Deceiving Her Boss (7 page)

 
Maybe he should ask her to go with him, he thought, but then quickly dismissed
the thought.  First, he wasn't completely sure she was invited, and he didn't
want to hurt her feelings if she wasn't included and he was.  Plus, she was
still his employee.  And he wasn't attracted to her, so why take her someplace
if it could be construed as a date?  He didn't want to lead her on -- that
wasn't fair.  Especially for someone like her, who probably didn't get out
much.

 
Taking a sip of scotch, he shook his head.  Well, that was all true, except for
the part about not being attracted to her.  Because as crazy as it seemed,
there was something about her that drew him to her.  She wasn't pretty, she
dressed like something out of a catalog for matrons, and she was so serious
most of the time.  She was not his type at all.  So why did he suddenly want to
pull off that jacket of hers and see what she was hiding underneath it?  And
why couldn't he get the thought of her from his mind?  He remembered her
playing blackjack and laughing when she won forty dollars.  He smiled at the
thought of her eating Thai food with gusto, or flirting with the sommelier at
the restaurant in Vegas.  But that was friendly, he thought.  Wasn't it?

 
He hadn't meant to kiss her the other night in the garage.  He had meant to put
her in her car and send her on her way.  But the thought, even momentarily, of
something happening to her had caused some sudden surge of affection to move
through him, and the kiss was just a natural reaction to that.

 
He clearly needed to date again, he thought.  Since his last breakup, there
hadn't been anyone who really interested him, but he should get out there again
and see who he met.  He needed to stop thinking of his secretary as anything
but his assistant.  And he needed to leave her alone before anyone noticed,
including her.

 
But the wedding, he thought.  Would she be there?  There was one way to find
out.

 
The next day, Sean asked Allie to work on Saturday morning.

 
"I'm sorry, but I can't, Mr. Greyson.  Normally, you know I'd drop everything. 
But this is a personal matter, and I absolutely can't change my plans."

 
"I need you with me, Allie," Sean said.  "It's just for the
morning, and just for a few hours."

 
Allie sighed.  "You're going to need to do without me, sir.  I don't have
the option of making a call and changing things.  I'm very sorry.  If you'd
like me to find someone to cover for me, I'll do that.  And if there's any way
to change the date, I'd be happy to join you at any other time.  But my
Saturday is completely booked.  I really am sorry."

 
Sean told Allie not to worry about it.  That he would manage without her this
time.  But he turned away with a slight smile.   She was going to the wedding. 
He was sure of it. 

FIVE

 
The morning of Anna's wedding dawned bright and beautifully, and Allie spent
the day with her best friend and Anna's sisters, getting her nails and makeup
done and her hair styled before the ceremony.  Anna, God bless her, had chosen
lovely gowns for her bridesmaids in a soft rose color.  The dresses were
strapless, and gathered at the waist with a small bow.  Allie, as maid of
honor, was wearing a slightly darker shade of rose, which looked absolutely
lovely with her coloring.  Anna's dress was a similar style, but in a gorgeous
cream color that made her brunette hair shine with life.

 
Allie took one look at her friend and started to cry.  "You look so
beautiful, sweetie," she said as she took in her lovely appearance and her
happy glow.

 
"If you make me cry, I'll kill you," Anna replied with a grin. 
"Come on.  Stop it.  I'm going to have to redo your makeup, and if I get
any on either of our dresses, I'll kill you all over again."

 
Allie laughed.  "OK, hand me a tissue.  I'll blot up the tears and I'll be
fine.  A little extra mascara, and I'll be good to go."

 
Sean arrived early, wanting to sit toward the back of the church, out of easy
sight of the guests.  He wanted to see when Allie arrived, to see where she
sat, and how close she really was to Paul.  And he wanted to see what she chose
to wear to an event like this.  Surely it wouldn't be tweed, he thought.

