Czytaj książkę: «The Nanny Proposal»

Prologue

Eight months ago

Standing in the shadows of the balcony encircling the ballroom of the Texas Cattleman’s Club, Kasey Monroe looked up at the clear night sky. Why had she thought attending a New Year’s Eve Ball in Royal, Texas, knowing no one but Aaron Phillips—who might, or might not, become her new boss—was a good idea?

Aaron, as a member of the Texas Cattleman’s Club, knew nearly everybody in the room. He’d introduced her to his gorgeous sister, Megan, and her equally good-looking husband, Will Sanders, CEO of Spark Energy Solutions. And while Aaron had made an effort to include her, she felt woefully out of place.

Even so, making small talk with strangers was still more fun than spending the night alone in her hotel room, obsessing about the party happening back in her home in Houston. Throwing a New Year’s Eve bash was a tradition she and Dale had started the year they’d gotten engaged and, for the first time in five years, she wouldn’t be playing hostess to their friends. Kasey couldn’t help wondering what Michelle was doing tonight. When last had she and her oldest friend spent the special evening apart? A decade? More years than that? Kasey rested her champagne glass on her cheek. It had been six months since she’d caught Dale and Michelle together in what was, as they’d explained, a drunken encounter that meant nothing. Pure sex, fueled by too much booze and a line of coke. Their combination of sex, drugs and rock and roll had broken her heart and, while she felt like her heart was slowly patching itself back together, she still felt like a fool.

Her husband and her oldest and best friend... In a million years, she would never have imagined that scenario. Would she ever be able to trust anyone again?

Five! Four! Three! Two! One...! Yeah, Happy New Year to me. Husband-less, friend-less, in a new town and among strangers.

Oh, boo-hoo, Kasey thought, irritated by her bout of self-pity and taking a defiant gulp of her champagne. The last six months had been tough, sure, but ending a marriage should never be fun. But there was light at the end of the tunnel: her divorce was final, she had money in the bank and options.

One of those options was Aaron Phillips’s intriguing proposal to become his executive assistant. Known as one of the most innovative and successful hedge fund managers in the country, Aaron didn’t have a large client base, but that didn’t matter because his clients were all mega wealthy. He worked out of his office within his palatial house on the outskirts of Royal and, as Aaron explained, thanks to the wonders of modern technology, she could do her job from either her home in Houston or here in Royal. He was demanding, Aaron told her, but he wasn’t a micromanager and as long as she produced the results, she could set her own hours.

Kasey felt a spurt of excitement; a hefty salary, flexible hours and working out of her own space would give her life structure and, hopefully, would stop her from dwelling on her failed marriage and the loss of a childhood friend.

Kasey lightly whistled to catch the attention of the waiter hovering by the ballroom entrance. She held up her empty flute and within a minute had a fresh glass of bubbly in her hand. This new year would be better, Kasey vowed. She was a strong woman and she was not going to allow the past to define her. No matter what it took, she was going to put this all behind her and get back to the person she used to be. Fun, happy, positive.

Change had to happen and she was the only one who could implement those changes. She could start by accepting the position at AP Investments and relocating to Royal. Even if she worked from home, a change of scenery, and leaving Houston, would be a good move. Tomorrow—today—was the start of a new year and a new life and, God knew, she desperately needed both.

Kasey looked into the ballroom and easily found Aaron’s tall frame. She tipped her head, studying him. He was so very smart, so very well built and, pre-Dale, exactly the type of guy she’d look at twice. Or six times. Early to mid-thirties, with chestnut-brown hair cut short to tame the curl, he had the broad shoulders, long and powerful legs and narrow hips of a competitive swimmer. Unfathomable green eyes under—kill me now—wire-rimmed glasses. And light scruff covered his impressive jaw.

Sexy could be such a tame word, Kasey mused, feeling her stomach squirm. Then her skin tingled and she felt a slow burn that sent heat to that long-dead space between her legs. Wow...

Well, hello, sexual attraction. It’s been a while.

In a room filled with some very fine eye candy, Aaron was handcrafted chocolate. Which meant, Kasey realized, the only way she could work for him would be virtually. There was no way she could spend eight or more hours a day with that gorgeous male specimen. At the very least, her keyboard would be perpetually covered in drool.

