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  The smile he sent my way, adorably handsome as it was, only boiled my blood more.

  “Why are you smiling?” I knew I shouldn’t be doing this to an employer, acting like an out of control crazy woman but I was. Standing up abruptly now, I could feel the anger rising even more.

  “Please sit, Paige. I am not letting you go already.” His words and the laughter that followed took the edge off a bit, and now I just felt ridiculous as I sat back down. “I have another business deal for you, one that will make you some extra money and be a big help to me.”

  Relief washed over me. He wasn’t letting me go. “Sorry about that.”

  His smile still lit his face. "Don't worry about it. It's nice to see you have a feisty side, though. You're going to need it."

  He went on to reveal the details of what he wanted me to do. “You want me to be your fake girlfriend?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why? You could find anyone to do that. From the looks of you, you wouldn’t have to pay anyone. Heck, you don’t even have to pay me for that.” Just as quickly as it left my lips, I clamped my hand over my mouth.

  That little bit of information brought a wicked smile to his lips. “Is that so?”

  “Well, I mean, you are very good looking and all.” Well that was a bad recovery—but I wasn’t even finished yet. “I just meant that with those good looks I wouldn’t mind pretending.”

  "I see. Does that mean it's a deal? I will give you a surprise bonus at the end then for your help since you don't want the money."

  “I didn’t say that, but yes I will help. How are we going to convince your mother?”

  “Leave that to me. For the next day or two, avoid her until I formulate a plan. At dinner tonight I won’t reveal until the end, then whisk you away for some private alone.”

  “Okay. So how did we meet?”

  “That’s easy. I own the Wild Warrior Fitness Centers. You’ve heard of them?”

  “Yes.”

  "We met there. She will likely ask questions. If in doubt just sit silently and I will answer so we don't mess this up."

  “Okay.”

  He handed me a credit card across the table. “Use this to go shopping. Your outfit offended her earlier. Plus, as my assistant, you need to look your best. Lance will take you. When you get to the store, tell Lily you are my new assistant that needs to be properly outfitted.”

  Taking the card, I stood to leave, shocked by his action.

  “There is just one more thing, Paige.” He stood too.

  “What?”

  He came around the desk, blocking my way out. Suddenly a tingly feeling flowed from the tips of my toes to the top of my head, nearly making my knees buckle. Him standing so close to me was threatening to break my composure.

  “She has to believe we are together, which requires affection and kissing.” He stepped closer. “I think we should practice.”

  He didn’t give me a chance to protest. Just swooped in and took. His lips came down upon mine in a soft, inviting kiss. One that tempted and teased. I’d been kissed before, but for some reason this was different. Looking up into his stormy eyes, I wanted more, so I leaned in and gently tasted his lips again.

  Like a storm that changed direction, he pulled me close, wrapping me in his arms and kissing me deeper. I couldn't help the tiny cry that escaped my lips as he increased the intensity. The rush of desire swelled within me as I held on to his shoulders.

  Then just like that, he stopped and stepped back.

  If not for the storm of desire in his eyes and the breathlessness that had us both, no one would have known we had kissed.

  Going back to sit at his desk, he started tapping his computer. “I will see you at 7 pm. Have fun shopping.”

  His smile was a welcome relief as my finger instinctively lifted to touch my lips. “I will.” I left without another word.

  4

  Donovan

  She had been gone for hours and I was beginning to wonder if she was coming back at all after that kiss. Had it affected her as much as me? Her response to my touch and the look on her face afterward told me she was as affected as I had been.

  At 6:30 pm she came through the door looking like a goddess. Lance had taken her to get her hair and makeup done. I felt frozen in place watching her come strutting in wearing a pair of jeans and a lavender blouse. Her dark hair was undone and hanging down to just past her shoulders. Her flawless face had just a touch of lipstick, reminding me of our kiss. Lance carried bags upon bags inside to her room.

  I wanted to follow her into her room but behaved myself, waiting until 7 pm.