 
As the guests arrived, Sean kept a careful eye on their backs as the ushers
seated each one, but nobody came in who looked anything like Allie.  A couple
of more matronly ladies came in, and were seated on Paul's side, but after a
careful inspection, Sean could tell that they were larger than Allie, and a lot
older.

 
As the time of the wedding drew closer, Sean was starting to think that he was
wrong.  Perhaps Allie had somewhere else she needed to be.  Maybe she had
something going on with her family, or her boyfriend.  But she had been so
adamant that she couldn't change her plans.  It had to be for something as momentous
as this.

 
Well, no matter, he thought.  He'd stay for the ceremony, and then leave before
the reception.  Paul would understand, he thought.  And he'd leave a nice check
as a wedding gift.  The music started then, and all eyes turned first toward
the front of the church where Paul and his best man were standing, and then
turned toward the back.

 
The women were lovely, Sean thought absently.  A simple wedding, simple
dresses...  this was the kind of wedding he would choose if he ever tied the
knot.  Paul was a lucky man that he was marrying the kind of woman who would
choose this over a large formal affair.  He absently watched the bridesmaids go
by, then turned his attention to the maid of honor, who was starting down the
aisle.  She was carrying a beautiful bouquet of flowers, smiling broadly,
clearly happy for her friend, and she looked.....  wait.  She looked familiar. 
Something about her walk, or her smile, or....

 
Oh dear God, he thought, as Allie passed by the row he was sitting in on her
way to the front of the church.  He felt like he'd been punched in the solar
plexus.  That was his Allie.  And she was absolutely beautiful.  Sexy. 
Stunning.  Dressed in a gown that wrapped around her perfectly, molding to her
curves, showing off every inch of her amazing body.  And her dainty feet were
strapped into amazing 3-inch heels.

 
Allie had no idea that Sean was there.  She walked right by him, her eyes
focused on the front of the church.  Sean watched as she moved into her
position, and then turned with everyone else to watch the bride enter.  And
while she was a beautiful bride, Sean couldn't have told a soul what she looked
like.  He was too busy watching Allie as she performed the rituals of maid of
honor for her friend.

 
Why?  Why did she hide behind the tweed and the baggy clothes and the
eyeglasses, and even the awful makeup?  He needed answers.  Gone was any plan
to leave before the reception.  He was going to find Allie, and make her tell
him what was going on.  Because from where he stood, this was a problem. 
Partly because he now wanted this woman so badly that he needed to keep the
church hymnal in front of him, and partly because he couldn't help but wonder
why she had aimed to deceive him.

 
After what seemed like an endless round of photograph-taking, the bridal party
finally made their way to the Blue Heron Inn, where the reception was being
held.  It was both outdoor and indoor, and when Sean arrived, people were
milling about on the lawn, holding drinks and chattering to one another as they
waited for the bride and groom to show up.  Normally, Sean would be deep in the
mix of guests, since he knew many of the people here today, but he wanted to be
on the sidelines.  He had a lot to think about, and he still wanted the
advantage of surprise when he found Allie.  And he would find her.  He would be
careful, and he would time it right so that it didn't mess anything up for Paul
and Anna, but he would find her.

 
Allie was dancing with one of the groomsmen, and enjoying a harmless
flirtation.  It was clearly harmless, since Jeffrey referred to his partner of
many years as "him," but Allie didn't mind.  She was dressed in a
beautiful gown and strappy heels, she was celebrating the wedding of her best
friend, and the weather was absolutely beautiful.  There wasn't a lot more she
could ask for today, she thought.  It was perfect.

 
She was laughing at something Jeffrey said when she saw his eyes lock on to
someone behind her, who was clearly stepping in to claim a dance with her. 
Swinging around, expecting it to be one of her good friends, her smile died
abruptly when she saw Sean Greyson standing there.   Jeffrey disappeared
immediately, claiming thirst for a tall cocktail, and Sean stepped in, taking
her left hand in his right hand, and clamping his other hand firmly at her
waist.

