Hired for the Boss s Bed

by Robyn Grady

  Serena whirled on him, suddenly alarmed. ‘I forgot! I have to check the sound system. The technician was concerned the cables might not—’

  ‘Taken care of.’ David steered her towards a waiter’s tray and selected two flutes of champagne. ‘Relax while you can.’

  In a minute they’d both have to take care of business, but he wanted just a little time to reflect on their soul-lifting afternoon, possibly swap a couple of soap stories. Maybe talk a little about the immediate future.

  A woman with a martini, dirty blonde hair and a black trouser suit butted in. ‘Hey, Serena! This is fa-a-an-tastic. You’ve got the whole damn town here.’

  Serena beamed and hugged her. ‘It is kind of special, huh?’

  ‘David Miles.’ He offered his hand, which the woman shook quite vigorously. ‘And you are…?’

  ‘Linda Marley.’

  Serena explained. ‘Linda was the lady who had the auction idea, remember?’

  ‘Oh, right. Should go really well.’ David cupped Serena’s elbow. ‘Unfortunately, Linda, Serena and I have some last-minute details to attend to, but I’m sure she’ll be available to talk with you later.’

  Serena turned to him. ‘David, would you excuse us for a moment? I’d like to go over the details for the auction one last time.’

  This Linda woman didn’t hesitate. She didn’t look back either. ‘Lead the way. Serena, you look fabulous…’

  David clenched his jaw and let his disappointment fade before he headed into the crowd.

  Should he expect anything less? Serena was the one who’d put all this together. Was the one to ask questions of, to share a drink with, to applaud. Tonight she was running the show and she needed room to do it.

  He waved down a friend who worked in radio and crossed to join him, but even as they chatted about old times he still thought of Serena.

  She was coming up in the world. He needed to give her enough line or she wouldn’t continue to rise. If Serena grew too fast, got over-confident and started making doubtful decisions, then would be the time to haul her back. But that was unlikely. She listened to him, respected his decisions. That wouldn’t change.

  He mingled with acquaintances and chatted with a few close friends. In good spirits, one hour and twenty conversations later, David caught sight of Serena again. She was talking—laughing—with someone…he couldn’t quite see who.

  Her companion stood out of sight behind a pillar. That was fine. Serena was the person he wanted to admire. Something about her was so special. She aroused him, beyond what any human being should have to endure.

  He didn’t plan on suffering. They’d work something out, because this awareness went past anything he’d known before. She made him feel as he hadn’t done in years. Back before Olivia or his father’s illness to when he was young and believed one day he’d fly jets.

  Serena moved away from the pillar. Her companion joined her. The glass almost shattered in David’s hand, he squeezed it so tight.

  Jonathon Sturts, and he was dropping a kiss on Serena’s hand.

  After a final word, Jonathon sauntered away. A coal burned a hole in his gut as David accepted Jonathon’s handshake a moment later.

  ‘Davey, old son. I’ve been speaking with your beautiful hostess.’

  He gave a thin smile. ‘So I see.’

  ‘She certainly is a gem.’ Jonathon sipped what smelled like straight bourbon. ‘Is it true she put this together while organizing all the other aspects of the Hits campaign?’

  David’s mask eased. ‘She’s a talented lady.’

  Jonathon regarded Serena again, this time with increased interest. ‘And quite young.’

  ‘She’s twenty-four.’ Almost twenty-five.

  Jonathon pitched David a meaningful look. ‘Experienced?’

  David frowned. ‘What do you mean by that?’

  A curious light shone from behind those feline eyes. ‘You don’t have your finger in her pie, do you, Davey?’

  Although his pulse rate doubled, David didn’t blink. ‘That is none of your business.’

  The ice in Jonathon’s bourbon clinked as he swirled the glass and grinned. ‘I’d keep a close eye on her. You know better than most, pretty birds sometimes fly away.’

  He would have knocked Sturts out for that comment if they’d been anywhere else. Instead he let the lesser man melt back into crowd.

