Free Married by Midnight (The BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES Series, #12) by Judy Angelo Page A

laughed.  “I’ll give him your message.  He’ll be shaking in his boots.”
    Reed gave her a mock scowl.  “Are you saying he’s not afraid of me?  Is there anybody who is?”  He looked around and, the only person in the room being Golden, his gaze alighted on her.  She rewarded him with a soft blush.  “Might you, per chance, be afraid of me?”  He lifted his eyebrows.
    “Say yes,” Sharon said, still chuckling.  “Make him feel good.”
    “Yes,” the girl said, following the instruction of her mentor.  “I am.”
    Somehow, he couldn’t believe her.  Not when, in spite of her shy blush, her pink lips were curled in a smile.  And, of course, despite his play at being an ogre he was more than pleased to know that Golden was finally growing comfortable with him.  She had better be, because from here on she would fill Sharon’s role as his right-hand person.
    “Now you take good care of Golden while I’m gone.”  Sharon gave Reed a stern look.  “Do not overwork her.”
    “Would I ever?” he asked with a wounded look.
    “Now come here, hon. Give us a hug.”  She opened her arms wide to Golden and the girl stepped into her embrace.  “Just ring me if you need me,” she whispered.
    “You know I won’t,” Golden whispered back.  “Don’t worry.  I’ll be fine.”
    But even after Sharon had gone through the door she stood there, staring wistfully after her friend and guide, a hint of apprehension in her eyes.  Maybe she wasn’t quite as confident as she’d pretended to be.
    That evening when it was time for Golden to leave she gave a soft knock and stepped into his office.  “I’m off,” she said, a forced air of cheeriness in her voice.  “Have a great weekend.”
    “You, too,” he said as he leaned back in his chair and regarded her through narrowed eyes.  The slight droop at the corners of her mouth belied her cheery farewell.  “Missing her already?”
    She smiled.  “How did you know?”
    “It will be all right,” he said by way of reassurance.  “Enjoy your weekend.”
    Demurely she nodded then went out, pulling the door shut behind her.
    Long after she’d gone Reed sat staring at the door.  Now he would have Golden Browne all to himself and the good thing was, she seemed as intrigued about him as he was about her. 
    He had to be careful, though.  Interested or not, he was still her employer.  There was a line that could not be crossed...unless, of course, she wanted it crossed. 
    Even after he got home that night Golden Browne was still on Reed’s mind.  He’d known the girl less than two months but, as quiet and unassuming as she was, she’d still managed to creep into his mind and dominate his thoughts.  She had a strange power, a gentle pull that he could not resist.
    As he lounged in front of the television, so distracted by the girl that the latest episode of ‘Allo, Allo’ played unnoticed, he grimaced.  Maybe it hadn’t been such a good idea to hire her.  At least then he would be unencumbered by the rules of an employer, employee relationship.  But firing her would be out of the question.  Put the girl out of a job just so he could ask her out on a date?  He would not be so callous.  There was nothing to be done but to ask her out, regardless of their professional relationship.
    Reed was just about to get up to head into the kitchen for some ice cream when he heard a familiar buzzing in his pocket.  He fished the phone out and glanced at the screen.  When he saw the name that flashed there his face broke into a smile.  He hadn’t spoken to Max in a while.
    “What’s up, big bro?” he said.  “Back from your Brazil trip?”
    “Just got in last night,” Max said.  “Exhausting trip but it was worth it.  I’m not looking forward to doing another product launch very soon.  I need to recover from this one.”
    “Yeah, I know how that goes.  It’s been almost two months since I did mine and I’m still