 
"Mr. Greyson," Allie said quietly, looking up into his eyes with
trepidation.

 
"Sean," he corrected, as he pulled her in a bit closer to his long
form.

 
"Oh Lord.  What are you doing here?," Allie asked, still trying to
get a handle on what this might mean for her.

 
"I was invited," he said with a smile.  A smile that didn't reach his
eyes.  "So this is what you keep hidden under all the tweed."  He
allowed his eyes to fall on the fabric where it settled over the swell of her
full breasts, and down to where it angled in at her waist.  "The dress is
quite an improvement," he said dryly, his left hand lightly caressing the
line of her hip.

 
"Mr. Greyson," Allie started to pull away, but Sean held her tightly,
not giving her an inch.

 
"Sean, Allie.  My name is Sean."  His tone brooked no argument.

 
Allie just looked away, trying to catch her breath.  Not only was this a really
bad turn of events for her professionally, but she now found herself in the
arms of the one man that she was increasingly attracted to.  And the dark grey
suit he was wearing today only added to that attraction.  The material was
obviously expensive, and the suit draped perfectly over his hard form.  The
cologne he was wearing was subtle but appealing, and the way he was touching
her was causing her pulse to race.  This man was dangerous, she knew.  And now,
now that he knew her secret, the only defense she had was pure professionalism.

 
"How was your meeting this morning?" she asked, trying desperately to
fit back into the role of assistant.

 
Sean smiled slightly, as if he knew exactly what she was trying to do. 
"We're not going to talk work this afternoon, Allie," he said
conversationally.  "Not until I figure out what the hell I'm going to do
about you."

 
"What.... what do you mean?" she asked.

 
"You're not exactly who you have been putting yourself forth to be,
Allie."

 
Allie closed her eyes briefly, and nodded slightly, but then forced her gaze up
to meet his.  "That's true.  But I've done nothing wrong, Mr. Greyson. 
I..."

 
She felt his grip tighten, as he reminded her in a steely voice, "It's
Sean, Allie."

 
But Allie couldn't say his name.  She just couldn't.  Instead, she tried
again.  "Mr. Greyson..."

 
Sean just turned Allie on the dance floor to move her away slightly from the
rest of the group around them and stopped.  He moved the hand that had been
gripping her left hand and cupped the back of her head, forcing her face up to
his.  "Do you really want to have this conversation right now, Allie?  I
certainly don't mind, but I have a feeling that your friend Anna may not appreciate
it."

 
Allie sighed.  "No, sir.  I don't."

 
She tried to pull away, but Sean did not loosen his grip.  Instead, he moved
both arms to encircle her waist and to keep her in his embrace.

 
"I should go," Allie said quietly.  "Anna..."

 
"Anna is fine.  She's enjoying her new husband," Sean said nodding in
the direction of the newlyweds.  "Dance with me," he added quietly,
his gaze finding hers, and nearly drowning her in its intensity.

 
"But..."

 
Sean simply ignored the start of her protest and pulled her back into his arms
as the band started playing a romantic ballad.  And rather than keeping her at
arm's length, Sean kept his arms looped around her waist.  One hand moved
slowly up her back, while the other remained fastened tightly around her.

 
"Move with me, Allie," he whispered in her ear.  "I want to feel
you."

 
Allie stiffly obeyed, but steeled herself against melting into him.  Her
movements were awkward, and she kept her head turned away.  If she looked at
him, if she really looked at him, she was in trouble.

 
"Relax, sweetheart," Sean whispered in her ear.  "Today I'm just
a man you met at your friend's wedding.  I'm not your boss."

 
But Allie shook her head.  "I can't."

 
"Yes, you can," Sean insisted.  He moved his hand gently over her
back, caressing her soft skin, moving his lips to her neck and lightly kissing
her behind the ear.

 
Allie nearly groaned, and again tried to pull away, but Sean was holding her
tightly, and the only way she would break free was to cause a scene.  But she
could feel him hard against her, and it both excited and frightened her.