Hard & Hungry Boss Box Set

by Luke Steel

  Free to watch with her, I’m grateful to have a little distraction. I’ve done nothing but think about Dominic for the last eighteen hours. It’s so bad, I even think I see him in the crowd, following behind the blonde bombshell starlet.

  “Lucy,” Jeanie elbows me. “Isn’t that him?” She points and I know she’s right. The tall man striding close behind Shawna is indeed Dominic Breson. As I watch, the starlet leans in and whispers something into his ear, then presses a hand to his chest as she throws her head back in throaty laughter.

  Seeing Dominic here, and so obviously with the actress, is like a punch in the gut. I must be the stupidest woman on the planet to even imagine that a little make-out session on his desk would mean anything to a guy like him. He didn’t even call me this morning, and I’ve been mooning over him all day. I feel so dumb.

  I spin back to face the bar so fast the stool almost tips. I clutch the edge of it just as the bartender arrives with my now long-forgotten drink.

  “Perfect timing,” I say, grabbing for it and throwing the whole thing back.

  The bartender smiles and says, “Hey, hey, easy there! I’d have brought shots if I’d know you wanted them.”

  I place the cosmo glass back on the bar and steady myself. I try to smile, though my chest is burning. “You know, just one of those weeks.” I look around to try to spot Jeanie, but she’s somehow disappeared into the crowd of people surging to orbit Shawna Davis’s entourage.

  Rather than move away, the bartender folds his arms on the bar in a classic move. “No, I don’t know. But it can’t be that bad.”

  “You sure about that?”

  “You didn’t start with tequila, so I’d say there’s still hope.” He winks at me for the second time tonight. I try to smile back. Jeanie was right: this guy is definitely looking at me like he has more than a tip in mind. If I didn’t feel so crushed, I might even enjoy the attention.

  “Hope for what, Lucy?”

  That’s not Jeanie. He snuck up on me like an apparition. I steel myself and turn to face Dominic.

  “Nothing. Not a thing. Hi. Sir.” I say it like I was trained to say it. Head high, shoulders back, I will not back down from this man. “Fancy seeing you here.”

  Jesus, he’s so good looking it hurts. He’s skipped the tie tonight, but he’s still dressed to kill in suit pants and a jacket that would make James Bond proud. Brioni, of course. I know because it’s part of my job to fetch and carry his dry cleaning.

  The thought makes me furious. Of course. He’s my boss. He’s free to treat the secretary like a convenience or inconvenience as it suits him. What, did I think a quickie on a desk was going to mean something to an asshole like him?

  “What can I get ya?” the bartender asks. His tone is courteous, but he’s staring Dominic down with a warning I-saw-her-first look on his face. I see Dominic’s jaw tighten and feel vindicated. Sure Dominic showed up tonight with a Hollywood starlet, but this poor little secretary can get some attention of her own.

  Dominic smiles at the guy like a shark. All teeth. “I’m all set. But I’ll be taking care of her bill tonight. Put her tab on my table in the back. Would you like him to bring you another drink, Lucy?”

  Both of them look at me for an answer. It’s absurd, but I feel as though I’ve been asked to choose between them.

  After a beat, I look at Dominic and shake my head no.

  Dominic turns to the bartender and, am I imagining it, or does he step closer to me, wedging himself imperceptibly between me and the bar?

  “I guess she doesn’t need anything else. We’re good.”

  “Sure thing, Mr. Breson.” Reluctantly, my white knight bartender disappears to attend to other customers down the bar.

  “That was brave of him,” Dominic says.

  “Why? Just because he knows who you are? Not everyone works for you.”

  Dominic smiles. “He does. I own half this restaurant.”

  I can feel the blood rushing to my cheeks. Of course he does.

  His smile fades. “You work for me, too.”

  “Not last night, I didn’t.” Call it liquid courage, but I throw down that little gauntlet completely without thinking. Dominic’s eyes get dark and he turns his shark smile on me.

