I Married the Boss!

by Laura Anthony

  “Don’t worry about it.”

  “I don’t worry, I correct my oversights.”

  As if on cue, a knock sounded at her open door and a deliveryman appeared with a vivid display of flowers clutched in his arms. Dozens and dozens of them. Roses and lilies. Orchids and daisies. Carnations and gladiola. Red, green, purple, yellow, orange. A fragrant rainbow protruding from a leaded crystal vase.

  “Flowers for Miss Sophia Shepherd,” the deliveryman called out.

  “Michael!” she breathed into the phone, and waved the man over to her desk. “What have you done?”

  She heard his sexy chuckle. “I take it they’ve arrived.”

  “They’re so beautiful!”

  Sudden tears sprang to her eyes. Emotion choked her throat. She felt like a princess, showered with affection. How had she, for one second, thought the sexual passion she shared with Mike the mailman could possibly eclipse the deep-seated respect she held for Michael Barrington?

  “And that’s not all,” Michael said, still speaking while Sophia groped for a tissue to dab at her eyes.

  The deliveryman plunked the flowers in front of her and winked before leaving the room.

  “It’s n-not?” Sophia stammered, overwhelmed by Michael’s generous gesture.

  “No, ma’am. I’m giving you a raise. And it’s not for your birthday, it’s for all the hard work you do.”

  “Oh, that’s not necessary. Really. I enjoy my job.”

  “Hush for a minute and listen.” He named a figure so high, Sophia sputtered.

  “What?” she said.

  He repeated the amount of her raise.

  “That’s almost double my current salary!” Sophia exclaimed in disbelief. She could buy a new car and pay off some of Jannette’s long-standing medical bills. “Surely you can’t mean it.”

  “You’re worth every penny and more.”

  “I...I don’t know what to say.” Fresh tears welled in her eyes. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

  “You’re very welcome. I wouldn’t want anyone trying to steal you away from me.”

  Steal you away.

  She knew he was talking about work. Yes, she did. But guilt conjured up another image. The one of Mike kissing her heatedly in her car on the side of the freeway. She gulped.

  “No one could ever steal me away from you,” Sophia replied adamantly. She twisted the telephone cord around one finger and dreamily doodled, Mrs. Rex Michael Barrington III, on her desk calendar with the opposite hand.

  “You never can tell when you might run across a smooth-talking headhunter full of glib promises. I need to know that you’re loyal to the Barrington Corporation, Sophia.”

  “Oh, absolutely. I’m committed to this company.”

  “That’s good to hear. I hope you enjoy the flowers, and happy birthday.”

  “Thanks again.”

  “We’ll talk tomorrow.”

  “Until tomorrow.”

  “Wait,” he said, before she had time to hang up. “There’s something else I’ve been meaning to ask you.”

  “Yes?”

  Silence hummed across the lines. Sophia could picture Michael at his office in Germany, handsome in an expensively tailored suit, the receiver cradled under his chin, his feet propped on his desk in the casual elegance of a self-assured monarch.

  “Are you seeing anyone?”

  “Beg your pardon?” The question caught her off guard. “What do you mean?”

  “Do you have a boyfriend?”

  Sophia caught her breath as a thrill sped through her. Could it be true? Was Michael asking her out? This was too much. A substantial raise in pay, a beautiful floral bouquet and an invitation to go out with Michael Barrington all in one day?

  “No,” she answered, and pinched herself.

  “Are you sure there’s not someone special in your life?”

  Guiltily she thought of Mike. He was special. She couldn’t deny the sparks that flew between them whenever they were in the same room together. But no matter how hot the chemistry, she had no future with Mike the mailman, and for the last four months, she’d dreamed constantly of the moment when Michael Barrington would ask her out on a date. And even though Sophia valued honesty above all things, she wasn’t about to blow this opportunity by telling him about Mike.

  “No,” she spoke firmly, ignoring the twinge of remorse. Mike had made her no promises; she owed him nothing.