  He wouldn’t make any apologies for feeling protective of Serena, and he hadn’t been concerned that he could do it. But Sturts was making inquiries about Serena’s professional skills now and that worried him.

  Sturts owned companies overseas and it wouldn’t be beneath him to poach her.

  He found Serena locked in conversation with Rachel Bragg. Rachel, taller of the two, stooped over Serena with her usual pretentious air. What concerned David was the way a spindly digit struck out every few moments to stab a hole through Serena’s violated personal space. Serena held her ground, neither nodding nor backing away. But David knew body language. Serena was being railroaded by the Queen of Quibble, a situation that needed fixing.

  Now.

  David cleaved a path through the crowd, which had reached capacity levels. He pulled up inches from Rachel and her talons. Mid-sentence, she stopped. Serena’s surprised gaze snapped over too.

  ‘Is there a problem?’ he asked.

  ‘David, this is between Serena and me.’ Rachel’s dismissive expression said butt out.

  ‘Is this pow-wow work-related?’

  Rachel scoffed. ‘Of course. Serena and I don’t see each other privately.’

  ‘Then, I assure you—’ David stepped closer ‘—this concerns me.’

  Serena squared her shoulders. ‘David, I can handle this. Rachel and I should go to another room and talk about it away from the guests.’

  Rachel ignored that suggestion and pierced David with a look. ‘Serena has been neglecting her other tasks at the agency. I’m simply letting her know that while it’s all very well to laud it up over this feather in her cap, she’s still a junior and has other duties to perform.’

  David’s blood simmered. ‘Such as?’

  Serena spoke up. ‘Really? Can’t this wait?’

  Rachel’s bark drowned her out. ‘Like help me! Since she’s been involved in this campaign, I haven’t been able to leave the office before six. I’ve had to answer my own phone, look after my own correspondence. As for the mail—’ She gave a put-upon sigh, and her eyes shot to the ceiling.

  David studied Serena’s pale face and his ears began to steam. He eyeballed Rachel again. ‘This has gone on for weeks and you’ve said nothing to Serena?’

  ‘Of course I’ve spoken to her,’ she said. ‘Several times without result. The other day I’d asked Reception to have my calls redirected. When I came back from lunch, she was out of the office—again—and my phone was going berserk. I decided now was the time to be direct.’

  ‘At this launch, here, tonight?’ He shot a glance around the packed room. ‘In my house with hundreds of guests?’

  Rachel blinked, then gave an awkward shrug. ‘Perhaps now is a less than appropriate time.’ She couldn’t keep it at that. ‘But it had to be said.’

  David turned to Serena. ‘Is this true? You haven’t kept up with your other duties?’

  ‘Between Jezz and appointments and shoots…’ Serena’s excuse trailed off.

  David redirected his attention to Rachel. ‘We’ve known each other quite a while.’ Rachel conceded the point. ‘In all that time, though I’ve wanted to, I’ve never let you know exactly how I’ve felt.’ Rachel features sharpened. ‘Let me start with pretentious, calculating and self-serving. Add annoying, and that pretty well sums up my opinion of you.’

  Rachel’s dark eyes flashed. ‘How dare you talk to me that way? I take very good care of some of your most valued clients.’

  ‘And one other thing. You’re fired.’

  Rachel shook with anger. ‘You can’t do that!’

  ‘Ju
st did. I’ll have your belongings forwarded on to your personal address. Any queries, speak to my lawyers.’ He’d let them sort it out. Whatever it cost, this was worth it.

  David folded Serena’s arm in his and led her away. When Rachel was out of sight, he pulled up, looked into Serena’s startled eyes and smiled. Then he chuckled.

  A heartbeat later, Serena covered her grin with a hand. ‘Oh, my.’

  David sucked back air and nodded. His feelings for Serena had played a role, but his decision just now was completely justified. ‘That woman’s had it coming. But you should have told me. I could have done something sooner.’

  ‘I was worried it would cause a problem, and it has. What about her clients?’

  ‘If they decide to follow her, it’ll hurt, but we’ll survive. But let’s forget about that.’ He glanced around, then shuffled Serena back into a dark crook. He kissed her till his ears rang and their feet no longer touched the ground.

