by Joanna Blake
"You can see it from every room."
"What?"
"The water. Come on, I'll give you the tour."
Kat followed Bruce through the house, trying not to seem like a total podunk. She felt outclassed it every way. His taste was impeccable. He described how he'd worked with the architect to design the place, even showing her the hidden pathway to the beach.
A heated saltwater pool and spa were on one end of the expansive deck, with a seating area at the other. Finally he led her to the kitchen, where he started pulling things out from the fridge. He glanced over his shoulder at her and shrugged.
"The least I can do is feed you after making you drive me all the way out here."
"You didn't-"
He just raised his eyebrow at her.
"Okay thanks."
It's just money. He's not better than you. Just richer. And more successful. And incredibly good looking and talented.
Kat forced herself to relax as she perched on one of the stools surrounding the marble island. Bruce worked quickly, chopping fresh herbs and veggies.
"Can I help?"
He shook his head.
"Fish or steak?"
"Fish. Please."
He smiled at her, clearly catching her belated attempt to correct herself. Outclassed again.
Kat felt her stomach doing little flip flops while she watched Bruce deftly prepare two salmon fillets. Bruce Harrison was cooking for her. Her boss was cooking for her.
She was on a date with her boss, billionaire mega super star Bruce Harrison.
How the Hell had this happened?
The room started tilting sideways as she contemplated this new, very strange reality. He'd tricked her somehow. The man was bending over backwards to get her to - what? Date him? It didn't seem like he was just after sex. Then again, who knows? Maybe this was all part of his routine.
Wine and dine them, charm them, take what he wanted and then poof- on to the next.
If there was a way she could gracefully retreat, she would.
"I need to- um- make a call."
He turned to give her an assessing look. As if he knew what she was up to.
"It's in there."
He pointed to a small doorway she hadn't seen. It was behind the kitchen, still hugging the wall of glass. She walked into what appeared to be his office. It was warm and inviting. And bless him, he had a landline.
Kat dialed home and waited for her mother to pick up.
"Kat darling, where are you?"
"I'm in Malibu."
"At his place?"
"Yes, but I'm coming home."
"Okay, are you sure?"
"Yes. I need… a reason…"
Her mother's sigh was audible over the phone.
"Sweetheart are you sure? He seems awfully nice. And awfully determined."
"I'm sure. I need to-"
"Alright, just tell him you need pick up medicine or - supper - for me and Tommy. Tell him your check just cleared."
Kat sighed, feeling a weight lifting off of her.
"Thanks Mom."
"Uh huh. See you soon."
Kat hung up and walked back into the kitchen, feeling oddly guilty. Bruce glanced up at her while he squeezed lemon onto the sizzling fish. They smelled delicious. But it was better to go now, before he could ask her any more questions.
Before she gave him the wrong idea.
Or before she wanted to stay.
"So… I just need to pick up Tommy's meds before the pharmacy closes."
He looked at her, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Now?"
"The pharmacy is closed on Sunday. If I leave now I should just make it. I completely forgot."
"Medicine?"
"Yeah, he's just getting over an infection. But it's hard for my mom to go during the week."
"I see."
He was still watching her, his tanned and muscular arms crossed over his chest. He didn't buy it for a second.
"Anyway, thanks so much. For… everything. I wish I could stay. It smells delicious."
"I understand. You have to take care of your kid."
"Yeah well. I'm not exactly winning any Mother of the year awards."
He finally uncrossed his arms and walked toward her. She backed up until she felt her lower back hit the island. She swallowed nervously as he put one hand on either side of her and leaned in.
"I'm not going to pounce on you Kat."
"You're… not?"
"Uh uh."
He was smiling softly as he brought his face very close to hers. He smelled… really good. Clean and manly and delicious.
Jesus, what was wrong with her? Snap out of it Kat!
"Okay good, because um…"
"You work for me."
"Right."
She was nodding eagerly, thankful that he was helping her explain why this would not work. Why it could not work.
Ever.
At all.
"And you have a kid to support. You need to focus on that."
"Yes. Exactly."
He reached up and tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear, sending shivers through her whole body. Her arms broke out in goose bumps. But in a good way.
"I understand completely. Then again, rules are made to be broken. Aren't they?"
She nodded, not exactly sure what she was agreeing with. Her limbs felt heavy, like she was moving through molasses. Bruce leaned a fraction closer and let his eyes slip to her lips. She could almost feel the weight of his gaze as it traveling across her lips to her ear and then lower...
And then he pushed back and stepped away. She almost hadn't wanted him to. In fact, she felt a strange sense of loss as soon as he was gone.
"So. Disneyland tomorrow? You can't have that much to do before you leave."
"It's really not a good idea. He's just getting over- mono- and his immune system is shaky."
Bruce was staring at her again with sensual intent. The man was practically oozing sex. For a minute she was tempted to just give him what he wanted.