  “I’m surprised,” Michael said. “I’d have bet money that a woman with a voice as beautiful as yours would be fending the men off with a long-handled stick.”

  “There’s no one,” she assured him, resolutely pushing thoughts of Mike from her mind. It was true. She and Mike had never actually dated. They weren’t an item. “Is there any particular reason you ask?” She braved the question, crossed her fingers and prayed.

  “Well, I was just going to tell you to bring your boyfriend along to the company picnic in two weeks.”

  “Huh?” Sophia blinked. Had she heard right?

  “I wanted to meet him, shake his hand and tell him how lucky he was to have such a reliable girlfriend.”

  Reliable? Sophia’s chest tightened. She’d gotten it all wrong. Michael wasn’t asking her out.

  “But since you don’t have a boyfriend, guess I’ll just have to shake your hand instead.”

  Shake her hand? Well, that was a comedown to reality. Sophia swallowed back her disappointment.

  “You’ll be at the company picnic?”

  “I’m going to do my best to wind things up here in Frankfurt by then,” he said.

  Hope sprang fresh and new in her heart. At last! She’d be able to meet the object of her long-held affections and put her plan into action. Once he got to know her in person, Sophia was certain Michael would ask her out.

  “Until tomorrow.”

  “Goodbye,” she whispered.

  The phone clicked softly in her ear as Michael severed the connection, leaving Sophia feeling frustrated and more confused than ever.

  From a desk across the hall, Michael Barrington cradled the receiver and glanced over at his father. Essentially, by sending Sophia flowers, he had upped the ante, pitting himself against himself. Michael against Mike. The wealthy man versus the charming bad boy. Who would emerge the victor?

  “You sure this is the right thing to do?” he asked Rex.

  “It’s the only way you’re going to know for sure if you can trust her, son. You know how important trust is in any relationship. If Sophia is to remain your assistant, you’ve got to know that she’ll be loyal to you and the company no matter what.”

  Michael made a face. “I suppose you’re right.”

  But he couldn’t help feeling that misleading Sophia about his true identity was a very underhanded thing indeed.

  “She lied,” Michael said softly.

  “Lied?” Rex tilted his head in the comforting manner he used when he wanted someone to open up to him. “About what?”

  “She said there was no one special in her life.”

  “Perhaps there’s not.”

  “Then what do you call Mike the mailman? Surely the woman doesn’t go around kissing every man the way she kisses him.” Michael folded his arms over his chest, realizing Sophia’s denial of a love interest cut him deeper than he thought possible.

  “Son.” Rex placed a hand on his shoulder. “This is something you’re going to have to work out on your own.”

  “I need your advice.”

  Nervously Sophia wrung her hands. It was two o’clock in the afternoon and she was in the wing of the new products division, sitting in the office of her friend Cindy Cooper. They had chatted for a few minutes about Cindy’s upcoming marriage to her boss, Kyle Prentice, and Sophia’s role as one of the bridesmaids in the wedding. Then, without preamble, Sophia had uncharacteristically blurted out the concerns weighing on her mind.

  “Oh?” Cindy’s green eyes sparkled. She leaned forward in her chair. “How can I help?�
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  Since turning thirty and transforming herself from a hard-driven career-oriented professional into a calm, confident woman who’d risked everything to find personal happiness, and had won, Cindy had become a true beauty. She wore her shoulder-length hair in a flattering blunt cut with soft wispy bangs fanning her forehead. She’d surrendered her austere business attire and sensible flat shoes for bold-colored, short-skirted suits and high heels. Sophia admired the changes in her friend, had in fact come to her office in order to quiz her about the role her metamorphosis had played in capturing the heart of Kyle Prentice.

  “It’s about Michael Barrington.”

  “Do tell.” Cindy grinned. “I hear he’s got a very sexy telephone voice.”

  “Yes, he does,” Sophia admitted. “I just wish I knew what he looked like in person.”

  “You mean, does the face fit the voice?”

  Sophia nodded. “You see, I’ve sort of got a crush on my boss.”