  I made my way to the formal dining room, seated myself beside Amber and waited with my mother.

  Paige came in a few minutes later, dressed in a simple button-down shirt dress in black with matching heels, her hair tied back behind her neck showing off her beautiful face. She looked stunning yet relaxed. I couldn’t help but be pleased with what she’d chosen to wear. Dangles swung around her wrist and a delicate cross hung from her neck.

  "Mother, I don't think you were properly introduced to Paige, my new assistant? Paige, this is my mother, Evelyn.”

  “Paige, come sit by me, please.”

  "It's lovely to meet you, Evelyn.” Paige extended her hand, smoothly forcing my mother to take it.

  "Nice to meet you, dear. You look lovely tonight." My mother turned to me and I knew it was coming. “I didn’t realize, I thought this would be a private dinner where you had some good news for me?”

  “It is, and I do, later. Please sit –down, Paige.” Pulling out her chair, I could smell her perfume, a bit of vanilla, a hint of jasmine mixed with some woodsy scent. It was intoxicating.

  “Thank you.” She sat on the other side of Amber and together we proceeded to make small talk and eat a fine meal.

  At the end, my mother sighed. “I have stuffed myself and will need to diet for the next three days for this meal. But now, I can’t wait another second. Tell me, who is she, this girlfriend of yours?” She leaned forward as if she was going to pull the answer from me.

  I could always count on my mother to cut through the BS and get right to the point. She loved drama, without a doubt, but when push came to shove, if she wanted to know something, she told you in no uncertain terms.

  "Let me take one last guess,” she said, tapping her chin thoughtfully. “I remember you meeting a woman, an attorney, that you were smitten with about six months ago when you went to Tahiti. Stephanie, I believe. I remember you showing me a picture. She had dark hair and was petite?” I watched as she smiled at Paige now. “Very lovely, by the way, dear. You should see her.”

  “No, not her.”

  “I give up then. Who is she?”

  “She’s sitting at this table, Mother.”

  My mother dropped her spoon, midway to her lips.

  5

  Paige

  I made it through dinner with ease. The food was divine. The dessert was to die for, chocolate mousse or this tall and decadent chocolate cake. The cook had insisted that I try both.

  All was going as planned until Donovan told his mother that we were dating. I thought she might die. For some reason, it bothered me that she looked mortified after finding out we were dating, even if it was pretending.

  On cue, Donovan came over and sat beside me, placing his arm protectively around my shoulders.

  Evelyn shook her head with a small, forced laugh. “You’re joking, Donnie!”

  His arm tightened a fraction. “No, Mother, I’m not.” He turned to me and I could see what I thought was an apology in his eyes. “We’ve been dating for about a month. Right, dear?”

  "Yes." I couldn't help but smile at our joke.

  “But she’s your assistant. Think of Amber!”

  “I am, Mother."

  “How did you two meet each other?” His mother’s eyes seemed to pin me to my seat.

  “I met your son at one of his fitness centers.”

  His
mother didn’t smile; she just stared, shaking her head in disbelief. “Talk to me when you have a REAL girlfriend.”

  I wasn’t sure why I felt so angry, but I did. It truly was none of my business, but I suddenly felt like I was being attacked. Just when I was about to open my mouth, his hand pulled me closer to his side.

  “Amber, why don’t you go to your room,” he said in a slightly tight voice. “I will see you in a few minutes.”

  “Okay, Daddy, but I’m happy she’s your girlfriend.” I wanted to laugh at his daughter’s simplicity. She liked me; that was enough for her.

  “Mother, Paige and I are dating, and yes, she is my assistant.” He gazed into my eyes as he brought my hand to his lips, gently caressing it. Somehow, in some wickedly insane universe, it felt like a branding, like he was labeling me his, even if just to his mother. I couldn’t move, just watch breathlessly. “Excuse us.”

  Without another word, he led me from the room. I followed him up the stairs, unsure where we were going or what was coming next. Since he still hadn't let go of my hand, I decided to enjoy the feel of his fingers enveloping mine.

