Boardroom Kings: Bossman's Baby Scandal. Catherine Mann

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СКАЧАТЬ Lauren plastered a big—hopefully genuine-looking—smile on her face. “Hello, Celia. I was just looking for you. I’m still new in town and was wondering if you could recommend a good hairstylist.”

      Sheesh, that sounded lame. So much for ignoring the issue of looks. Why hadn’t she thought to ask about work? Or consult on some other business matter? Or even ask for a freaking art gallery? Hell, she was committed to the conversation, so might as well forge ahead. She really wanted to smooth over any awkwardness with Jason’s coworker.

      Celia blinked fast, scrunching her too-darn-perfect nose. “Sure, sure, I’ll e-mail you the name of my salon and spa.”

      “I appreciate it.” She also needed to find a new ob/gyn out here, as well, if she was going to visit Jason again. Or maybe stay longer.

      “I’m sorry about the other day,” Celia said softly, leaning closer, her cologne expensive and probably delightful, but pregnancy heightened Lauren’s sense of smell in a fickle way. It had to be the pregnancy, right? Not the fact that right now she resented the woman for merely existing.

      Now wasn’t that utterly ridiculous? Celia Taylor hadn’t done anything wrong. The jealousy was totally Lauren’s issue, not this woman’s. “Really, there’s no need for things to be awkward.”

      “Of course not. I just wanted to make sure you know there’s nothing between Jason and me. I mean, I was asking about after-work plans… if he was going to Rosa Lounge with others from the office.”

      Celia wouldn’t have asked in the first place if there’d been an inkling Jason was already in a relationship. Except he hadn’t been. Not really. If their mutual friend hadn’t sent Jason that photo showing Lauren pregnant, would he have accepted Celia’s drink offer?

      Jealousy nipped all the harder, after all. Reminding herself it wasn’t Celia’s fault didn’t seem to be helping. “Seriously, it’s okay. I was the one who insisted on keeping our relationship quiet. If there’s anyone to blame for it not being obvious Jason was already taken, the fault is mine.”

      Celia exhaled long and hard. “I’m so relieved to hear that. I hate office gossip. God, you’re a really nice person.”

      Then why was she obsessing over how Celia didn’t have to wear a tent of a dress to hide her stomach? No water retention on that woman, for sure.

      And why was she thinking about impressing the Prentices? And finding an ob/gyn in San Francisco?

      Because like it or not, she was drawn to Jason. For four months she’d been trying to work him out of her system—unsuccessfully. Ignoring him hadn’t worked.

      Lauren looked across the room again, finding him, wanting him. Jason’s chin tipped as if he sensed her watching him, sensed her. He turned his head almost imperceptibly and his intense eyes locked with hers. A delicious tingle of awareness prickled over her, tightening her nerves with a deep need to wriggle against him skin to skin.

      She couldn’t run from the truth any longer. Her passion for Jason hadn’t even begun to be tapped out. Denying it—denying herself—only made the ache grow stronger as pressure built.

      She understood all about hormonal rushes from pregnancy, and maybe that added an edge, but still she knew it was something beyond just the raging hormones. She certainly hadn’t tried to jump any of the other men who crossed her path, and heaven knew there were plenty of hot, high-powered men in this room.

      But she only wanted Jason.

      Starting tonight, she would try a new approach. Indulging every fantasy she’d ever entertained about her brand-new husband.

Nine

      The MC dinner had been a success. Jason had everything he’d wanted.

      So why was he so damn irritable?

      Stuffing his hands in his tuxedo pockets after locking up the house for the night, he stared at his sexy wife on the other side of their living room, fairly certain she was the cause of his frustration. The ride home had been off somehow. He’d pointed out scenic spots of interest along the way, trying to show her the upside of living here, but she stayed silent for the most part, staring at him with an intensity he found unsettling, since he didn’t have a clue what she was thinking.

      Lauren stood in the bay window, moonlight streaming through and glinting off the metallic beads on the bodice of her evening gown. She was both stunning and elegant at once. She was perfect in every regard. So much so, she made him see just how well their lives could fit together.

      This hands-off idea of his was growing old fast. He wanted it all—wanted her—now. Her dress showcased her generous breasts until his hands shook from restrained desire. Gathered high on her waist, the loose folds hid any evidence of the baby, satin fabric pooling around her feet in low heels. Her hair was smoothed into a sleek twist with one long strand grazing her cheek like the stroke of the backs of his fingers along her jaw.

      Male eyes had followed her all night long, damn near making him crazy with the need to remind them she was with him. She carried his baby. But he wouldn’t behave like some kind of possessive ass.

      Besides, he was too proud of her. He’d almost forgotten what a savvy businesswoman she was. She’d won over not only Prentice, but had worked the room, charming people and making contacts that would help her, as well as him. What a surprise to find her serene confidence turned him on just as much as her lush curves.

      He stopped behind her, cupping her bare shoulders, determined to help her see how well their worlds were in synch. “You were amazing tonight. You absolutely had Prentice eating out of the palm of your hand.”

      She looked back, the lone strand of hair caressing her face the way he longed to do. “He seems a nice enough man, nicer than I expected, actually, after how rigid he seems in his criteria for how other people should live their lives.”

      “He certainly took to you.” Jason slid his arms around her, encouraged that she didn’t protest or stiffen. He linked his fingers over her stomach. The baby rolled lightly, then settled. “His wife did, too, for that matter.”

      “She seems like such a sad lady.” Lauren leaned back against him, the sweet scent of her shampoo seeping deeper inside him. “I can’t help wondering if the high-powered lifestyle suits her as much as it does him.”

      “How about you? Do you enjoy that kind of gig?” An important part of his life that could cause a real problem. The MC work-grind-and-party circuit had certainly tanked Flynn Maddox’s marriage.

      “Are you kidding? You’ve known me for a year. I thrive on that sort of wheeling and dealing.” She shifted to fit more firmly against him, her bottom nestling intimately until there was no damn way she could miss his throbbing response.

      “You certainly keep your cool under pressure.” His blood pressure, however, was skyrocketing over just the feel of her brushing back against him. Right now he just wanted to sink into the moment. With her.

      She glanced at him. “What are you thinking?”

      Might as well be honest. “Just can’t look away from you. You’re absolutely gorgeous.”

      “Stop. СКАЧАТЬ