Free In the Boss's Bed (Harlequin Blaze) by J. Margot Critch Page A

have her. She was his assistant. It would be terribly unprofessional, against his company rules. And if it didn’t work out, he would lose one of the best assistants he’d ever had. He dragged his fingers through his hair in frustration. He turned to Trevor who was also watching Maya and Abby as they lay by the pool, sunning their bodies.
    “Think she’ll give me her number?” Trevor asked him.
    Jamie scowled and turned to his friend. “Maya?”
    “No. Do you think I’m crazy? I mean Abby. She’s cute, right?”
    Jamie looked, but he could barely see Abby. His attention was riveted on Maya. “Yeah, I guess.”
    * * *
    M AYA SPREAD OUT on the lounger she had selected. She closed her eyes and let the sun warm her body. Behind her sunglasses, she cast a covert glance toward Jamie. He was standing by the bar, talking with Trevor. They were looking at her and Abby. They tried to hide their stares behind sunglasses, but she could tell. Men are so obvious. She smiled and turned her head toward Abby.
    “I think you have an admirer,” she told her.
    Abby took a sip of her frozen concoction that Trevor had whipped up for her. “Mmm, that’s good. What are you talking about?”
    “Trevor, he’s looking right at you.”
    “Really?” Abby full-on turned her head toward them and waved, wiggling her fingers at the men. Trevor raised a hand in return with a smile. “He is quite cute. But Jamie is the one who can’t keep his eyes off you.”
    She took another quick look at Jamie. He had taken off his tank top and he stood there, his low-slung board shorts hanging just below his lean hips. She wondered when he had the time to work out, with the crazy hours he worked, but he clearly found the time. His broad shoulders led to a firm chest, and the fine hair that covered him spread over well-formed pecs down to defined abdominal muscles. He was a feast for the eyes, but somehow her attention was fastened to the pronounced diagonal lines of his pelvic bone, which disappeared under the red shorts.
    Maya turned back to Abby and she shook her head. “No. He’s made it abundantly clear that he isn’t interested in me like that. Plus, he’s my boss. It just can’t happen.”
    “You’re both adults. I don’t see why you both can’t mix a little business and pleasure. It’ll certainly make all of those long nights you’ve been working with him more interesting.”
    “Never going to happen, Abby,” she muttered. No matter how much she wanted it to.
    * * *
    T HE SUN STARTED its descent in the sky and began to cast shadows over Jamie’s patio. People said their goodbyes and filtered out. Maya, Abby and Trevor remained. But when they started gathering their things, Jamie walked up to them. He was unfortunately once again shirted.
    “Maya,” he called, looking reluctant. “Do you mind sticking around for a bit? I hate to do this but I got an email about Vegas and there’s something we need to hammer out with my presentation.” It seemed that casual Jamie couldn’t stick around for long. Jamie Sellers, mogul/boss, had made a reappearance.
    She pulled her sundress over her head, and she nodded. “Yeah, sure. Do we have to head to the office?”
    “No. We should be able to handle it from my home office.”
    Maya turned to Abby. “Do you mind if I stay for a little while?”
    “Not at all. I’m actually going to get a cab home and come back for my car tomorrow. I think I’ve had a few too many of Trevor’s margaritas.”
    Maya nodded at her friend’s wobbly state. “That’s good. Okay, I’ll see you at home.”
    Trevor came up behind the group, and Maya noticed when he put a hand on the small of Abby’s back. “I’ll walk you down.”
    Abby smiled at him. “Thanks.”
    Jamie and Maya watched Trevor and Abby walk out. When they said goodbye, Jamie extended an arm, ushering Maya down a hallway. “Shall we get to work?”

9
    T HEY HAD WORKED for hours when Jamie finally looked up from his laptop. “Maya, I