  “You’re right. Memory serves, I was doing most of the work, though not that you didn’t try.” He smirks, and I want to slap him and bite him at the same time. “Maybe next time we’ll get you back on the job, whaddya say?”

  Dominic is still standing close as he talks down to me, and I feel his hand caress my left hip in the lightest of touches. Everything about him is powerful and intoxicating. The last time I was standing this near him, my panties were on the floor. But I also feel raw, and hyper aware that another woman is waiting for him just feet away.

  I pull back, pretending nonchalance. “You know, on second thought, where is that bartender? I could go for another drink after all. And you probably need to get back to your date.”

  For the first time, Dominic seems nonplussed. “My date? Who’s my date?”

  I jerk my chin to the back of the room. “Shawna Davis. The actress. I saw you walk in together. Everyone saw you walk in together.”

  “Lucy, I’m here with her, yes, but I’m not with her.” No more games, Dominic’s tone is serious. “You may have noticed, but we came in as a small group tonight. My business partner, Shel Velluto, is paying Shawna Davis to be seen here. I’m shepherding that investment, and I also actually like having dinner here.”

  I listen, but I’m afraid to believe him. “Well, far be it for me to keep you away from your investment. I know what a busy guy you are. I put together your agenda every day.”

  “Lucy, are you upset about what happened yesterday?”

  “Why would I be upset, Dominic? I just had sex with my boss on his desk last night. Which, I might add, didn’t even merit a phone call from you the next day. And then you show up on my night off with another woman on your arm. None of those things would merit upset on my part, certainly…”

  I stop talking because I realize I sound like a total basket case. I’m afraid to even look at Dominic after that tirade.

  The music is pulsing around us now. I feel his hands on my shoulders, and then he nudges my face up to look at him.

  “Done?” he asks.

  Eye-to-eye, I can’t bring myself to say anything else. I feel completely exposed.

  He takes my right hand and brings it up to his lips. It’s a tender gesture that melts my insides completely.

  “I’m sorry.” He says the words against the skin on the back of my hand, and then kisses it. “I want you to know I thought about calling. But, as you just said, I’m your boss and it’s your day off. And the truth is, I didn’t know what to say. I wasn’t expecting what happened.”

  And then he kisses me, right there at the bar, for everyone to see. It’s a sweet kiss, all lips and nibbling teeth. I can feel my body turning to liquid everywhere he’s touching me, but the kiss stays soft and feather light.

  When we pull back, the music and the crowd rush in around us, filling the space.

  “I need to get back to the table. Can we sort this out Monday?”

  Right now I feel grateful for the distance and a little more time to process. This is literally only the second time I’ve seen this sweet, soft side of Dominic. I would never have guessed the cold S.O.B. who made my life hell for a month had this kind of warmth in him. I don’t know what to do.

  I just nod and turn back to the bar. When I look up, he’s gone, as though I dreamt him.

  “Oh my freaking god!” I jump at the sound of Jeannie’s voice next to me. She takes her bar stool back and gawks at me. “I came back and saw you two talking so I stood over to the side. That was the hottest thing I’ve ever seen! Come on, you have to tell me: does he kiss as well as he looks like he kisses?”

  I take the half-empty martini glass out of her hand, and down the rest of her drink in one, and then say the only thing I can thi
nk to answer.

  “Better.”

  5

  Dominic

  Roberta is giving me a hard time. It seems to be a favorite pastime for the women in my life.

  “You ‘think’ she’s an eight? You think. How do you expect me to find a dress for her if you can’t even tell me what size she is, Dominic?”

  “Work your magic. I emailed you a photo.”

  “You did, but it would be helpful to have something that shows all of her. And not just yanked from social media.”

  “Roberta…” I’m using my President of Breson Company voice on her now.

  She knows me well enough to stop teasing and get to it.

  “I’ll take care of it, Dominic. I have a gorgeous red satin A-line that will look stunning with her coloring.”

  Hmm. “She’s not a frilly kind of girl. Something sexy, form-fitting. I want to see her—“

  “That’s fine,” she says, cutting me off. “I know what men like to see. It’s a date, then?”

