Secrets and Sins: Malachim (A Secrets and Sins Novel) (Entangled Ignite) Read Online Free Page A

to convince him to hire you.
    The firm set of his mouth softened the slightest degree. “I agree, Ms. Warren, and I apologize if my tone suggested differently.” He leaned forward, setting his clasped hands on the desk. “I’m going to be honest. Right now, we have two swamped attorneys. You would be stepping into a zoo. What I’m questioning is if you’re prepared to jump into this and hit the ground running. It wouldn’t be easy.”
    Easy? Since when had anything ever been easy?
    “I’m prepared,” she assured him. Hope shook inside her like a schoolgirl on her first date. Please, God. One break. Just one…
    He leaned back in his chair, and because she watched him so closely, she caught the brief battle between indecision, remorse, and— thank God! —resignation.
    “When can you start?” he finally asked, and though he didn’t sigh, his voice was heavy with the weight of it.
    His reluctance should’ve stung—maybe later it would. But at the moment, with the offer of a new job in a field she loved, her chest had room for only joy and triumph.
    “Wednesday.”
    Surprise flared in his gaze. “It’s Monday night. Are you sure you don’t need to provide longer notice than a day?”
    She tamed her answering smirk into a half-smile. He didn’t know Pat. The crusty diner owner would call her a “dunderhead” if she didn’t start right away…before Malachim could change his mind. “No, my boss is aware I was searching for another job and waived a two-week notice.”
    Malachim nodded, then rose. She stood, as well, and as he neared, her heart set up a rapid patter in her chest. Her stomach clenched as if a vise had suddenly gripped her insides and tightened. He intended to shake her hand—to touch her.
    Even at the diner, she allowed men only so close, ignoring the flirtation and rebuffing the few advances. Enduring the slight graze of fingers over her palm without flinching as a customer gave her money had required months of determination and practice. The only man she allowed in her personal space was Pat—and that had been difficult. But hours in his company and his gruff brand of caring had slowly dismantled her mistrust and skittishness. And except for the diner owner, she was never alone with anyone.
    Now, the spacious office seemed to shrink to the size of a closet. And he stretched his hand out toward her, expecting her to press her palm to his.
    Do it. Just do it, damn it! Before she could think—or hyperventilate—she shook his hand. Dropped it as if a fire blazed beneath his skin.
    His eyes narrowed, and his eyebrows lowered a fraction. In an instant, she had a visual of a patient, quietly stalking jaguar, his tail slowly flicking back and forth as he waited for his prey to reveal itself. To make a mistake…
    “Thank you,” she said, smothering her nerves under a calm façade…even as she edged toward the door. “I appreciate the opportunity. I’ll see you Wednesday.”
    “One more thing.”
    She turned around, her fingers clutching the strap of her messenger bag as if it were a rappelling rope and the only thing keeping her from swan-diving to the foot of a mountain.
    “The office opens at nine, but if you could arrive at eight so we can go through your paperwork, that would be great. And also,” he slipped his hands into the front pockets of his dark suit pants. The gesture pulled the jacket open, and she couldn’t help notice how the pristine white dress shirt accentuated his flat abdomen and broad chest. Another warning blared through her. Why was she noticing how well his clothing fit him? How wide or hard his chest was? Panic speared her, a hot, frenetic current along her veins.
    “Danielle?”
    She started, jerked from her toe-dip into fear. “I’m sorry. Yes?”
    He cocked his head to the side. “I said since we’re going to be working together, please call me Malachim.”
    “Oh, of course. Thank you.” She nodded. “I’ll be here at eight on Wednesday.”
    “See