Kasey allowed a long slide of champagne to coat her throat and felt a small buzz. As if he could sense her eyes on him, Aaron slowly turned and scanned the ballroom. She really should look away, but Kasey, emboldened by the booze and the temptation of embarking on something different and a little bit wild, waited for his eyes to lock with hers. She’d met him twice before tonight and both times Aaron had been so professional and reticent, she’d found it impossible to read his emotions.

However, tonight there was desire and flat-out need in his eyes and on his face.

She turned around to check that there was no one behind her. No, she was alone and all that heat was for her. So...hot damn.

This certainly complicated the should-I-accept-his-job-offer question...

Kasey gripped the stem of her glass in a too tight grip and watched as Aaron walked, gracefully for such a big man, across the crowded floor. He was heading straight toward her, his eyes not leaving her face. Kasey swallowed and took another sip of champagne, hoping it would lubricate her dry mouth. One sip didn’t help, neither did two. Hell, nothing would because a lava-hot man was looking at her like she was a pretty package he couldn’t wait to unwrap.

Aaron stopped in front of her and lifted his hand. Kasey sucked in a breath, thinking he was about to touch her, then wrinkled her nose in disappointment when he plucked the champagne glass from her fingers and placed it on the edge of the railing. Aaron, still so close to her, looked down at her, his eyes drifting from her lips to her eyes.

“You look stunning, Kasey. Did I tell you that earlier?”

It had been so long since she’d been complimented on how she looked Kasey had no idea how to respond. When in doubt, and she was so in doubt, it was best to keep it simple.

“Thank you.”

Unnerved by the warm appreciation in his eyes Kasey looked down at her tangerine halter-neck dress skimming her curves. Her two-inch heels just took her past Aaron’s shoulder. He was a big man and his masculinity made her feel intensely feminine. Something else she was unfamiliar with.

“Happy New Year.”

Kasey murmured the words back as a haunting melody drifted from the ballroom onto the balcony and swirled around them. Aaron’s fingers touched her hip and Kasey felt heat pouring from him and burning through the thin fabric of her dress.

“Would you like to dance?” he asked, his deep voice raising goose bumps on her skin.

Aaron didn’t wait for her reply. His hand slid around to rest on her lower back and he curled his other hand around hers, lifting it to hold it against his chest. Kasey felt his lips on her temple and wondered why, even though they were dancing outside, there was no fresh air. He was so warm, so solid, she thought as they swayed in place. Then Aaron’s foot slid between hers and they were gliding across the empty balcony under the light of a Texas moon. The man sure could dance, Kasey mused as he spun her out and brought her back in, closer than before.

“You smell so good,” Aaron whispered into her hair.

Her mouth curved into a smile. “I’m glad you approve.”

Aaron pulled her hand up and raised her fingers to his mouth. His gentle kiss on the tips of her fingers sent heat skittering through her. “There’s much I approve of, Kasey, and we both know that I’m not talking about your résumé and your references.”

Kasey lifted her eyes to his face and saw his wry expression. She couldn’t help noticing the desire in his eyes. And in his pants.

Aaron flicked the end of her hair with his index finger. “Since your arrival I’ve spent far too much time thinking about whether you’d feel as good as you look or whether your hair is as soft as I thought.” He rubbed a strand of her shoulder-length hair between his fingers. “It is. And it’s a fascinating color... I can’t describe it. It’s brown but not, red but not.”

According to her stylist, her hair color was a rich, light auburn, but Michelle had always called it ginger spice. If all things were normal, if her best friend hadn’t slept with her husband, Michelle would be the person she’d confide in about dancing with this sexy guy under the midnight blue Texas winter sky.

Don’t think about her, them, the past!

Carpe diem, Monroe. Carpe diem...

Kasey laid her cheek on Aaron’s chest and swayed along with him. This is nice, she thought. She felt relaxed and comfortable, intensely aroused, and pretty. She hadn’t felt any of those things for a long time.

Aaron dropped her hand and his big arms pulled her closer. Every muscle in her body tensed as his hard length pushed into her stomach. Undeterred, he just gathered her against him, his hands flat against her lower back. “Relax, Kase, nothing is going to happen.”