  “There’s a lot of that going around.” Cindy chuckled and waved her left hand, which sported an enormous engagement ring.

  “That’s what I need to ask your advice about,” Sophia said, keeping her voice low.

  “How to snare your boss?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “It’s a touchy issue, mixing work and an office romance.”

  “But you and Kyle managed to pull it off.”

  Cindy chuckled. “It certainly wasn’t easy. Kyle wasn’t always so cooperative.”

  “What happened?”

  “He didn’t realize he was ready to fall in love.”

  “What changed his mind?” Sophia asked.

  “Do you want to know what really worked for me?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “I stopped caring.”

  Sophia frowned. “I don’t understand.”

  “When I turned thirty, I realized that life was passing me by. I was sitting at my desk every day, waiting for Kyle to really notice me as a woman but he never did. Oh sure, he told me I was a great secretary. He complimented my organizational skills, but he never saw me as a desirable woman until I stopped caring what he thought and started living life for myself.”

  “What are you saying?”

  “Stop holding your breath waiting for Michael Barrington to come home and sweep you off your feet.”

  “But Cindy, you don’t understand. I’ve got to have Michael. I can’t stop trying.”

  “Why?”

  “Why what?”

  “Why do you have to have him?”

  “Cindy, Michael is kind and considerate, hardworking and dependable. He’s everything I ever needed in a man, and I care for him deeply.”

  “But if he’s not crazy about you, what’s the point?” her friend asked. It was a good question.

  “Michael might be crazy about me. It’s hard to tell when he’s so far away.”

  “Has he said or done anything that led you to believe your relationship was anything other than professional?”

  “Well,” Sophia considered the question. Michael was friendly and nice but she couldn’t say that he was exactly flirtatious. “He sent me flowers for my birthday.”

  Cindy nodded her approval. “That’s a start. Still, don’t let this stop you from going out and having a good time with other men. After all, he’s in Germany and you’re here. You’re young and beautiful. You should be having the time of your life.”

  Her friend didn’t understand. She didn’t know about Jannette and the fear of physical intimacy she had instilled in Sophia. Because of her mother’s influence, Sophia had difficulty even dating, much less having the “time of her life.”

  “I don’t want to go out with any other men,” Sophia protested. Except Michael!

  “There are billions of men in the world. If Michael isn’t the one for you, another one will come along.”

  But no one else that was so perfect for her. Not a man who could make all her dreams come true. Dreams that roving Mike the mailman could never fulfill. Dreams that included safety and security as well as love and affection.

  “Your attitude is holding you back,” Cindy continued. “As long as I sat around mooning about Kyle, he never worried about me. He knew I would be there. But when I took charge of things and got on with my life, he realized there was a chance some other guy might snatch me up. Let me tell you, Sophia, the man did a complete one-eighty. Try not caring. You’ll be amazed at what happens.”

  Easy for Cindy to say. She and her boss had been together in the same office day in and day out. Kyle had witnessed Cindy’s transformation. But with Michael, Sophia faced a completely different problem. How could they bond without proximity? How could she make Michael jealous when he was thousands of miles away? How would he even know if she was living her own life or waiting pitifully by the phone?

  “I better get back to work,” Sophia said, rising to her feet. “Thanks for the advice.”

  “Anytime, but hey, I also wanted to give you a word of warning.”

  “Oh?”

  “It’s about Mike the mailman.”

  “Mike?”

  “Yes. Nick Delaney saw the two of you riding on Mike’s motorcycle last night.”

  “Don’t jump to conclusions, Cindy. Mike was simply giving me a ride home.”

  “Just be careful. Okay? Even though I’m advising you to stop caring about Michael Barrington, I don’t know if Mike is the right person to stop caring about him with, if you get my drift.”

  Sophia frowned. “Why not?”

  “Mike has got a bit of a reputation.”

  “Reputation?”

  “You know.” Cindy lowered her voice. “Kyle says he’s a real womanizer. I also hear he likes to party a little too hearty.”

