Page 4 of The Beauty and the Boxer
“It is my own concern, Mr. Archer.”
“I disagree,” he said, leaning slightlyforward. In that moment she smelt the same, soap-like scent thatshe had encountered downstairs. She had to restrain herself frominhaling deeply. “You see, Miss Taylor, I don’t do business forsuch a trivial sum of money. It’s really rather wasteful to botherwith such a small amount. I would actually lose money if you canbelieve it. So, seeing as how I would be taking a loss with thisventure, I’d like to know why I should.”
Meredith felt her heart drop. Perhaps it wasfoolish of her to have thought that she could be helped by him. TheArchers were businessmen who dealt with insurmountable quantitiesof money and she only had a small sum. Feeling rather silly, shenodded.
“I’m sorry to have bothered you, Mr. Archer.Thank you for your time.”
“What,” he said loudly, causing her to stop,“do you need it for?”
Annoyed that he should use such a commandingtone with her, she felt herself begin to bristle.
“I told you, it’s my own concern.”
“Are you in trouble?” he asked withoutaccusation. “Are you pressed for time?”
“Heavens, no.”
“Then why do you need it?”
“It’s trivial.”
“I want to know.”
Meredith weighed her options. She could tellhim and risk being mocked, or she could leave with her dignityintact, but without any help. Taking a deep breath, she decided totell him the truth.
“Because I wanted to be independent. Ithought that maybe I would buy a cottage by the sea, so that Iwould have something that was my own, that I could go to whenever Iwished if I was so inclined to go.” She glanced at the floor. Itseemed like such a silly, small thing when she said it out loud.Perhaps she should have kept it a dream. When he didn’t speak rightaway, embarrassment washed over her. “I’m sorry I wasted yourtime—”
“It will take six months,” he said suddenly,kicking his body up from its leaned position on the desk. He cameup to her, hand outstretched. “I usually take a fifteen precentcharge from monies made, but I shan’t with yours.”
“Oh? Well, that’s very kind of you—”
“It’s far too small.”
“Oh. Yes, of course.” Taking his hand,Meredith was surprised that he held hers so gently as they shook onit. “You would do that for me? For free?”
“Nothing’s for free, darling,” he said as hesmirked down at her. “Not in my world.”
His dark eyes seemed to stare right throughher and she felt suddenly vulnerable, as if he could see everythingabout her. Inside and out. He was devilish and something in hisface made her feel wicked herself.
“But I don’t have any more money than what Iam able to invest.”
“I have more money than I know what to dowith,” he said crassly. His fingers moved gently over her glovedhand. “But I have something else in mind for payment.”
“Yes?”
“A kiss.”
Meredith’s mouth opened, but she didn’t knowhow to respond. Surely he was jesting, for to ask for somethinglike that for payment, well, that would make her some sort ofstreet woman. She tried to pull her hand back, but he held ittightly for a moment before letting her go. She stumbled back.
“I take that as a no,” he said.
“That’s hardly sporting of you, Mr. Archer.Not gentlemanly at all.”
“I’m no gentleman. I’m a businessman.”
“And what business do you think I would bein if I would offer you a kiss for monetary gains?”
“The oldest business, of course,” he saidwith his wicked grin. “But I suppose you’re too good for that sortof thing, aren’t you?”
