Executive Desires (The Blake Boys Book 10)

by Rhonda Laurel

  “What?” Autumn said.

  Summer cleared her throat. “They treat their employees really nice and pay them well.”

  Bo blinked. Summer had just summed up the company in a few words.

  “See, I told you he wasn’t a serial killer.” Autumn stuck her tongue out at her sister.

  Bo got a chuckle out of Autumn’s statement, which took Summer by surprise. Unfortunately she had just put a forkful of food in her mouth. Summer began to clutch at her throat and gasp for breath while holding her hand out and motioning for everyone to stay away. It was ridiculous to sit there while she figured out how to administer first aid to herself. Bo pulled her out of the chair and pushed it out of the way. Autumn started screaming at her sister, asking if she were OK and giving her a hearty slap on the back. He got behind her and asked Autumn to go get a glass of water. He remembered his first aid training and immediately began giving her the Heimlich maneuver. After a few seconds she coughed up the Brussels sprout. She was taking big gulps of air, but Bo kept his hands positioned near her diaphragm. As her breathing returned to normal, she leaned into his chest to steady herself. Bo realized the intimacy of the position when she nestled even closer to him and he steeled himself to keep his mind clear of dirty thoughts. She must have felt it too because she tried to pull away from him, but he turned her to face him.

  “Are you all right?” He caressed her face.

  “I brought you some water, sis.” Autumn came back into the room with a glass and sandwiched herself between them.

  “Thanks,” Summer mumbled.

  “Oh, my gosh. You saved my sister! You’re a hero.”

  Bo shook his head. “I just followed the training I received.”

  “She means the world to me. Thank you.” Autumn planted a big kiss on him.

  * * *

  Bo made sure the ladies got into their apartment and bade them a goodnight. He knew it was silly, but he wanted to make sure a woman got home OK even if it was only across the hall. He cleaned the kitchen, trying to make sense of the wacky evening. Autumn was sexy, direct, and loved to laugh. Summer was just as alluring, but she hid it. He got the feeling that outfit she had on was borrowed from her sister because she kept playing with the hem. As if an exposed kneecap was a crime.

  The feel of Summer in his arms and the kiss from Autumn kept replaying in his head. Would it be wrong to ask one of them out on a date? If it was OK, which one would he ask out? They lived right across the hall. If it didn’t go well, he’d be sneaking out of his condo for the rest of his life.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Bo couldn’t help but smile as he got into the elevator at Blake Enterprises. He’d spent another night with the lovely Waverly sisters. When Autumn said she’d never seen his favorite science fiction movie, Star Wars, he was flabbergasted. But it was no surprise Summer had seen it, and thus sparked a heated debate about the plot of the movie. The next thing he knew, the trilogy was cued up on their big screen television, Autumn had popped popcorn, and the three of them had settled on the couch for the night. Autumn had plenty of questions and Bo tried to answer them, but Summer shushed them repeatedly. Autumn told her sister to relax, it was just a movie. Bo, sensing her irritation and perhaps that she was feeling left out of the banter, suggested they discuss it afterward.

  He called Amber at Executive Desires and was happy when she told him it was an open-ended vacation package and he could go whenever he wanted. He sent a group text to the Blake women to give them an update; he didn’t want to seem ungrateful about the present, especially when they were so excited about giving it to him. He’d sent thank you notes for the rest of the cool gifts he’d received. Michelle and Tyler did get him that mixer that he wanted. He’d made a fruit torte and an apple pie for his new neighbors.

  The only gift left unopened was the one from John Jacob. He was looking forward to their tradition of riding out to Bo’s favorite spot on the ranch, a clearing high enough that you could see all of the houses, to open his present. He found it comforting knowing that he could see everyone he loved safe in their homes, enjoying the serenity that the ranch offered. He and John Jacob would talk for hours and then he’d give Bo some words of advice. It was during one of those birthday talks that John Jacob offered him the job as CFO of the company.