  A date. I’m taking Lucy out on a date. I try the thought on for size. I’m determined not to make the mistake I made before. I want to see what it’s like to have dinner with her. To be a real person with her, not her boss, not a dick. Everything has been backward so far, I think maybe surprising her with dinner plans tonight might make up for not calling after our last…run-in. She’s not expecting this and won’t have clothes at the office, so I’ve arranged for a dress to be delivered to her here.

  Roberta has been a personal shopper for my family account for years. I realize only too late, though, that asking her to help me plan a date is like walking up to the pastor’s wife at the checkout counter and buying condoms. Awkward in the extreme.

  “Thank you for your help, Roberta. Can you please make sure all the extras are sent over, too? Shoes, bag, whatever?”

  “Not to worry, I’ll take care of it. Do we have an address?”

  “Send to the office, would you? Delivery to the attention Lucy Warner.”

  “It will arrive this afternoon.” I can hear her tapping out the order when she asks, “And how is Mrs. Talbot? Have you heard from her since she left? I can just imagine what she would think of your new assistant leaving you to make these arrangements on your own.”

  After the call I dive into a pile of reports and briefs which, before I realize it, takes up a good chunk of the day. The Foster deal sucked up more than a fair share of oxygen the last few months and it feels good to jump back into the prospective side of the work at Breson Company. We have even more new prospects on the horizon now, especially with the success of the last deal on everyone’s mind.

  It’s four-thirty in the afternoon before I even look up from my desk, and even then only because Lucy has come into my office. I deliberately shut my door today—looking at her, knowing she’s steps away from where I’m sitting—is just too much of a distraction. Lucy doesn’t knock when she walks in, however. She stands in front of my desk at stiff attention. Dangling from her left hand is a white and gold Nordstrom bag. I see my delivery arrived.

  “Yes?” I ask innocently, ready to spring my plan for a “working dinner” on her.

  I don’t expect what she says next.

  “I’m not feeling well. I think I’m going to head home a bit early. Sir.” Her face is a stony mask when she speaks.

  “Wait, what? You’re sick?” I stand up, concerned, the reports on my tablet completely forgotten.

  She shakes her head, but she looks pale. “Just not feeling well. I think I should go.”

  Two pink dots are coloring her cheeks. Something’s wrong. She avoids eye contact, her eyes fixed as though on a point above my head. Her body is drawn and tight.

  Aside from my disappointment that my dinner surprise is ruined, something feels off. Lucy has the same look on her face that she had Saturday, when she thought I was with Shawna.

  “Oh, and before I forget, your package arrived. A dress.” She holds up the bag. I don’t think I’m mistaken that there’s barely contained anger in her voice. “It’s lovely. Shall I go ahead and forward it to Miss Davis’s hotel? Or maybe you plan to bring it to her yourself tonight?”

  Aaand now I see what the problem is.

  I round the corner of my desk and walk over to my office door, closing it shut to keep from being overheard. Lucy stays where she is, still staring straight ahead. I move in front of her and lean back against my desk, crossing my ankles where I stand.

  “I know what you’re thinking,” I say quietly.

  “Really, Dominic, please. Do tell me what I’m thinking.” Her eyes flick to mine now, and I can confirm that she’s royally pissed.

  “So this is you jealous? Noted.”

  “Jealous?” she snaps, her eyes crackling blue fire. “Try insulted. In the extreme. Obviously you have plans with someone this evening. You made the arrangements yourself, to keep me from seeing it, but they sent the dress here. Sorry they messed up your terribly laid plans.”

  It shouldn’t, but seeing her fiery like this is turning me on. And I like her a little jealous.

  “Lucy,” I begin, but she averts her eyes again. “Lucy, look at me. Please.”

  When she does I see hurt mixed in with the anger now.

  “Do you really like the dress?”

  If looks could kill, I think I’d be dead. Before she snaps and kills me for real, I say quickly, “I’m only asking because it’s for you.”

  She jolts.

