Her Hero Boss

by Jaymes, Holly

  A few minutes later, we were all seated around the table, eating charred burgers.

  “Where’s the first stop on your dog and pony show?” Mitch asked me. He’d considered taking his company public but, in the end, settled on selling it.

  “New York. I went to the Madison event last night and talked with her a bit.”

  Will whistled, “Starting at the top, huh? Was she interested?”

  “She was interested, alright.” I murmured.

  Gabe snorted.

  Will smirked, “Poor Nate.”

  “What?” my mother asked.

  I shook my head, “Nothing. I gave her the information.”

  “Just the information?” Gabe asked, with a suggestive waggle of his brows.

  “What’s going on?” my mother insisted.

  “I believe that Ms. Madison wanted more than Nate’s info,” Gabe explained.

  My mother’s brows drew together.

  “She was hitting on Nate,” Samantha explained.

  “Oh?” my mother’s frown remained. “Is that how business is done?”

  I nearly choked on my burger, “No, Mom. I didn’t take her up on her offer.”

  “Now there’s a first,” Gabe said.

  “Behave, Gabe,” my mother replied.

  If only they knew the deal I had made.

  “I know it will be a big success. All my boys work hard and reap the rewards. Your father was always so proud of you,” my mother’s eyes watered.

  I reached out and put my hand over hers, giving it a squeeze.

  The dinner went as every Sunday dinner went. We teased and talked and laughed. It was always the highlight of my week. My family was real and authentic, just like Hallie. It was crazy how I was asking her to trade that in for a fake marriage.

  As I drove home, I wondered about the wisdom of this plan, but ultimately, if my reputation was going to hurt me, I needed a drastic measure to help improve it. Hallie and a marriage could do that.

  When I got home, I checked that the guest room was ready for her. It was a shame I couldn’t share my room with her, but I pushed that thought aside. I was already stepping over the line, asking her to pretend to be my wife.

  I sat out on my back porch with another beer as I waited for her. Of all the space in my house, it was the back that was my favorite. The porch was covered, allowing me to use it year-round. It looked over my pool where I swam laps nearly every morning, and a yard filled with plants, bushes, trees, and flowers. It was an oasis in the middle of suburban, crowded, northern Virginia.

  When the knock came on the door, I had a quick flutter of nerves. Hallie and I were about to become more intimately acquainted even though we wouldn’t be getting naked. She and I were always friendly, but the separation of boss and assistant was always there. Now that she was going to pretend to be my wife, we’d have to act differently. But even in my home, I couldn’t expect her to be my assistant. I suspected it would be more difficult for her to treat me like a regular person, that it would be for me. But still, I didn’t want to get too familiar either. We might be having a pretend marriage, but I was still her boss. I blew out a breath as I headed to the door, knowing that this situation had the potential to end colossally bad.

  “Hallie, hi,” I said when I opened the door. She stood on my front porch with one large suitcase and smaller duffle bag. She wore khaki shorts and a white t-shirt, and her hair was up in a messy bun. It was a stark contrast to her normal work attire and last night’s formal wear, and yet I found myself equally as captivated. “Do you need help with your things?”

  “This is it,” she said, holding her bags out.

  I reached for them to carry in for her, “That’s it?” In my experience, women needed several bags, even for just an overnight trip. This fake marriage would be for several weeks if not months and all she had was in two bags?

  “House burned down, remember. That’s about all I have.”

  Jesus. I couldn’t imagine losing everything and having to start over, “Let me show you to your room.”

  My 1920’s cottage-style home looked small from the outside, but in fact, it was over six-thousand square feet, with five bedrooms. It was more than I needed, but it was a fantastic investment opportunity that Gabe was able to help me renovate. The home sat off the road, making it feel secluded and out of the city.

  I showed Hallie to her bedroom, and let her get settled, telling her I’d wait for her on the back porch.

  She was tentative as she came out a few minutes later, “Your home is lovely, Mr.—Nate.”

  “Thank you,” I motioned for her to sit in a chair. “I brought out some wine. Would you like a glass?”

  She nodded and sat in the chair across from me.

  “The room is okay?” I asked as I poured her a glass of wine. I poured only half a glass and found myself again second-guessing myself. Should I not be so stingy and pour her more? If I did, would she think I was trying to get her drunk? This was a clusterfuck in my head.

  “Yes,” she took the wine and sipped, giving me a tentative smile. She looked like I felt - unsettled.

  “You’re nervous.”

  She gave a small laugh, “Yes, a little.”

  “I won’t try anything, Hallie, I promise.”

  “I’m not worried about that. I’m just…what if people don’t buy that we’re married?”

  I wondered if people would buy it too, but not for the reasons she’d indicated before. No one would doubt my attraction to her. But I was a man committed to bachelorhood, and who never, ever, not even once, had mixed pleasure and work.

  “We’ll just have to convince them otherwise,” I reached into my pocket. “Here’s one thing that will help.” I handed her a diamond ring and matching band that I’d picked up at a jewelry store earlier in the day. Her eyes widened in what appeared to be shock. “You need an engagement ring and wedding band, at least when we’re appearing to be married. Try it on.”