What they both wanted.
She circled around the island and started backing away.
"But thanks again. Seriously. We'll take a - um- a rain check on that."
Bruce followed her all the way to the door. The man moved like a panther! He was stalking her like one. She suddenly had a very clear idea of how those poor gazelles felt in those nature shows about the Serengeti.
"So, um, bye! See you on Monday!"
She practically ran out of the place and leapt into the car. The car he had just given her.
She glanced in the rear view mirror as she pulled down the drive. Bruce was standing in the open doorway, watching her.
It was weird, but for a moment he looked utterly alone, standing in front of his gazillion dollar beach house. She had the strangest feeling that he needed her more than he wanted her. Which after today, was saying a lot.
Because now she knew without a doubt that Bruce Harrison wanted her badly.
And he wasn't going to stop until he won.
8
Bruce pulled into the Hard Rock Hotel. He handed the valet a twenty as he got out and stretched his legs. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Kat's Audi being parked.
He got a warm feeling, just knowing she was here. And that she'd driven the car he'd gotten her. He wondered if she had thought about him at all on the drive to Vegas. She was a stubborn woman, but he knew she liked him.
At least a little bit.
More than a little bit.
Too bad she wouldn't admit it.
The hotel manager came outside to greet him and instruct the bellhop on which room to take his things to.
"Hello, Mr. Harrison. Welcome to the Hard Rock. My name's David. Please do not hesitate to come to me with any request, no matter how trivial."
"Nice to meet you David."
"If you'll follow me sir, you are staying in the Paradise Tower Penthouse. You've been checked in already by your m
anager."
"Great, thanks."
He followed David to a private elevator bank that went directly to the penthouse level. As he walked through the lobby he could feel eyes on him. He'd have to get used to that again. In Los Angeles celebrities were protected somehow. Driving everywhere provided a buffer. Plus in certain neighborhoods, not being famous was more rare than celebrity status.
He wondered how Kat would react to it when they were seen out together. The singers and the band had rehearsal starting in a few hours. He would swing by and watch. Somehow he'd get her to have dinner with him. To discuss their duet- no- he'd tell her it was to welcome the cast to Vegas but then he'd surprise her.
Fish. She liked fish.
That meant one thing in Vegas as far as Bruce was concerned.
Estiatorio Milos.
It was dark in the amphitheater when he snuck into the back to watch. He saw Kat immediately. She was wearing some of the new clothes he'd bought her, stalking gracefully across the stage as they walked through their marks.
Jesus, she was beautiful. And she was just wearing jeans and a dark silk blouse. The shoes were ones he'd imagined her wearing when he picked them out. High booties with a peep toe front. He wondered if she painted her nails.
Maybe she'd let him paint them for her.
He leaned on the bannister and waited for her to be done.
**********
Katrina wasn't nervous at all. She stared at herself in the mirror. She was wearing a matching strapless black lace bra and panties from Cosa Bella. Thigh high stockings completed the look.
Christ, she looked like a high priced call girl!
An extremely high priced call girl.
She slipped her feet into the high black Christian Louboutin heels. They were high but unbelievably comfortable. She knew that the shoes had cost more than her wages for the past two weeks. How much more, she didn't want to know.
The dress she'd picked out for the cast dinner hung on the back of the bathroom door. It was teal silk, with a high halter neckline and a low back. It was sexy but there was nothing she could do about that.
Everything he'd bought her was sexy.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before applying a thin layer of black eyeliner. A dab of blush and dark berry lip stain completed the look. He'd sent a smaller bag with makeup that she'd nearly overlooked. High end stuff, not surprisingly. She didn't like to wear much makeup but the stuff he'd picked out was subtle for the most part. It felt nice to be able to primp a little bit, even if she wasn't the type to load it on.
She stared at herself in the mirror. She hardly recognized herself. Her long dark hair was shiny from the perfumed oil she'd lightly applied. Her skin was dewy and her eyes looked- God! She looked ripe and ready to be taken. By him, if she was honest with herself.
He was grooming her alright. She wasn't sure she liked it. But somehow, it was working. All she could think about was Bruce as she'd gotten dressed in his clothes for the first time this morning, just like she'd thought of him as she drove all the way to Las Vegas early this morning.
Just like she was thinking about him right now.
She took a deep breath and grabbed the small black leather clutch he'd also provided.
It's now or never.
She opened the door and stepped outside.
**********
Bruce stood up as soon as he saw the maitre de leading her through the restaurant. He couldn't tear his eyes off her. Hell, no one in the whole place could. Even the poor maitre de looked like he might trip over his own feet.
She was a Goddess.
He may have miscalculated when he'd bought her so many beautiful clothes. Looking like this, he'd have to compete with half of Las Vegas. Christ, maybe more than half.
Moving with unconscious grace through the restaurant, she looked like an old school movie star. Or a ballet dancer. No, both.