  When he came up for air, her eyes were dreamy, and his loins were anything but. Her back was to a wall. He braced one arm up over her head. The other palm flattened out at her side. Pinned in.

  ‘I need to tell you,’ he murmured, ‘how delicious you look in that gown.’ He hoped that his eyes told her she was even more delicious out of it.

  ‘I’m glad you approve because it cost you a fortune.’

  He chuckled. ‘Is that what you wanted to tell me earlier? That you used company expenses for your own wicked gain?’

  ‘Not mine. I went to all this trouble for you.’

  His raised arm came down and that middle finger scooped around her bodice. He looked into her cleavage. ‘How much trouble to take it off?’

  She craned a look over his shoulder. He moved to block it. She searched his eyes, then straightened his collar. When her touch curled just below his throat, he leant into it. He should lose the tie more often.

  ‘You’re forgetting,’ she said, ‘we have guests.’

  He nudged a little closer. ‘I think we should tell everyone that the party’s over and it’s time for bed.’

  He nipped the side of her neck. Mmm, what was that scent? Musk? Floral? All he knew was it did weird and wonderful things to his sensory cells—in fact, all of his working parts.

  She dodged and got away, sweeping around him.

  He frowned and reached for her hand. ‘Hey, get back here.’

  Dodging again, she collected her dress’s short train and began to slowly back out. ‘The auction’s due to start in ten minutes. Clients. Sponsors.’ Her crooked finger beckoned him. ‘Important campaign, remember?’

  He moved out, into the light and…

  Of course he remembered.

  God, had he ever thought her maturity was an issue? Right now, she was the one taking the lead and focusing on what needed to be done, even if he’d rather be doing something way different.

  He started off towards the festivities and the main room with Serena right beside him. ‘Okay, let’s do this thing.’ He arched a brow. ‘You ready?’

  Her voice was stronger than he’d ever heard it. ‘You bet I am.’

  CHAPTER TEN

  SERENA needed to find David.

  At five past midnight, she’d said farewell to the last of her guests. Now she was ready for another brand of party.

  She turned a tight circle in the centre of the enormous room, empty but for herself and a few cleaning staff. After hours of noise and excitement, this echoing quiet felt odd. She ran an eye over the quaver balloons hovering high above on the ceiling, then the litter of crystal glasses and finger-food plates strewn over the tables, floor—even the grand piano.

  She frowned. Maybe David was outside in the fresh air. She could sure use some.

  The air was cool and everything hushed when she slipped out through a set of doors onto a sea of terracotta. An opulent stone fountain held court on the terrace and Serena grinned at its centrepiece—an oversized cherub holding a harp. This estate was certainly magnificent, and a little over-the-top for her tastes. But these surrounds had helped bear out the fairy tale she’d lived tonight.

  Her feelings for David had gone past anything she’d ever imagined. Now that she’d spent quality time in his arms, it was difficult to hold on to a concept of how it had been before. There’d been teasing, like now, but back then it had been as boss and employee, or student and mentor. Their relationship had initially been one of opposites in practically every way.

  Then he’d given her the opportunity to grow by awarding her the promotion and accepting the ‘booth’ challenge. Today he’d made love to her with more enthusiasm, truth and depth than she’d thought possible for any man to share with a woman. Just over a month had passed since he’d given her that first gift of faith. Now, for the first time in her life, she was fast approaching the point where she felt truly validated.

  Over these weeks she’d taken a huge step, the right step, towards becoming the person she believed she could be. But the future didn’t end here, tonight. The question she wanted answered was…did her future include David?

  A twinkling view of far-off city lights called her. After plucking a bougainvillea bloom from its lattice wall, she twirled the scarlet petals between her fingers and crossed to the terrace’s sculptured stone rail.

  David appeared to be most everything she’d hoped to find in a man. He certainly fulfilled the requirement on her wish list about making her want him all the time. He was talented and insatiable.

  She clutched the bloom to her breast.