  The only men I’d ever dated were starving musicians, bartenders, and men afraid to commit. None of them ever had any substance, let alone real life. That smacked me back into reality. This was just fantasy. Something a beautiful and powerful man was doing to get his mother off his back about marriage.

  As much I was enjoying this, I needed to remember that so I didn't get too caught up in it and take it seriously. I’d taken this job because I needed the money. It was a chance for me to turn my life around. I didn't want to mess it up by playing around with the boss or making more out of it than it was.

  At 28, I needed to face reality, make some changes so I could have a better life. That started here, but it didn’t start with intoxicating kisses from a gorgeous and rich man.

  “Where are we going?”

  He didn’t turn, just kept walking. “To my suite.”

  Stopping in my tracks, I held my ground. I wasn’t about to go there. What was he thinking? “I don’t think so.”

  Silently he turned to me. “It’s not what you think.” He stepped closer, still holding my hand.

  “How do you know what I’m thinking?”

  “It’s in your eyes, on your lips, all over your body, I can see it and feel it.”

  I was greeted with a smile that bordered on seductive. I felt frozen in place. Never had a man I hardly knew made me feel so edgy, uneasy. I stared straight ahead as his breath continued to caress my skin, warm and inviting. It was hard to be able to think straight with him so close, so handsome, so strong, so right.

  6

  Donovan

  I felt tempted by her nearness, those soft, inviting lips calling me to have a taste, just one. "You and I both feel the chemistry between us. Don't deny it." Her eyes stared straight ahead as if to help her maintain her composure. The wild beast inside thrilled at this, that it was hard for her to be this close to me. Nervously she licked her lips, making me want to tilt her head back and sample. “If and when it happens, you’ll know.”

  It was a struggle to keep my cool. No woman had ever sent sparks of electricity throughout my body the way this woman did, and ironically, she was my assistant, which made her off-limits. Opening the door to my rooms, I went in, grabbed myself a drink and sat down.

  As she entered, she seemed to be assessing and studying the suite. Silently I watched as she looked in every room before sitting on the couch across from me. “Would you like a drink?”

  “No thank you, I’m good.” The intensity of her eyes told me that she was still cautious.

  Knowing that she liked candy, I grabbed a bowl that I kept on hand in my suite for when Amber showed up.

  This warmed her up, so I spent the next hour or two getting to know my new assistant and letting her get to know me. This was the only way to make the story of our relationship more believable.

  Then we got down to the details of what was expected of her as my assistant. After I flooded her mind with information and she looked exhausted, I thought it best to stop. “I think we have done enough for tonight; we will talk in the morning. Go get some rest.”

  Wordlessly, she nodded and stood up to head for the door. Since I always try to be a gentleman, I walked her to her room. Of course, my mother was sitting in the living room pretending to read. I decided to wrap my arm around Paige as we went past.

  "You know dear,” she called, making us pause, “we are all grown-ups here. I think tomorrow I will have her move her things to your room. No sense separating you two. Besides, your Aunt Eleanor might be joining us next month. She will adore that room.” My mother followed us, waiting.

  I could feel the tension in Paige even though I didn’t look at her. My eyes focused on my mother instead. “We can discuss this tomorrow.”

  Holding my mother's gaze, I wordlessly drove home that we would like some privacy. Of course, she remained unaffected but merely turned on her heel, hair floating behind her as she walked off. I could almost feel the tension slip, a sigh escaping Paige's lips.

  “Is she always like that?”

  “Like what?”

  “Annoyingly nosy?”

  Turning my eyes to her, I couldn’t help but grin. She was grinning, looking in the direction of my mother’s retreating form. “Sadly, yes.”

  Rolling her eyes, she turned them to me. "Well, somebody needs to find her a hobby. How the heck does anyone get anything done with her around?"