  “Welcome back, Bo.” Anna Beth smiled as he approached her desk. “How was the vacation?”

  “Wonderful. I got to see my mom and brothers.”

  “How did that go? I know you weren’t too thrilled about heating up the old sibling rivalry.” She cringed.

  “Better than expected. Corbett is getting married soon so he didn’t have nearly as much time to throw digs at me as he would have liked. Wyatt is too handsome for his own good, thinks dating is a sport, and has yet to declare a major, much to my mother’s dissatisfaction.” Bo scratched his beard. Being with Wyatt felt familiar. He was a good-looking kid who didn’t take anything seriously. It was clear the ladies loved him, but he needed a little direction. “You know, he reminds me a lot of Tyler.”

  She giggled. “I thought you were the new Tyler.”

  Bo thought about it for a moment. “I’m kind of a hybrid of J.J. and Tyler. Did you miss me?”

  “Of course. Things aren’t the same when you’re not around. Petra in accounting keeps dropping by to see if you’d returned from vacation under the ruse that she needs to review the maintenance budget. I think her crush on you is worse than we thought. As a pre-emptive measure I told her you have a strict policy about not dating co-workers.”

  “Thanks for the rescue.” He turned to head to his office then stopped. “Anna Beth, tell me the truth. Have I really gone through some big transformation? All I did was ditch the glasses and get an expensive haircut.”

  “Not to mention you’ve been working out more.” She cleared her throat. “But those are minor things. If you don’t mind me saying, you were just as handsome before. The big difference is your change of attitude.”

  “Good to know.” He winked and continued down the hall to see Channing coming out of his office with his leather satchel over his shoulder.

  “Hey, Bubba, you look well rested. How was the vacation?”

  “Great. Where you off to?”

  “Cassie’s taking the bar today. I thought I’d cheer her on before she took the exam.”

  “How was the follow up with her doctor last week?”

  “Everything’s fine. She’s healthy and happy. Next month we’re going to Ohio so I can meet the rest of her family. They’re having a reunion.”

  “Another big step. Nervous?”

  “Nah, her grandma loves me. She calls me her little red-haired cutie pie.” He laughed. “We want you to come to the guest house for dinner one day this week.”

  “It’s a date.” Bo smiled.

  The first thing Bo did when he entered his office was hit the button on the console on his desk. Six televisions on the opposite wall came to life. He kept the financial channels on at all times and the sound of the various analysts and reporters talking may have sounded like jumbled garbage to the average person, but to him it was music to his ears. He sat down in his chair and perused the folders on his desk that Anna Beth had organized in order of importance. The folder on top of the pile had a birthday card in it that was signed by what looked like most of the staff in the building. There was a sticky note on his monitor with J.J.’s handwriting on it. It said cake, conference room at three o’clock. He fired up his computer and there were over a hundred emails and fifty of them were marked urgent. His eyes glazed over after reading the third one, which wasn’t urgent in his opinion. Maybe he should ease back into things the first day. He’d go visit J.J.; surely his friend had another amusing story about Jack.

  Bo sauntered down the hall, gave a quick knock, and opened the door. J.J. had the phone up to his ear and was listening intently. But instead of J.J. barking orders about deadlines, his best friend was engaging in baby talk.

  “Jack, are you
and Matt being good for grandma?” J.J. looked up and waved him into his office. “We can play with the cars after dinner. Guess who’s here in my office? Uncle Bubba.”

  “Hey, Jack. I have a present for you from my trip to New Mexico,” Bo yelled as J.J. pointed the receiver in his direction.

  “You and Matt are you going for a ride with grandma? OK, I’ll see you tonight.” J.J. hung up. “That kid is something else.”

  “My mom went nuts over the photos of Jack. Unfortunately it reminded her that she didn’t have any grandkids and then she commenced to lecture me for two hours about settling down.” Bo sighed.