  She slipped the rings on, looking a bit stunned. I held another ring up, “This one is mine.” I’d tried it on at the jewelers, and it was so startling and horrifying, I’d immediately taken it off. I hoped that by tomorrow, I’d be able to wear it without feeling totally discombobulated.

  “They’re beautiful!” She took the rings off and set them on the table. “You’ve thought that part through.”

  “I did,” I murmured, watching her.

  There was something in her tone that still sounded uncertain. She looked out over the pool, but I was sure she wasn’t seeing it.

  “What is bothering you, specifically?” I asked.

  “People at work are going to ask me questions about how we got together, how you proposed, and so on.”

  I didn’t think it was anyone business, but I supposed she was right. We needed to get our stories straight. Everyone would need to be in the dark about this arrangement, except my lawyer, Dave. He was savvy enough that he’d figure it out anyway since he was the one that came up with the idea, sort of. But everyone else around us at work would need to believe we were married.

  “We got together over the course of working together, I proposed at the diner last night, and we flew to Vegas.”

  She still didn’t look convinced, “What about our families? Would we really elope?”

  She was right again.

  “Okay, new story. We could say we had a small ceremony a week ago or so.”

  She shrugged like she wasn’t sure that would work.

  “The truth is, you’re more likely to be asked questions, so why don’t you come up with what you’re most comfortable with?” I suggested.

  I didn’t like how uncomfortable she seemed, and yet, I understood it. I’d put her in a crazy position.

  “Okay. Then I can let you know, so you don’t contradict me.”

  “See? It will all work out,” I wanted to reassure her and take her mind off all of this nerve-wracking minutia. “How about a swim?”

  She gave me a wan smile, “
I didn’t bring a swimsuit.”

  “You’ve got underwear, right? It’s about the same.”

  She snorted, “Not quite.”

  “Come on,” I stood and started toward the pool, taking off my shirt. I figured I could swim in my boxer briefs. I took my pants off and then dove into the pool. The water was cool on my skin. When I came up, I flipped to my back, looking up at the stars as I floated. After a few moments, I opened my eyes, wondering if she was going to join me or sue me for harassment.

  She was sitting on the pool steps deep enough that that water came up to her chest. The moon cast an ethereal glow over her pale shoulders. She looked like a mermaid or a water goddess.

  I swam over to her, “Tell me what I can do to make this easier for you?”

  She ran her hand through the water, “I just need time to adjust.”

  “Come swim,” I reached out my hand for her. Tentatively she took it, and I pulled her out to the middle of the pool. “Lay back and look up at the stars.”

  She inhaled a breath and then did as I said, floating on her back and looking up. It was then I realized that perhaps this wasn’t the best idea. Her pretty lacy bra held magnificent tits. The cool air on the wet fabric made her nipples distend, and my mouth watered to suck those beauties into my mouth. I stifled a groan as my dick responded.

  Thankfully, she seemed oblivious, “The ladies at work will ask me about your prowess.”

  It took a minute for her question to sift through the fog of desire in my brain, and I realized that maybe she did notice my reaction to her. Then I wanted to tell her I’d be happy to give her personal experience of my abilities in bed, but fortunately, I had enough self-control to hold that back. “What will you tell them?”

  “It’s none of their business.”

  “Do you all really talk about my sex life?” Christ, my reputation was worse than I thought.

  “You’re a handsome, fit man. Women like that.”

  “Do you like that?” I really was a glutton for punishment.

  Her head lifted to look at me, causing her body to sink back into the water, “Are you asking me if I like what I see?”

  I knew I was a good-looking guy. The only possible turn off for women would be my tats. I wondered what Hallie thought of them, “I guess I am.”

  She gave me a smirk, “Of all the things I’m going to have to fake, thinking you’re attractive isn’t one of them.”

  I grinned like a loon, which was embarrassing, but what the hell, “Good to know.”

  She swam toward the stairs, murmuring something that sounded like, unlike you, “I think I’ll turn in.”

  “Wait a sec, let me get you a towel,” I hopped out at the nearest edge of the pool and went to the little pool house. I grabbed two fluffy towels, wrapping one around my waist and then bringing her the other.

  She waited in the pool for a moment, and I got the feeling she didn’t want me to see her.

  “I’ll grab our drinks and take them inside.”

  I turned away but watched her reflection in the large windows of my house as she emerged from the pool. My dick started to swell again at the sight of her luscious curves in her pretty lace panties and bra.

  Her words came back to me, unlike you. Did she think pretending to be attracted to her would be a hardship? Even after I’d already proven to her, that was totally wrong?

  I turned back to her after her towel was wrapped around her, “Hallie?”

  She met my gaze as she made her way back to the porch.

  “I won’t have to fake that part either.”

  The Road Show

  Chapter Six: The Road Show

  Hallie

  “I won’t have to fake that part either.”

  I was pretty sure he was just being nice when he said that, but I appreciated the effort. Sure, he showed me he could get it up, but my understanding was that it didn’t take much for a man to get an erection.