  “With persistence and brushing her off politely.” Her laughter was a surprise. While she had that tough girl exterior that fit well beneath expensive clothes, her laugh was feminine and soft to the ears. Very much in contrast to the woman before me.

  “I don’t think that is working. I could teach her some karate.” Just like that, without any warning, she sent me a punch to the gut that took me back a step. What a surprise she was, beautiful, smart, resourceful, witty and strong.

  As she stood there, hands on her hips, a wicked smile on her face, I wanted nothing more than to drag her into the bedroom and show her a few tricks. Instead, I decided to pull her close and see what her next move would be.

  She didn’t blink or cry out. Instead, she wrapped her arms around me, leaned back, and smiled. “I was waiting for you to do this.”

  “Why is that?”

  “So I could do this.” She laced her fingers through my hair and pulled my mouth to hers, tempting me with those seductive lips. Her sweetness drove we wild, my arms tightening around her. I nibbled her bottom lip, teasing her to open for me. When she did, my passion broke loose and I devoured her. I couldn’t get enough.

  Pulling back slightly, I was met with passionate eyes that matched my own. “I thought you weren’t interested?”

  Merriment seemed to dance in those desire-filled eyes as a tiny smile touched her lips. “I never said I wasn’t interested. I just thought it best we keep things professional since you’re my boss.”

  “And now?”

  “To hell with that.” I was lost after that. Opening the door to her room, I pulled her inside, shutting and locking it behind her and pinning her to it. Her cry of delight was all I needed to pick up her petite form and carry her to the bed.

  Her eyes never left mine as I lay her down beside me, gently unbuttoning her dress. She wore a delicate lace bra that barely covered her. I couldn’t help but run my finger along its edges, watching her eyes drift softly closed, biting her bottom lip. “Are you sure about this, Paige? I don’t want this to complicate things between us.”

  She opened her eyes to gaze into mine, desire clouding them. “Yes, please, Donovan.”

  Her pleading was more than I could bear. Caressing her body with my hand, I met her succulent lips with my own and took great pleasure in slowing things down, teasing and tempting. Her body was warm and inviting as I ran my fingers over her neck, down her collarbone and arms, then back up again to circle her now bare breasts, fee
ling their weight.

  She nibbled my neck, soft sighs and words of appreciation falling from her lips as I tasted her skin, the delicate but heady scent of her intoxicating me and drawing me deeper. Somewhere in the back of my mind, bells went off, warning me that this could become a problem.

  I shoved them aside. Nothing mattered more to me right now than this woman, having her, bringing her joy, seeing her in that moment of bliss with me. It had been so long, and I told myself that was what was prodding me to forget reason, logic, and caution.

  Traveling down her body, I left nothing untouched. Every glistening piece of her I touched with my mouth or fingers. Each time a sigh, moan or the purr of delight escaped her lips, I was pulled deeper and closer to that point of no return where only need and want mattered.

  Her hands knotted in my hair, then caressed over my chest, shoulders, and back. "What a beautiful tattoo. I would never have guessed." Her delicate fingers caressed the form of a woman surrounded by flowers on my chest.

  How funny it was that she would appreciate a tattoo of another woman on my skin. I wasn't about to discuss this now; I knew it might wreck the moment. Instead, I smiled, kissing the thoughts from her mind.

  "Please, I need you." Her eyes were filled with desire and longing for me. Her words ignited a fire in my groin that was telling me soon, very soon we would be one.

  It was all I needed to hear. I nudged her legs apart, feeling the softness of her woman’s core. She was panting with need, fulfillment that only I could give at this moment. I took a deep breath and nibbled her ear. “Just a little more, angel, a little more and we will both touch heaven.”

  She smiled and wrapped me in her arms to pull me close, kissing me deep and insistently.

  My fingers roamed through the delicateness of her womanhood, exploring her fully. Fires were raging in my body as I kept my needs in check. I wanted her delirious with need, so I continued to explore. My hands explored the succulent fullness of her hips, thighs, and rear. With each new territory, I felt myself growing harder and my control beginning to slip.