Michele Dunaway - The Playboy's Protegee

Megan’s mouth dropped open. “What!”

Harry arched an eyebrow. “Did I stutter? It’s not going to happen. You shouldn’t have messed with me when you first came to work here.”

She gestured wildly. “Are you insane? We can’t stand each other! You’ve done nothing but pick apart my performance since I got here. Let me have a different mentor.”

Megan drew a deep breath as if trying to calm herself. Her suit jacket gaped open. She was wearing white lace. Harry’s throat went dry, and his words simply disappeared.

“No.”

The Playboy’s Protégée

Michele Dunaway

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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For Uncle Bizz (’cos it already is)

In the story, Megan’s mother suffers from multiple sclerosis (MS). My cousin Stacey lives daily with MS, and she was an invaluable source of information. Any errors in the story are mine. For more information about this disease, contact The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 733 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017. www.nmss.org.

In first grade Michele Dunaway knew she wanted to be a teacher when she grew up, and by second grade she wanted to be an author. By third grade she was determined to be both. Born and raised in a west county suburb of St. Louis, Michele recently moved to five acres in the rolling hills of Labadie. She’s traveled extensively, with the cities and places she visits often becoming settings for her stories.

Michele currently teaches high school English, raises her two young daughters and describes herself as a woman who does too much but doesn’t want to stop.

Michele loves to hear from readers. You can visit her Web site at www.micheledunaway.comor write to her at P.O. Box 45, Labadie, MO 63055.

HARLEQUIN AMERICAN ROMANCE

848—A LITTLE OFFICE ROMANCE

900—TAMING THE TABLOID HEIRESS

921—THE SIMPLY SCANDALOUS PRINCESS

931—CATCHING THE CORPORATE PLAYBOY

963—SWEEPING THE BRIDE AWAY

988—THE PLAYBOY’S PROTÉGÉE

Jacobsen Stars Program: Corporate Strategy for Future Marital Team as Created by Grandpa Joe

The Key Players:

Megan MacGregor: Ambitious businesswoman, excellent mind, easy on the eyes. Perfect for Harry.

Harry Sanders: My ornery grandson who needs a swift kick (but most of all, a good wife).

Strategy:

Make them work together as a team, thereby encouraging opportunities for covert mingling, which will lead to marriage and happiness.

Obstacle to Strategy:

Megan and Harry hate each other.

Way around Obstacle:

Lock them in a hotel suite together, with all the usual amenities, i.e., champagne, strawberries, chocolate and terry-cloth bathrobes.

Motto:

Grandpa Joe will pave the way for Harry and Megan’s happy day!

Prologue Prologue Jacobsen Enterprises Internal Memo From: Joe Jacobsen, CEO To: Harry Sanders CC: Andrew Sanders, president Re: Jacobsen Stars Program Harry, I just wanted to give you a heads up on the newest Jacobsen Enterprises program to recruit and retain upper-level management. With your sister now in New York for the past year, it is imperative for the overall growth and stability of the firm that we keep any management talent we develop. My proposal will be instituted in two weeks, and a copy is attached. I would like you to personally consider being a mentor. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me. J.J. Jacobsen Enterprises Internal Memo From: Joe Jacobsen, CEO To: Andrew Sanders, president Re: Harry/Jacobsen Stars As you can see from my previous memo, I have informed your son about the Jacobsen Stars program and have indicated that I would like him to be a mentor. My personal choice for him to mentor is Megan MacGregor. I will drop in on him Monday morning to tell him. She’s in Mergers and Acquisitions. J.J. Jacobsen Enterprises Internal Memo From: Andrew Sanders, president To: Joe Jacobsen, CEO Re: Harry/Jacobsen Stars You old coot. The only merger you really want is for your grandson to get married. But setting up Harry with Megan MacGregor? She’ll eat him alive. Don’t you ever stop matchmaking? A.S. Jacobsen Enterprises Internal Memo From: Joe Jacobsen, CEO To: Andrew Sanders, president Re: Harry/Jacobsen Stars No. J.J.

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Epilogue

Jacobsen Enterprises Internal Memo

From: Joe Jacobsen, CEO

To: Harry Sanders

CC: Andrew Sanders, president

Re: Jacobsen Stars Program

Harry,

I just wanted to give you a heads up on the newest Jacobsen Enterprises program to recruit and retain upper-level management.

With your sister now in New York for the past year, it is imperative for the overall growth and stability of the firm that we keep any management talent we develop. My proposal will be instituted in two weeks, and a copy is attached. I would like you to personally consider being a mentor. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me.

J.J.

Jacobsen Enterprises Internal Memo

From: Joe Jacobsen, CEO

To: Andrew Sanders, president

Re: Harry/Jacobsen Stars

As you can see from my previous memo, I have informed your son about the Jacobsen Stars program and have indicated that I would like him to be a mentor.

My personal choice for him to mentor is Megan MacGregor. I will drop in on him Monday morning to tell him. She’s in Mergers and Acquisitions.

J.J.

Jacobsen Enterprises Internal Memo

From: Andrew Sanders, president

To: Joe Jacobsen, CEO

Re: Harry/Jacobsen Stars

You old coot. The only merger you really want is for your grandson to get married. But setting up Harry with Megan MacGregor? She’ll eat him alive. Don’t you ever stop matchmaking?

A.S.

Jacobsen Enterprises Internal Memo

From: Joe Jacobsen, CEO

To: Andrew Sanders, president

Re: Harry/Jacobsen Stars

No.

J.J.

Even though it was a Monday, it had all the makings of a wonderful day. As the only person in the executive elevator, Harry Sanders whistled the entire journey to his office on the twenty-second floor of the Jacobsen Enterprises world headquarters.

“You’re chipper this morning,” Peggy, his secretary for the past five years, commented as he strode over the plush carpet. Ten minutes before 9:00 a.m., she had already sorted his memos and mail.

“Absolutely,” Harry said taking the stack of papers without stopping to look through them as he usually did.

He registered Peggy’s words as he entered his office, “There’s one from your grandfather.”

There had better be. Harry smiled as he entered his corner office, and he took a minute to look out the window. Even though it was a beautiful May day, his office faced west and south, giving him a boring view of Highway 40 as it wound toward Jefferson Avenue.