general IT work to bring your system up to date. Is this correct?”
    “Yes, I’ve been in communication with Ms. Stephanie Parkins concerning our needs. She sent me a proposal.” Jason held