No Christmas Like the Present Read Online Free Page A

this rate he’d know everyone in the office as well as she did before the night was over. As far as she could tell from everyone’s comments, at least he hadn’t said anything too bizarre.
    And then he stood at her elbow, holding out a plate laden with cheese, crackers, a few strawberries, and some decadent-looking chocolate wafers. Somehow he’d made it to the refreshment table, darn him. Or maybe one of the women had offered to hand-feed him. “Try the chocolate,” he said.
    Lindsay bypassed the tempting chocolate and reached for the cheese and crackers, something to ease her headache. Now, if she could just keep him in her sight long enough to escort him quietly out of here. “Fred, we have to—”
    â€œI can see I’m saddled with that name for the duration.”
    â€œI’ve thought of a few worse things to call you.”
    â€œYou don’t mean that. Say, are you all right?”
    She felt his eyes on her, and looked into them before she thought. He caught her in a warm, dark gaze, full of the same concern he’d shown after she fainted in her apartment. “You look tired,” he said.
    â€œThanks a lot.”
    â€œSorry. Lovely, but tired. I think you need to sit down.”
    Cupping her elbow in his hand again, he guided her toward the far side of the room. Lindsay started to protest, then thought better of it. Let him think she was some kind of wilting Victorian flower. This headache was her excuse to leave.
    She sat in one of the little-used chairs lined up against the wall. He leaned over her and ran his fingertips lightly over a spot just above her temple. From across the room, it probably looked like a romantic gesture. From where Lindsay sat, it was more than that; her headache eased.
    No. It went away. Lindsay shook her head hard, trying to bring it back.
    She blinked, wondering if he knew what he’d just done.
    â€œBetter?” So he did know.
    She stuck to her original purpose. “We need to go.”
    To her surprise, he didn’t argue. “I agree. I don’t like you looking pale.” He tipped her chin up to look at him. “I wish you’d accept that I’m here to help you, though. What did you think I was going to do, start rattling chains and raving about Spirits of Christmas Past and Present?”
    Maybe the overload was wearing her down. Or maybe he really wasn’t crazy. Maybe, with his inexplicable entrances and costume changes, he was exactly what he said he was. If not, he almost certainly had to be a member of the Houdini family, and a mind reader to boot.
    A smile touched his lips. “You know, the sooner you let me help, the sooner we can start making progress.”
    â€œThe sooner you’ll be gone?” She hadn’t thought of it quite that way before.
    â€œOh, now you’ve cut me to the quick. I’ve only known you a little while, and I’ll miss you terribly when I’m gone.” He was still smiling, but for once, he actually sounded serious.
    A dangerous idea began to blossom in her mind, and Lindsay found herself toying with it. He’d shown absolutely no sign that he intended to harm her. Could it be safe to go along with it, just for a little while? She had a feeling she wouldn’t be able to shake him any other way.
    It couldn’t hurt to humor him here, anyway, in a roomful of witnesses. “Okay. What do I need to do?”
    â€œIt’s a grueling, tedious job, really. Start enjoying yourself. Here, have one of these.”
    He picked up one of the sinful-looking chocolate wafers and offered it to her. He would have to choose the least dietetic thing on the plate.
    At least he’d saved some chocolate for her.
    Silently, Lindsay reached up and took it, the wheels turning in her head. When she bit into the wafer, it was every bit as rich and decadent as it looked.
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    This was the part where she should run away screaming.
    She’d gotten