Free Sexy in Stilettos by Nana Malone Page B

she'd been in full mother-lion protective mode. While the tests were running, she'd given him a place to stay and looked out for him, kept Royce away from him, keeping him safe until the truth could be determined. She'd never wavered that he should be looked after. And when the happy news had arrived that he was, in fact, a Westhorpe, she’d declared he was living with them instead of at boarding school, like Royce suggested.
    Even after Max had arrived, she still treated him like her own. Groomed him, educated him, and loved him.
    “Don’t sound so flippant, Alec. This isn’t one of those situations where you can reason with Max to come home. He’s in a world of trouble if you can’t find and contain him.”
    As she scolded him, he wondered when she’d started to sound so weary. An invisible fist squeezed his heart. He needed to keep her calm and in decent, if not necessarily good, spirits.
    “Mimi, have I ever let you down?”
    She sighed. “No, but—”
    “I won’t let you down now, either. You can count on me. So, relax. I’ll call you when we get in.”
    She may have been old and ill, but she was still as sharp as ever. “We?”
    “That’s right. I’m bringing you a present.”

Chapter Nine
     
    This was what happened when Jaya didn’t follow script. She ended up in the poshest waiting area she’d ever seen, with its sleek, outrageously expensive, contemporary furniture, staring up at a photo of dragon lady, vying for the job of her life. Not to mention, she was sitting next to a man she barely knew who’d given her the best sex of her life. Jaya shifted uncomfortably in the low backed, white leather, waiting room seat and tried not to show her nerves—pretty hard to pull off, since her knees were doing their MC Hammer impression. She needed this job. So far, it was her only lead in case operation-get-Daddy-to-rehire-her didn’t work as expected.
    The rail-thin receptionist gave her a wan smile. “You may go in now. Ms. Westhorpe only has ten minutes to spare.”
    Geez . How the hell was she supposed to impress after only ten minutes? Somehow she doubted her geek super-status would qualify her as hire-worthy.
    Alec's strong hand on her knee made her jump.
    “Go on in. Adele doesn’t bite. I promise.”
    She might not bite, but Jaya had a feeling she barked really loud.
    “Yeah, sure. Fine.”
    “I told you. She’ll love you. Just go on in and be—” Alec’s gaze flicked over her prim and proper suit and killer $3000 stilettos, “you. Just be you. I'll meet you in the lobby around three. We’ll tour the hotel afterwards.”
    Jaya should have been focusing on what he was saying. Instead, she was too busy eying the male figure leaving Adele Westhorpe's office. He looked ill. His eyes said, “Give me a moment to clear” and his posture said, “I've just been whipped with a shoe.” His knuckles were white with a side of Casper.
    Her feet rooted into the floor. Going in there didn’t seem like an option. But really, what choice did she have? It was either this or go to Tamara and Derrick's wedding sans date.
    But if there was one thing Jaya was good at, she could fake it ‘til she made it. That was a skill she'd mastered early. Striding into the office, she closed the door behind her. “Ms. Westhorpe, I'm Ja—”
    The older woman cut her off. “I know who you are. If I wanted introductions, I'd have invited you to a garden party. “
    Whipcord-lean, Adele Westhorpe looked fit for a woman her age. Shit, for a woman any age. Jaya had a feeling the woman never indulged in cookies and cream, the likes of which made Jaya afraid to look at her scale.
    As she sat across from the Westhorpe matriarch, all Jaya could think was how the woman could give the devil a run for her money. If you don't nail this interview, your failure status will be solidified . If she made it through this interview, she wouldn’t be dateless to her sister’s wedding. She’d be elevated from desperate loser status.