Kat smiled at him tentatively as she approached and he forced his mouth to close. Then she noticed the table for two and her smile abruptly disappeared.
The maitre de pulled out her chair but she didn't sit down. He realized he'd have to think quickly to convince her to stay. That wouldn't be easy, considering that she'd temporarily robbed him of speech.
Snap out of it Bruce!
"You look beautiful."
She narrowed her eyes at him.
"Where is everyone?"
"They couldn't make it."
"None of them?"
He couldn't think of a suitable response so he just grinned at her stupidly.
Good lord the woman was delectable!
"You have two choices. You can make a scene that will end up in all the tabloids by tomorrow, or you can sit down and eat a delicious meal with me."
She just stared at him.
"With your boss."
Her mouth opened slightly in surprise. He hadn't meant to pull the boss card. But it worked. He felt an overwhelming sense of relief as she slid gracefully into her chair.
The maitre de handed her the cocktail menu. She glanced at it.
"No, thank you."
"You really should try one. They are world famous."
"Is that an order Mr. Harrison?"
He struggled to keep his lips from twitching at her nerve.
"No."
That seemed to appease her enough that she glanced at the small menu in her hand.
"Fine. I'll have the Monks In Mexico."
"Very good Miss, thank you."
She leaned back in her seat and lifted her chin challengingly. She was angry, he knew. But he couldn't seem to stop grinning at her.
"You look beautiful."
"You said that already."
He just leaned his chin on his hands and stared at her.
"Are you hungry Kat?"
She glared at him and then sighed, pulling open her menu.
"Yes."
"Get whatever you want."
"I intend to."
He grinned even wider if that was possible. He liked this side of her. She wasn't skittish at all for once. She was almost… domineering. He almost wished she'd punish him for his bad behavior.
Hell, maybe she would. Especially if he plied her with liquor. He didn't exactly believe in getting a woman drunk but with Kat, he needed all the help he could get.
A waiter brought her drink and he watched as she sipped it delicately. He could tell that she liked it. He let his ulterior motives take over and discretely signaled to the waiter to keep them coming.
"What's in it?"
She glared at him and handed him the cocktail menu. So she was going to give him the silent treatment. That was fine. He could talk and she could listen. He was just happy to drink in her delightful, if silent, company.
He glanced at the menu and read "Tequila with elderflower liquor, grapefruit extract and agave nectar. Sounds delicious."
"It is."
She sipped her drink again. Half of it was gone already. Good. She looked over the menu while he looked her over. The waiter brought another drink the instant her glass was empty. Again, Bruce made a circle with his finger.
Kat sipped her drink and then looked up.
"So, what did you decide on?"
"I can't decide between the Milos special or the octopus."
"Get both. We can share. And the entree?"
"Lobster."
"I'll have the same."
He grinned at her, making her toss her head in annoyance. The woman was proud as hell. He didn't mind one bit.
The waiter came back and he ordered for both of them. Then he started his campaign against her. He was going to wear down her defenses, no matter what it took.
**********
Kat walked beside Bruce as they headed back to the hotel. He'd offered to call his limo but she preferred to walk, no matter if someone saw them or not. She didn't want to be in such close quarters with him again.
Dinner had been wonderful. No, more than that. It had been magical.
She'd been starting to fall under his spell by the time they'd finished eating. She'd turned down dessert, claiming to need an early night. Which, she did.
But she hadn't wanted the date to end. And it was a date, no matter if he pretended that it had anything to do with the show.
She'd never been wined and dined this way in her life.
Nobody had ever shown this level of interest in her or her hope and dreams.
Not even close.
God, he'd even asked about Tommy. She hated lying to him but she'd invented a soccer team and a gaggle of best friends he'd left behind back east. The truth was way too depressing. Besides, even tipsy, she knew she had to protect her job.
It was all she had. And a woman with a sick kid wasn't a good bet for business or pleasure.
At the hotel she turned toward the new Hard Rock Tower. He followed her into the lobby, looking somehow displeased.
"You're not in the Paradise Tower?"
"No. The Hard Rock."
He frowned and started to say something as she pressed the elevator button repeatedly. The doors opened and she slid quickly inside.
"Goodnight Mr. Harrison."
She sailed into the elevator without waiting for a response. He gave her a look of sheer determination as the doors slowly closed.
"Call me Bruce."
She didn't move an inch until the doors closed. And then she nearly collapsed.
The effort of holding herself together under his tender onslaught had been significant.
She wasn't sure if she could keep it up for much longer.
And then she'd have a whole new set of problems to contend with.
How to keep her job when he got tired of her for starters.
9
Bruce had started his day with a brisk workout in his hotel room. Jumping jacks, squat thrusts and 200 pushups before doing sprints from one end of the suite to the other. He didn't like gyms to begin with but in a hotel like this, he knew people would stare. Never mind the camera phones. He hated the damn things.