Damn, Kasey thought. It was the start of a new year and she really wanted something magical to happen. She wanted to feel his mouth on hers, to see if he tasted as delicious as he looked. She wanted those big, warm hands skating across her skin, wanted his mouth on her breast, on her stomach, maybe lower. She sighed. She wanted to feel what Aaron-induced pleasure felt like.

Bottom line? She wanted him.

“What if I want something to happen?” Kasey blurted out the words. She considered taking them back and forced herself not to. Aaron was a grown man. If he didn’t want to get naked with her, he was adult enough to say so. But the action in his pants told her the thought had crossed his mind a time or two, as well.

This isn’t a good idea, her overcautious brain insisted. You want to work for him, you want to move to this festive town and to put some distance between you and your old life. Sleeping with your boss is not, on any planet or within any galaxy, a good idea. Besides, you’re still sad, a little broken, still bruised.Hopping into bed with Aaron, with anyone, wasn’t a good idea. Feeling the twin urges of defiance and recklessness, Kasey’s heart went to war with her head.

With Aaron, she didn’t feel like the discarded wife, the foolish, naïve friend. In his arms, she remembered the confident woman she used to be. She felt desired and alive.

And they hadn’t even got to the really good, rolling around naked, part yet.

Aaron put a little space between them. His expression turned contemplative, his eyes speculative. “What are you suggesting, Kasey?”

God, was he expecting her to draw him a picture? Suddenly feeling shy and out of her depth, Kasey placed her hands against his chest and tried to push him away, but he didn’t move an inch.

“No, don’t run away,” Aaron said, his deep, husky voice soothing her agitation. “I just want us to be clear on what we are doing here. I want you to work for me, Kasey, and I don’t want to lose you as an executive assistant because we want to scratch an itch.”

She wanted to take the job. She did. The enormous salary would allow her to rent that fairy-tale cottage she’d fallen in love with in downtown Royal and would pay for her shoe and book habit. She wouldn’t need to dip into her savings or the divorce settlement Dale agreed to pay for being a cheating douchebag dick. This job sounded interesting and challenging. But she really, really wanted to see what was under Aaron’s perfectly tailored suit and blindingly white shirt.

“That’s a sensible argument...” Kasey said, trailing off. Then she lifted her eyes to look into his. Be brave, Kasey, take a chance. Start off the new year with a bang. Metaphorically. And, maybe if the gods of good sex liked her, literally. “But on nights like these we aren’t supposed to be sensible.”

You’re making a mistake—remember you can’t trust your own judgment. You’ve made so many mistakes trusting men and people before.

Shut up, boring brain.

“One night, Kasey. A few hours to burn whatever we are feeling for each other out of our systems.” Aaron’s words echoed her thoughts. “I’m leaving for a skiing trip tomorrow and will only be back in Royal on the seventh. You can think about taking the job. If you do, this won’t happen again. Ever. We’ll be boss and employee.”

Boss and employee. Kasey leaned back, knowing he’d hold her as she forced herself to think. Difficult to do when she was so desperate to say “to hell with it” and feel.

But she was an adult and she had to walk into this situation, his arms and his bed, with her eyes wide open and her head on straight.

A week’s break would give them some time to clear their heads, to practice their “I’ve forgotten what you look like naked” attitude. They were adults, they could do this.

Kasey nibbled the inside of her cheek. She wanted to burn the memories of Dale away, to finally exorcise him from her life, and she wanted to do that with Aaron. He was fantastically good-looking, successful and smart. But, more than that, she instinctively liked him.

Consider him as a welcome-to-your-new-life gift to yourself, Monroe.

“You’re killing me here, Kasey,” Aaron muttered.

Kasey draped her arms over his shoulders as she eased closer to him. “One night, no expectations, and when we meet again, we’ll be all business?”

Aaron nodded. “That’s the way I’m looking at this.”

Kasey smiled. “One question?”

Aaron closed his eyes, exaggerating his anguish. “Did I mention that you are killing me here?”

Kasey’s laugh mingled with the music. “Your place or mine?”