  But did he want to be anyone’s long-term Prince Charming? More importantly, did she want that attachment? Now, tomorrow and next week were easy. What about next year? Or the year after? She had a goal, and if she sacrificed it now to stay in a relationship…

  What if that relationship ended and, along the way, precious opportunities were lost? If she put her dreams on hold, she might discover that she couldn’t so easily resurrect them.

  Her mother had found that out. She’d won a gold medal in archery, but put competing aside when she’d met Serena’s father. Her dad used to make a big deal about what a good cook his wife was, and how nice she kept the house, maybe to make up for it the best way he knew how. He’d always seemed so easygoing back then, before her mum had passed away. But the situation between her and David was different.

  Serena dropped the flower over the rail, set her elbows on the ledge and cupped her sensible chin in her level-headed hands.

  If they continued seeing each other, how would she know for certain that his work-related compliments were sincere? She didn’t want to be patronized. What if, over time, he came to believe that her decisions ought to reflect his own? She wanted to grow, not be stifled.

  She straightened.

  Perhaps instead of relationships she should stay constant, think about long term, rather than short. About what was best for her, for her future, rather than—

  ‘What are you doing out here alone?’

  She whirled around at the deep voice behind her. She wasn’t surprised to find David standing there, so tall and broad, a veritable tower. He looked so sexy in his black shirt and trousers. Had a more desirable male ever lived? Did he have any idea just how deeply he affected her?

  She willed her heartbeat to quieten, then brushed back a whisper of hair stirred by the breeze. ‘I thought I’d get some air.’

  He walked over, swept her up in his arms and twirled her around. She shrieked, laughed, and held on tight.

  He put her down and gazed into her eyes. ‘One hundred and twenty-five grand in the kitty from the auction. That should well and truly cover the expenses for that idea of yours. Two thousand dollars for a Scotch bottle autographed by a seventies legend. Ten-thousand for a T-shirt from a sixties tour? Tonight was a sensation. You’re a sensation. And talented.’ His eyes caressed hers. ‘And beautiful.’

  And he was melting her heart. Making her love him, damn it. She didn’t want that. She wasn’t ready for anything like it. She wanted
to travel, and David’s life was here.

  ‘And now that we’ve put that puppy to bed,’ he pressed his lips to her forehead, ‘what say we go too?’

  Ten minutes ago she might have raced him to the bedroom, but now…

  Serena broke their embrace and moved a few paces away. She found a reason to gaze up at the stars. ‘Smells like rain’s on the way.’

  When he joined her, she turned her back and tried to focus on the silver lights of Sydney, the crickets chirping. Maybe if she tried she could wipe out every other sense—his smell, how his breathing deepened, as it did now, when he had plans of them being together.

  She smiled to herself. Block David out? Impossible. Her stomach fluttered at the thought of being close to him.

  Strong arms wrapped around her middle. His chin rested on her shoulder, then grazed up her cheek. ‘It’ll be nice sleeping in tomorrow,’ he said, ‘with the rain on the roof.’ He kissed her ear. ‘Want another drink?’

  She shook her head. One glass was enough. She still needed full use of her faculties. Another glass might change her mind.

  He gave her a squeeze. ‘Me neither. Let’s go to bed.’ His rumbling murmur at her ear made her shiver and want him all the more. But she shouldn’t.

  Should she?

  God, she didn’t know what she wanted any more.

  Her temple pounded with the beginnings of a headache. She really ought to just go home.

  ‘David, I’m very tired—’

  ‘Poor baby.’ He swayed her gently. ‘I’ll rock you to sleep.’

  She broke free of his arms. She needed time to think. To decide what she needed to do. What direction she needed to take.

  She looked him squarely in the eye. ‘I really think I should go home and sleep in my own bed.’

  ‘Serena.’ He stepped forward to slay her with the sexiest lidded gaze in the history of seduction. ‘Do I need to remind you that we haven’t tried my bed yet?’

  She thought long and hard. God, it was difficult, but, ‘I want mine.’

  He considered it. ‘All right.’ He kissed her cheek and kept close. ‘Your place then.’