  Me, on the other hand - I had no intention of getting in the pool with him, until he took his shirt off and then his pants. I’d known by the way his suits hugged his body that he was a fit man, but to see the carve of the muscles in his back, decorated with intricate tattoo designs made my mouth water and my body go really hot. Too hot. I needed to get into the pool to cool down.

  What I didn’t want was for him to see was me. Where he was hard sexy muscle, I was soft and round. No, he didn’t think I was attractive in the same way I thought he was.

  That night in bed, I struggled to sleep, worried about how all this was going to play out the next day. How was I going to convince my coworkers I was really married to this guy? How was he going to convince them?

  The next morning, looking bleary-eyed from a restless night, I slipped the gorgeous rings on and rode with him to work.

  When he parked, he looked at me, “Ready?”

  I nodded, even though I wasn’t ready. Not at all.

  “Any details I should know before we do this?”

  My mind was blank.

  “Hallie,” his dark eyes were sympathetic. “Do you want to call this off? It’s okay if you do.”

  I was shaking my head before I had a chance to process what he was saying. But once I did, I rallied. I was going to get my house built to suit my ailing parents. All I had to do was act like I was in love with my boss, which I sort of was. I was in lust at least, “No. I’m okay.”

  He stared at me a little more. I smiled so he’d know I was okay and ready to play his wife, even though I had no clue how I was going to pull this off.

  We exited the car, and as we walked to the building entrance, he took my hand. I looked down at our entwined fingers, thinking how surreal this was.

  “Married people hold hands,” he said, matter of factly. His hand was large and warm, and in a weird way, comforting.

  Once at his office, he asked Clair to call a meeting of all the executives and managers. This was it. He was going to tell them we were married. I got a C in junior high drama. Now I was in the play of my life. Would I be convincing?

  At first, he stood next to me in the conference room as the highest-level members of his business filed in. When they were settled, he cleared his throat.

  “I have some news that involves myself and Ms. Thorne--Hallie,” he looked at me and smiled, putting his arm around my waist. “As you know she’s an invaluable member of the Sloane Labs team. What you don’t know is that despite my rules and my best attempts to avoid it, I fell in love with her.”

  All eyes around the table widened in surprise.

  “I wanted to keep this between us, but well, when I realized I couldn’t live without her, I knew I needed to let you know. Hallie and I were married recently.”

  The wide eyes reminded, followed by gaping mouths.

  “Work-wise nothing changes. But we’re a team, and I felt like you needed to know. Are there any questions.”

  I could tell from Clair’s expression that she had a million questions, but she shook her head, even as her surprise turned into a frown toward me. I was sure she was wondering why I never said anything.

  “Congratulations, sir, and Ms. Thorne...or I guess it’s Mr. and Mrs. Sloane,” one of the managers finally said. That was followed by other congratulations.

  “Now, as far as the IPO, we’re moving forward. Hallie will be with me on the dog and pony shows. The rest of you keep doing the fabulous job you’re doing. We’re going to change the world with our work.”

  I looked at Nate feeling inspired by his words. One of the many things I loved about working for him was his use of “we” when it came to his company’s work. He recognized that it took many people to achieve goals, and he made sure we all felt a part of the grand mission to improve the lives of sick people.

  “Do you have anything you want to add, sweetheart?”

  Sweetheart? I shook my head.

  He turned back at his audience and grinned, “I’m a lucky man.”

  Nate pulled me tighter to him and looked at
me with his wonderful dark eyes, and for a minute, I believed him too. He smiled and kissed me on the cheek. It’s for show, I reminded myself, as his warm lips on my skin made my blood heat up.

  After he dismissed everyone, I went with him to his office, and after a quick, “Do you think that went alright?” he was back in work mode, planning our trip to New York on the first stop of the dog and pony show. It took me a moment to switch gears, and it made me think that I might have to be careful with my heart around him. He was the type of man that would be easy to fall for. I’d need to keep that in mind - this was all pretend, after all.

  After he was finished with me, I returned to my office. It only took a minute before Clair and Jolene to enter.

  “You’ve been holding out on us, girl,” Jolene said.

  I swallowed hard, “Sorry.” I smiled, hoping I looked a little bit like the cat that ate the canary.

  “I can’t believe it,” Clair plopped herself down in one of the chairs in front of my desk.

  Uh-oh.

  “All this time the two of you were…” she made a gesture mimicking sex, “and I had no clue.”

  “It’s not very nice to leave your friends out of such important business,” Jolene added. “Were you just having sex in his office?”

  I gaped, “No!” Then I remembered we were newlyweds, “Not this morning, anyway.”

  “Oh my God,” Clair fanned her face. “How many times have I sat outside his office with you in there getting your groove on?”

  Holy smokes. I went with a coy smiled in lieu of an answer as I sat behind my desk.

  “So…” Jolene prompted. “Give us the deets. When did you get together? How’s the sex? Is he huge? I bet he’s huge and really good in the sack.”

  “It just sort of happened,” I was going to fail this.

  “All those late nights you two worked,” Clair shook her head. “I always wondered about that.”

  She did?

  “Ooh, look at that ring,” Jolene came over to me, grabbed my hand, and looked at the diamond and platinum engagement and wedding ring set. “He does love you, girl.”

  Maybe this wasn’t going to be so hard after all.