  “I was going to tell you we’d be working through dinner, and then surprise you with the dress. It was, as you said, a terribly laid plan.”

  Lucy eyes me suspiciously and then looks down at the bag.

  I cross my arms. “I made reservations at Le Cirque at seven tonight. For us. If you’re not feeling up to it, I understand.” The words feel strange. I’m not used to being unsure asking a beautiful woman to dinner. But I suppose everything with Lucy has been a bit backward since we met.

  “This is for me?” Her voice wavers. An improvement, I think, though I suppose I should just be relieved she doesn’t sound angry anymore.

  Our eyes meet and hold, even as she lifts the bag onto my desk and takes the garment boxes out. I have to hand it to Roberta: she’s a pro. Wrapped in tissue, I can see the color of the dress is a shiny sapphire blue, with a deep V at the front, but not much else. Also in the bag, a box with a strappy set of Louboutin heels.

  Lucy lightly touches the fabric, but then pulls back as though unsure. “I’m flattered. And embarrassed. I didn’t think this was for us.”

  “No, I understand. This is strange territory for me, too. I’ve usually taken a woman to dinner first before we get this far.” I make a pointed look at my desk. Lucy blushes, and I feel a skip in my chest.

  Her eyes are shiny as she closes the lid of the box and slips it reverently back into the gift bag. And then she bites her lip.

  Before I can even think about it, I move in close and kiss her. No hands, no other parts touching, just my mouth on hers. When her lips part to accept, I tease her lip with my tongue and then bite her gently, too.

  Pulling back, I stay close enough so that I can feel the heat coming off of her, I’m fighting to keep my hands off her. To keep from pulling her tight against me then tossing her back up on the desk and burying my mouth against the soft, sweet part of her. Instead, I focus on the tiny hitch of her breath as I speak low and soft against her mouth.

  “Wear this dress for me. Come to dinner.”

  I kiss her again and feel her sway a little, her lips following as I pull back one more time.

  “Say yes, Lucy. Say it.”

  This close to her, I feel rather than see the slow smile on her lips. And then I hear the word I’m waiting for.

  “Yes.”

  6

  Dominic

  The chef at Le Cirque is a personal friend. I asked her to plan a six course tasting menu with wine pairings so I could spend the evening focused on Lucy.

  I sit back and watch a
s Lucy studies the engraved card detailing the evening’s menu. It’s really just an excuse to look at her. And I’m not the only one. We’re tucked into a private circular booth at the back of the five-star landmark, but the woman sitting across from me has had the eyes and attention of every red-blooded man in the restaurant since the moment we walked in.

  That dress. It’s a draped stunner, with a low-cut V to make my eyes and mouth water, and a thigh-high slit cut into the long dress that shows off leg for days. I make a mental note to send Roberta flowers tomorrow morning. The woman knows her business.

  After Lucy accepted my invitation, I had my driver run her home in the limousine to change. The driver whisked her back, but the vision in sapphire waiting for me when I climbed into the car was something straight out of my dreams. There hasn’t been a part of this woman I haven’t wanted to put my mouth on since I met her, and every inch is draped or sheathed in skin-hugging fabric I’m anxious to peel straight off. With my teeth. To top it off, she piled her hair high again, a formal variation of the way I saw it the day we first tangled up. The style exposes her neck and the swell of her chest in a way that makes me force myself to look away. The sexy smile she gave me when I settled next to her almost sent me to my knees.

  We didn’t speak on the way to the restaurant. The silence didn’t feel awkward at all. The way she looks tonight had me momentarily speechless anyway. But on the ride over, though I don’t remember how it happened, my arm found its way around her. Lucy snuggled into me with zero hesitation. We’d ridden before in this very car to various appointments or trips to the airport, and never once touched. Everything already felt different and new.

  Lucy sets the card on the edge of the table, and looks at me skeptically. “Six courses? You’ll have to roll me out of here.”

  “Don’t worry, they’re tastings. But prepare yourself for something special. Helene doesn’t do this for everyone.”