  “I don’t think Mike is like that.”

  “I’d hate to see you get hurt, Sophia. Don’t fall for the bad boys. They can’t be changed.”

  “I’m not falling for Mike.” She spoke with more force than she intended, as if trying to convince herself as well as Cindy. “My cap is set for Michael Barrington.”

  “All right, then. Good luck.”

  “Thanks.”

  Great. Cindy hadn’t been much help. On the one hand she advised Sophia not to put her life on hold for Michael Barrington, but on the other she specifically warned her away from Mike the mailman.

  What was a girl to do?

  Sighing, Sophia wandered back to her office thinking she might just give up on men entirely.

  Chapter Five

  “Ready to call it a day?”

  The moment she’d been dreading for hours had arrived. Sophia grasped the edges of her desk so tightly that her knuckles whitened.

  “Hello, Mike,” she greeted him coolly.

  Despite her best efforts to quell her libido, the minute she spotted Mike lounging casually with his shoulder against the wall, one corner of his mouth quirked up in a knowing grin, her heart leapfrogged painfully against her rib cage.

  Don’t look at me like that!

  He appeared so deliciously handsome with a thick lock of hair laying across his forehead, Sophia imagined that Michael Barrington never looked so carefree. Of course not. He was a man with a lot of responsibility. He didn’t have time to waste. He had a multimillion-dollar business to run. Mike the mailman could afford to be desarmingly boyish. He had nothing else going for him beyond his looks and his charm. Sophia would not fall for it. She had told Michael she was loyal to him and she meant it. No matter how tempting Mike the mailman might be, she had to clip this budding relationship before it had a chance to flourish and destroy them both. Especially since she’d finally managed to snare Michael Barrington’s interest.

  “Nice flowers,” Mike commented, sauntering across the room with his easy swagger. Sophia decided that Michael never swaggered. She supposed he strode purposefully into a room, instantly commanding everyone’s attention.

  Mike bent over and smelled the flowers. “Very nice. Where’d they come from?”

/>   “Mr. Barrington sent them to me for my birthday.”

  “That was very nice of Rex,” Mike said.

  “They’re from Michael,” she corrected him.

  “Oh.” Straightening, Mike pressed his lips together in a disapproving line. “Makes my glass kitten look sort of pathetic, doesn’t it?”

  “No, Mike.” Sophia immediately felt contrite for having gloated over the flowers. She adored that little glass kitten and it had been sweet of Mike to give it to her. She just didn’t want to lead him on and let him think they had a chance to be more than friends when they did not. “I love that kitten.”

  He made a face. “It’s okay. You don’t have to lie to spare my feelings.”

  “I’m not lying,” she snapped. What was it about this man? He was either sweeping her off her feet or irritating the hell out of her.

  “Never mind.” He raised his palms. “Are you ready to head for home?”

  “Er...” She’d spent the entire afternoon trying to think of an excuse to get out of giving him a ride home. “I have so much work to catch up on. How about I spring for a taxi?”

  “Don’t worry about it. I can wait. I’ve got nowhere else to be.”

  That, Sophia thought, was the crux of Mike’s problem. He had no plans, no structure, no ambition. But she kept her opinion to herself. Instead she said, “I could be hours.” She didn’t like lying to him, but her survival was at stake.

  “I’ll wait.”

  Great! What now? She had to get rid of him. The last thing she wanted or needed was to be left in the building alone with this man whom she found so devilishly attractive. A man who could ruin her chances with the guy she really wanted.

  “Mike, I’m sure you’d rather go home and have your supper. Really, I don’t mind paying for your taxi. I owe you after you fixed my car.”

  He pushed the flowers aside and nonchalantly hopped up to sit on her desk. “You need to eat, too.” He reached for the phone. “I’ll call for pizza. What kind do you like?”

  Sophia stared. He winked at her.

  “Pepperoni,” she said helplessly.

  “How do you feel about mushrooms?”

  She nodded.

  “Green peppers? Black olives?”