Free The Boss's Fake Fiancee by Inara Scott

Melissa could only describe as a smile on its face.
    “What kind of dogs are they?” she asked.
    Garth scowled at her. “Havanese. They’re Nan’s dogs.”
    “Of course they are,” she said gravely.
    “They are!”
    “I can see that,” Melissa said. She’d never heard of the breed before, but they had long muzzles with dark noses, and when they stood, their tails waved behind them like cheerful flags. None of the three looked much more than ten pounds, though it was hard to tell with all that hair. “And their names are Han and Luke?”
    “The other one is Chewbacca,” Jessalyn called, as she made her way back toward them. “In case you were wondering.”
    “You’re a Star Wars fan,” Melissa said with a smile. “I should have known.”
    “Nan named them, not me,” Garth said, a trifle defensively.
    “He’s lying, isn’t he?” Melissa asked Jessalyn.
    The other woman shook her head. “I need to keep my job. I’m not saying a word.”
    “Smart move,” Garth said. “Nan’s obsessed with rescuing strays,” he said, in what seemed to Melissa to be an obvious attempt to change the subject. “These three were born at a puppy mill that was closed because of the inhumane conditions. The dogs were in terrible condition, so of course Nan had to step in.” He put down the dog he’d been holding and picked up the other one, who immediately tried to lick him in the face. Garth carefully held the happy creature so its tongue could not reach him. He petted the dog behind the ears for a moment before setting it back on the ground.
    Jessalyn snorted. “I’ll take Nan’s dogs for a little walk. You two go ahead in.” She whistled and started walking toward the back of the house. With one last longing look in Garth’s direction, the white blobs of fur ran off behind her.
    Melissa stifled a giggle as they walked through the front door. Garth and small white fluffy dogs? If she’d read it in a tabloid, she never would have believed it.
    “They’re sweet.”
    “They’re ridiculous,” Garth groused. “They don’t deserve to be called dogs.”
    “Clearly, they are beneath you.” Melissa snickered. “I mean, literally. Since they’re the size of hamsters.”
    Garth glared at her as they walked through the front door. “I’ll have you know Luke weighs eleven pounds.”
    Melissa paused. “Right. That would be a really big hamster. Guinea pig, maybe? Rabbit?”
    Garth stopped to set his keys on a marble pedestal table by the door, and Melissa completely forgot about the dogs as she took in the beauty of the house. The front foyer had a white marble floor leading to a huge, curving staircase at the far end. Smooth, highly polished wood floors ran in every other direction as far as she could see, and a rich, lemony scent permeated the air. On one side of the entry lay a formal sitting room, with several brocade, stiff-backed chairs, a Queen Anne sofa, and a thick Oriental rug. On the other side of the hall was a formal dining room, with a mahogany table and crystal chandelier. In every direction, the sun sparkled through multi-paned windows.
    This, at least, she had expected—a breathtaking mansion, filled with priceless antiques and works of art. The little white dogs and bossy housekeeper, not so much.
    They proceeded down a hallway that lay to one side of the staircase. Garth waved toward the left as they walked past an arched entryway. “Kitchen and great room are over there, along with the sun porch, my office, and the library. Bedrooms are on the second floor. Nan’s rooms are in back.”
    Every piece of furniture and art seemed to fit together seamlessly. The style was traditional and muted, but woven rugs, vases filled with flowers, and huge oil paintings provided spots of color that tied everything together.
    For an apartment dweller, the house seemed to reverberate with space and silence. Although her building mostly housed other professionals, Melissa’s next-door neighbor liked to play