  “Aside from the stern talking from your mama, how was the rest of the vacation?”

  “Wyatt’s great. Corbett’s getting married to an Eden-type. Mom is taking some time for herself before finding husband number four, that was until I told her my dad was dating. That seemed to stick in her craw.”

  “One of these days those two are going to get it right.”

  “Oh and I finally got some neighbors. They were moving in when I came back from New Mexico.”

  “They? Uh oh. Don’t tell me he’s an investment banker and she’s a dental office manager. They don’t have any kids and are pissed they had to give up their prized cocker spaniel, Poochie, because of the building’s no pet policy. He works too much; she’s lonely so she drops by your place and plants a drunken kiss on you one night. She confesses she thinks you’re hot and her husband will never know about the affair.”

  Bo raised an eyebrow. “You’ve developed quite the imagination.”

  He laughed. “I’ve read Jack every story in his bookcase. I have to make something up when we’re waiting for a new shipment from Morgan and Michelle’s bookstore.”

  “I hope you’re telling him more wholesome stories. That sounds like a soap opera plot gone bad. And no, my new neighbors aren’t a loveless couple.” He shifted in his seat. “They are beautiful twin sisters. Summer and Autumn Waverly. They own NuWave Gaming. I cooked them a welcome-to-the-building dinner.”

  “You do that for all the people who move into your building?” J.J. gave him a skeptical look.

  “I was just being a good neighbor.” He grinned. “They’re lovely ladies. Autumn is sexy, outgoing, and sultry. Summer is intense, an introvert, and very tech-savvy.”

  “Why does it sound like your life just got delightfully complicated?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Sounds like you have the hots for both of them.”

  * * *

  Summer loved that one of the perks of having a twin sister was that while Autumn was the stunning face of the company, she got to stay in the office and test out all the cool games and gadgets that made the final design cut. She had been learning to delegate more, but it was hard. Her startup company was blossoming, and she wanted to be everywhere. Today she would be working out the kinks of their upcoming soccer game that two time World Cup winner Dante Costas was endorsing. The soccer star’s name alone was going to drive the sales, but having a kick-ass interactive game would be the icing on the cake.

  The downside to the venture was working with the arrogant jerk. Dante was an insatiable womanizing flirt. His worldwide popularity had gone to his head and he thought every woman in a hundred mile vicinity wanted him. He’d been hesitant to sign on at first. There were much bigger companies vying to get his name on their product, but it was Autumn’s pitch that finally wrangled him in.

  He was coming next week for a demonstration, and she wanted everything to be perfect. She dug out her old high school soccer uniform and thought she’d give it a go. She kicked the ball around a little bit, but she was off a step. Perhaps if she stopped thinking about their gorgeous new neighbor, she could get something done today.

  She still had trouble looking him in the eye after that mortifying evening when she’d choked on the Brussels sprout. It had been ages since she’d been that close to a man. She lay awake thinking of the way he’d held her when he was saving her life. His grip was strong, firm and gentle, and according to Autumn he had lips soft like butter. Her sister’s spontaneous kiss had been even more shocking than choking on the food. Summer took aim at the soccer ball and almost knocked the lighting down with her kick. She held up her hand to let Benji, the programmer, know she needed a time out.

  “Blowing off some steam?” Tom, her assistant, bellowed as he entered the side door of the testing room.

  “Something like that.” She laughed.

  “I’m afraid I’m going to make a bad day worse. Dante Costas and his entourage have entered the building.”

  “What! I thought they were on the schedule for next Wednesday?” She bit her lip.

  “Dante was in town hitting the talk show circuit and decided to drop by.”

  “Where’s Brent? He’s the point person on this.” Summer rubbed her throbbing temples. Brent was the vice president and loved meeting the high profile people they worked with.

  “Brent’s at the dentist getting a root canal, remember?”

  She had to think fast. “Where’s Autumn? She can handle him.”

