Free Tempted by the Boss (Tempted Series Book 1) by Hazel Kelly

was
impossible to pronounce. I didn’t want to make a fool of myself.
    As soon as I saw the hostess, I focused on making my way towards
her while doing my best to ignore the surroundings so I wouldn’t be
overwhelmed. It was just a restaurant I kept telling myself. He was just a man.
There was no reason to freak out.
    “Good evening Miss.”
    “Hi,” I said, looking past her at the crème colored, candle lit
room.
    “May I have your name?”
    “Ella,” I said, admiring the far wall which featured a fresco of
the balcony scene from Romeo & Juliet.
    The woman scrunched up her face. “Are you here to meet someone,
Ella?” The woman looked me up and down like it was up to her whether I was
allowed in or not.
    “Oh, yes!” I felt the blood rush to my cheeks. “Oops. Sorry. I’m
here to meet William Abbott.”
     The tip of her nose seemed to lower by several degrees.
“Welcome to Capulets, Ella. Any friend of Mr. Abbotts is a friend of ours.”
    I really didn’t think friendship was in the cards for us, but I
appreciated her changing her tune.
    “Allow me to show you to your table.”
    “That would be lovely,” I said, dropping in line behind her.
    “Is this your first time here?” she asked over her shoulder.
    “It is, yes.”
    “Well you’re in for a treat.”
    “I’m sorry I didn’t catch your name.”
    She turned around. “It’s Claudia.”
    “Nice to meet you.”
    She led me through a wooden archway into a smaller dining room.
I saw him right away and felt my breath catch in my throat even before he stood
up. It was like everything went blurry around him and he was the light at the
end of the tunnel.
    At some point, Claudia disappeared, too, and I arrived beside
the table.
    He leaned forward and touched his cheek to mine. “Hello
Cinderella.”
    I felt my heart swell in my chest. “Hello, Will.”
    He pulled my chair out and I sat down.
    When he took his seat across from me, I think I actually
salivated a little.
    “Did you find the place okay?”
    “The cabbie did,” I said, pulling my shawl off my shoulders and draping
it on the chair behind me.
    He leaned forward and the light of the candle between us was
reflected in his eyes. “You look absolutely stunning.”
    I pursed my lips.
    “I hope you don’t mind me saying that.”
    “Not at all.” I wanted to tell him he looked pretty damn
amazing, too, but I couldn’t figure out how to do it professionally. Plus, I
figured he already knew how good he looked.
    “I feel like I’m the one that won a prize here.”
    I felt my lips curl up. “You’re very kind.”
    He was staring at me like I was a unicorn or something, like he
was as enchanted by me as he was happy to see me.
    I worried I might melt right off my chair.
    His smile went crooked. “Do you really think that’s an
appropriate dress to wear out to dinner with your boss, though?”
    I looked down and my face fell. “I’m sorry. I thought-”
    “I’m kidding. You have nothing to apologize for.”
    “You like it then?” I smoothed my hands over the bodice of the
navy dress. “I got it at Macy’s.”
    “Like it?” He laughed. “I think they should stop selling it.
There’s not a woman in this city who would wear that dress if she saw the way
it looks on you.”
    Oh god he was flirting with me. Maybe Jackie was right.
    “Mr. Abbott.” A bright eyed waiter appeared next to our table.
“Can I get you and your guest something to drink?”
    “I’ll have another gin and tonic, James.” He turned to me. “They
make the best in the city. Would you like to try one?”
    “Please,” I said, deciding that the situation was overwhelming
enough without me being stubborn about what I wanted.
    James nodded and placed two thin menus upright on the edge of
our table before disappearing.
    Will picked up the menus and handed one to me. “I hope you’re
hungry.”
    “Starving.” I flipped it open. “I didn’t have lunch like you
said.”
    “You won’t be sorry.”
    At