Boss On A Leash: A Single Dad Billionaire Romance, Kara Hart [free ebook reader for iphone .TXT] 📗

mouth. I’ve got less than an hour until I need to get back to the house. Am I ever going to get to relax?

“Marc. I wouldn’t be avoiding me if I were you. Call me back. It’s important.”

Jim isn’t his usual spunky, raucous self. His tone is serious. Maybe this is important. I weigh the pros and cons of returning his call, but I don’t get to a decision. Jim is standing on the sidewalk outside, staring at his phone. If he turns to his left, he’ll see the store. I’m the guy right next to the mannequin.

Sensing movement, I duck and throw myself behind the display, attempting to line my arms and legs with the fiberglass. I have to suck in my waist a bit. The mannequin’s arm falls off, but I manage to catch it in time.

Jim comes up to the glass, squinting to get a better look inside the store. My chest gently rises an inch, but I clench it before I exhale.

My heart pounds. Can he see me?

I’m losing oxygen.

Help?

Finally, he leaves.

Bruno returns to find me posing behind the mannequin. “Marc?”

Careful not to move too fast, I turn my head. “You did a fine job, Bruno. I’ll take the suit.”

Ali

I stare at Sandra.

Sandra stares back at me and flattens her lips into a quick smile.

“Explain who you are again?” I ask.

“You know the idiot you’re dating?” she asks. “I’m the lucky woman who gets to be his team leader.”

I glance down at the thin lights that wrap around the floor of the limousine. “Oh. I thought I was doing this alone.”

“Yeah, about that. He didn’t really want me to come,” she says. “I sort’ve forced myself into the situation.”

I lean back, eyeing a bottle of champagne sitting in a fresh bucket of ice. “Why?”

She leans forward and interlocks her hands. “Because I know what he likes.”

What if I just want to go home? “Oh.”

“Not like that,” she assures me. “I just know he views you as someone special.”

My smile starts to return. “Special? Are you sure you’re talking about the right person? We’ve only hung out for a few days.”

She stares at me. “You like him, don’t you?”

I think about our kiss. It’s only been hours, but it feels like it just happened. “Well, yeah.”

“A lot?” she asks.

My shoulders relax. “I think he’s a pretty special person, too.”

“Did he tell you about Sammy?” she asks.

I nod. “Yeah. I tried to talk to her today about it, but she doesn’t seem to want to open up about it.”

“Word of advice,” she says, “don’t mention it around her. Other women in the past have tried to bridge the gap, but it always backfires.”

Oh, no. Please tell me the red flags aren’t going to start piling up right when I start to feel butterflies for him... “Seriously?”

She pats my leg to my discomfort. “You’re fine,” she says. “I’m just warning you. Sammy is the head of the house.”

It’s obvious Sammy holds the reins. But the way she’s saying it makes me think she’s going to demand my head.

“I’m not trying to scare you off,” she says.

I exhale. “Not going to lie, it feels a little like that.”

“Well, his mind is currently in the clouds when I need him on the ground,” she says. “That’s why I’m here. To make sure you keep him grounded.”

I start to tense up again. “Is there something I should know?”

Sandra takes the champagne bottle I’ve been eyeing and slides down the window an inch. Taking aim, she nudges the tip of the bottle out. The cork flies and hits a street sign.

Pouring a glass, she says, “The party tomorrow,” she says. “I want you to make sure everything goes without a hitch.”

Oh, right. The party. I almost forgot.

I take a big sip, feeling the bubbles fizzle on my tongue.

Actually, I’m a little excited to go to this party. I still haven’t seen Marc’s office. Bet he has a really nice view. Maybe some office sex? It’ll be nice to meet his co-workers, too.

“I can’t wait to meet Marc’s friends,” I say.

“Marc doesn’t have friends,” she says. “That’s exactly why I’m here. To make sure this works.”

“What kind of party is this again?” I ask.

The limousine stops at our destination. The driver opens our door, escorting us out. Sandra keeps talking.

“Look, this is your first rodeo, so let me tell you something. This party was the shareholders’ idea. They’re taking a big step back, and they’re looking at Marc’s portfolio to see how much they’re currently worth,” she says.

“Okay.”

I follow her through the mall doors. A flood of perfume, new clothes, and other wild scents flood my nose. It’s been a long time since I went shopping for anything major. I’m already a little nervous, and Sandra is making it worse.

“So, this party is about money?” I ask.

She looks at me and sighs as we hit the rising escalator. “Whether Marc wants to believe this or not, it’s always about the money,” she says.

“I see.”

Saks Fifth Avenue used to be a beacon just out of reach. I spent my time shopping in all the regular stores. I’m not trying to stay twenty-one forever, but the clothes on the outside wings are so much cheaper.

This place is a league above what I’m used to. As we enter the store, the employees greet us. At first, they feel a little clingy, but then I realize they know Sandra by name. “I made a call earlier. I’d like to see if the chosen option fits.”

She chose for me? Okay, now I’m a little pissed.

I spent all day thinking about what our date might end up like. I had some ideas. A fancy restaurant, maybe a walk somewhere nice. Amanda had diamonds in her eyes, but I’m not that hard to please. Our last night together was so incredible. I could live with a repeat of that.

This dress might come off tonight. I want to be in charge of it. All of it.

I cut in. “Marc texted me