  “She had a meeting today with Mayfield Toys.”

  “Yes, that’s right.” She sighed. “Take the pompous ass into the main conference room. I’ll get cleaned up. Think you can get someone to cater lunch on such short notice?”

  “Already on it. Food should be delivered in a half hour.”

  She laughed. “I knew there was a reason I hired you.”

  “It wasn’t because you wanted devilishly handsome eye candy at your disposal?”

  “Isn’t that written on your resume?”

  “In big bold letters.” He closed the door behind him.

  So much for working out the kinks of the game. Now she had to go play nice to an arrogant soccer player who gave her leering looks. There had to be another way to get rid of this pent up energy she had. She kicked the ball again and hit her mark. This time she broke the light.

  * * *

  Autumn kept her smile in place while she glanced at her sister’s urgent text. Dante had arrived a week early and expected a full court demo of his new game. She knew Summer didn’t care for Dante; she never took to guys who exhibited too much machismo, but Dante was mostly all talk. His newfound popularity in the soccer world had major retailers clawing at him to get his face on their wears, but she’d promised him NuWave could give him something no one else could. Dante had more romantic aspirations in mind and had tried to kiss her during their business dinner meeting, so she threw her drink in his face. She definitely wasn’t offering Dante anything like that. He was a conceited jerk who thought he could have any woman he wanted. It wasn’t until the next day that Dante had called her and apologized and agreed to work with them. She did confess the full story when she returned home, and Summer agreed that she’d handled it well.

  Summer was always the level-headed one, that’s why her behavior toward their new neighbor had taken Autumn by surprise. Bo was gorgeous, successful, sensitive, and smart and had a pretty sculpted body for someone who worked in an office all day. She’d checked him out from every angle and she liked what she saw. But Summer was looking for a reason not to be friendly to the guy.

  She concluded her meeting with Mr. Fitzgerald, who was pleasantly surprised at the number of games they had under their belt as well as their expansion plans. He told her he felt good about their budding business relationship because he doubted a company owned by women would produce misogynistic video games objectifying them. And he was confident that NuWave wouldn’t cause him worry or embarrass his company by association. He said in a world of controversy and shock, it was nice to see something that renewed his faith in media directed at the youth of the world. That made her smile. Now all she had to do was get back to work before Summer tried to score a goal by kicking Dante in the nuts.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Bo’s quick return phone call to Wyatt lasted the entire length of his commute home. Wyatt had questions about
good business courses he should take next semester and ended up chatting about everything under the sun, including giving him an update on their mother’s Internet dating progress. Wyatt seemed to be hesitating, like there was something else on his mind. Bo decided not to push. He remembered his mom’s plea to talk to him about school. There had to be a way to get him to open up without feeling like a rat for reporting back to their mom.

  He was winding down for the evening when he heard the light tapping on the door. He opened it but didn’t know which twin stood before him. They looked so much alike that he usually had to let the conversation flow for a few minutes before he knew who it was.

  “Hello, there.” Bo smiled.

  “Hi, handsome. I come with an invitation.”

  Bubbly and flirty. It was Autumn. “Sure. Come on in.”

  “I would, but Summer has decided to give herself a trim and shouldn’t be left alone.” She giggled and held up the invitation. “We’re having a launch party for the new console and would love if you could make it. You’ve been so nice to us and you saved my other half.”

  “I’d love to attend.”

  “It’s a black tie affair, so you’ll need a tux, which I’m sure you already have.”

  He grinned. “I do have one on the ready for spontaneous invitations like this.”

  “Then it’s a date.” Autumn bit her lip.

  * * *

  Bo knocked on the door and when it opened, a vision in blue appeared before him. This twin wore a stunning strapless dress that hugged her luscious curves. Her hair was done up in pretty, layered curls that fell on her shoulders. There had to be a way to distinguish the sisters aside from a lucky guess. And he usually guessed incorrectly.