Free Undercover in the CEO's Bed by Coleen Kwan

that showed Lex with a white-haired, sweet-faced woman who could only be his grandmother.
    “Ralph doesn’t have a head for business anyway,” Lex continued. “He was always more interested in the arts.”
    “And he resents you because of what your father did to him?”
    He tossed the pen up and grabbed it in his fist. “No, he resents me because after I became CEO, I found out he’d been blowing his budget for years and my father had been covering for him all this time. He assumed I’d do the same thing. He assumed wrong.” Lex’s knuckles whitened around the pen. “I insisted he stick to his budget. He thinks I’m just a soulless bean counter.”
    His taut face made her stretch her hand out toward him. Just in time, she realized what she was doing and let her hand sink to the desk. “Well,” she began tentatively, “perhaps your dad felt guilty about ousting his brother, and that was his way of making amends.”
    “I guess that’s one way of looking at it.” He lifted his head. “I never thought of that. My dad was never known for his softness, especially not toward any family members.”
    “Was he hard on you?” The question tumbled from her lips before she could think. She hesitated, his narrowing eyes making her uncomfortable. “I mean, when you were growing up.”
    “He wanted me to succeed, not just do well but exceed all expectations. Sometimes, it was difficult to please him.” He folded his arms on the desk, nodding toward the computer. “Found anything there?”
    She pulled her focus back to the screen. “Nothing to report.”
    “Then it’s time to hit the stores.” He stood and moved away to retrieve his jacket from the coat stand.
    How quickly he’d cut off all discussion about his dad. Clearly he wasn’t going to confide his issues to her, but at least he’d told her about his problems with Holly and his uncle Ralph.
    She logged off his computer, picked up her purse, and followed him out of the office. Just outside the elevators, they ran into Carl.
    “Going out for a nice long lunch date?” he said, grinning.
    “I’m saving that for tonight,” Lex said. “Got a table booked at Rawlins.”
    Carl whistled. “Rawlins. Brooke will be green with envy.”
    Lex ran his hand lightly down Jacinta’s back. “Right now I’m taking Jacy shopping for something to wear to my grandmother’s party.”
    A tremor snaked down Jacinta’s spine. Not just because of his intimate touch, but because of what he’d called her. Jacy . His special nickname for her. No one else called her that.
    “Oh yes, Nana Alice’s party,” Carl said. “I’m really looking forward to that.”
    “Carl and Brooke are coming to the party,” Lex explained to Jacinta.
    She nodded, still flustered as the elevator arrived and they stepped in.
    Carl called after them. “Jacinta, this is the first time I’ve seen Lex give up an afternoon at the office to go shopping with a woman. You’ve really turned him around.” He gave them the thumbs-up.
    The doors slid shut. They stood alone in the elevator as it sped downward. Lex kept his gaze on the panel of lights.
    “Well?” Jacinta said when it was obvious Lex wasn’t going to talk. “I can’t believe you’re letting Carl tease you like that.”
    He shrugged and curled the corner of his mouth. “What man wouldn’t be turned around when he’s got such a gorgeous girlfriend?”
    He was only trying to bait her, but it didn’t stop a tide of attraction buzzing through her. She’d have to watch herself or she might start believing his made-up compliments.
    …
    As Lex sat on the comfy little sofa, he wondered why he’d never taken Jacinta clothes shopping in the past. He hadn’t known what he was missing. The private changing room of the exclusive boutique they’d entered resembled an eighteenth-century French boudoir. There was plush carpet, soft music, gilt mirrors, a chandelier. A few feet away from the sofa, beneath a velvet curtain, he could make