Tina Beckett - Flirting With The Boss

Lori picked up her coat and was slipping it on when Jace came after her.

“Cassie’s right, Lori. Please stay.”

His husky voice stopped her, but those blue eyes convinced her to change her mind about leaving.

His voice lowered when he continued. “I was rude. I should thank you for spending time with my daughter.” He smiled. “Please, stay for supper and let me make it up to you.”

Lori glanced away, knowing this man was trouble. She wasn’t his type. Men like Jace Yeager didn’t give her much notice. Keep it light . “We’re getting an early start on the Christmas pageant. How are you at playing the part of an angel?”

Cassie giggled.

He smiled, too. “Maybe I’d do better playing a devil.”

She had no doubt. “I guess I could write in that part.”

She knew coming here would be crossing the line. They worked together, but it needed to stay business. Instead she was in Jace Yeager’s home. And even with all the unfinished projects he had going on, it already felt like a real home. It set off a different kind of yearning inside her. That elusive traditional family she’d always wanted. Something all the money from her inheritance couldn’t buy her.

Two hours later, Jace finished up the supper dishes, recalling the laughter he heard from his daughter and their guest.

It let him know how much Cassie missed having another female around. A mother. He tensed. Shelly Yeager—soon-to-be Layfield—had never been the typical mother. She’d only cared about money and her social status and her daughter ranked a poor second. More than anything he wanted to give Cassie a home and a life where she’d grow up happy and well-adjusted. He could only do that if she was with him. He’d do whatever it took to keep it that way.

In the past, money, mostly his, had pacified Shelly. Now, she’d landed another prospective husband, a rich one. So she had even more power to keep turning the screws on him, threatening to take Cassie back.

He climbed the steps to his daughter’s bedroom and found her already dressed in pajamas. Lori was sitting with her on the canopy bed reading her a story.

His chest tightened at the domestic scene. They looked so much alike they could be mother and daughter. He quickly shook away the thought and walked in.

“The end,” Lori said as she closed the book and Cassie yawned.

“I see a very sleepy little girl.”

“No, Daddy.” She yawned again. “I want another story.”

He shook his head and looked at Lori. “The rule is only one bedtime story on a school night.” He checked his watch. “Besides, we’ve taken up enough of Lori’s time tonight.”

Cassie looked at her. “I’m sorry.”

“No, don’t be sorry, Cassie.” She hugged the girl. “I enjoyed every minute. I told you I read to my nephew.”

Cassie’s eyes brightened. “Daddy, Lori’s nephew, Zack, is coming here to live. He’s going to be in my class.”

“That’ll be nice. How about we talk about it tomorrow? Now, you go to sleep.”

Jace watched Lori and his daughter exchange another hug, then she got up and left the room. After he kissed his daughter, he turned off the light and headed downstairs. He found Lori putting on her coat and heading for the back door.

“Trying to make your escape?”

She turned around. “I’m sure you’re tired, too.”

He walked to her. “I think you might win that contest. Spending four hours with my daughter, not counting the time at school, had to be exhausting.”

She smiled. “Remember, I’m a trained professional.”

His gut tightened at the teasing glint in her incredible eyes. “And I know my daughter. She can try anyone’s patience, but she’s the love of my life.”

He saw Lori’s expression turn a little sad. “She’s a lucky little girl.” She turned away. “I should get home.”

Something made him go after her. Before she could make it to the back door, he reached for her and turned her around. “I wish things could have been different for you, Lori. I’m sorry that you had to suffer as a child.”

She shook her head. “It was a long time ago and I’ve dealt with it.”

“Hey, you can’t fool a foster kid. I was in the system most of my life. We’re experts on rejection.”

Her gaze went to his, those brown eyes compelling. “What happened to your family?”

“My parents were in a car accident when I was eight. What relatives I had didn’t want me, so I went into foster care.”

“Oh, Jace,” she whispered.

Her little breathless gasp caused a different kind of reaction from him. Then he saw the tears in her eyes.

His chest tightened. “Hey, don’t. I survived. Look at me. A success story.”

Jace reached out and touched her cheek. The next thing he knew he pulled her toward him, then wrapped her in his arms. He silenced a groan as he felt her sweet body tucked against his. It had been so long since he’d held a woman. So long since he’d felt the warmth, the glorious softness.

He pulled back trying to put some space between them, but couldn’t seem to let her go. His gaze went to her face; her dark eyes mirrored the same desire. He was in big trouble.

He lowered his head and whispered, “This is probably a really bad idea.” His mouth brushed over hers, once, then again. Each time she made a little breathy sound that ripped at his gut until he couldn’t resist any longer and he captured her tempting mouth.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned into him as her fingers played with the hair at his nape. He pushed his tongue into her mouth and found heaven. She was the sweetest woman he’d ever tasted, and the last thing he ever wanted to do was stop. He wanted so much more, but also knew he couldn’t have it.

He tore his mouth away and took a step back. “Damn, woman. You pack a punch. I just can’t …”

“It’s okay.” She pulled her coat tighter. “It would be crazy to start something.”

He couldn’t believe how badly he wanted to. “Right. Bad idea. We’re business partners. Besides, I have room for only one female in my life. Cassie.”

Her gaze wouldn’t meet his. “I should go.”

“Let me walk you out.”

“No, you don’t need to do that. It’s too cold.”

He tried to make light of the situation. “Right now, I could use a blast of cold air.” He followed her out. Grabbing his coat off the hook, he slipped it on as they went through the mudroom. The frigid air hit him hard as they hurried out to the well-lit driveway and around to her side of the car.

“Nice ride.” He glanced over the four-wheel-drive SUV. “You’re ready for the snow.” He held on to the door so she couldn’t rush off. “Are you coming by the site tomorrow?”

“No.” She paused. “Unless you need me for something.”

He found he wanted to see her again. “I guess not.”

“Okay then, good night, Jace.”

“Thank you, Lori. Thank you for being there for Cassie.”

“You’re welcome. Goodbye.” She shut her door and started the engine and was backing out of the drive before Jace could stop her. That was the last thing he needed to do. He didn’t need to be involved with this woman.

Any woman.

It would be a long time before he could trust again. But if he let her, Lori Hutchinson could come close to melting his cold, cold heart.

Lori had spent the past two days at the bank where she’d been trying to familiarize herself with her father’s business dealings. How many people expected her to fail at this?

She’d stayed far away from Jace Yeager, although that didn’t change the fact that she’d been thinking about him.

Had he been thinking about her? No. If he had been, wouldn’t he have called? Or maybe he’d resisted, knowing getting involved could create more problems.