Teasing The Boss (10 page)

She pulled away and raised a brow. “You think him being with me has something to do with you?” She injected as much shock and indignation in the question as possible. Even if he happened to be right, it was an asshole thing to say to her face.

“Hey, you’re a drop dead gorgeous woman, so I’m sure he’s happy to be the one on your arm. I’m only pointing out that it’s suspicious.”

She stood, ignoring her protesting feet. “I’m glad you had fun tonight, Mark. I have a few things to check on, if you’ll excuse me.”

“Damn it, Grace. I’m sorry.” He pushed out of the chair. “I am happy to see you tonight, though. If you ever want to talk about anything at all, don’t hesitate to call.”

She tightened her lips, trying to figure out how pissed was the right amount of angry. She didn’t want to burn bridges with him, but she had a right to defend herself. “Thanks,” she bit out as she turned to storm away. She did add a bit more sway to her hips as she walked, not above showing him a twinge of what he was missing out on.

She moved into the kitchen and took stock of where the final caterer of the evening was on cleaning up after themselves. Once she determined that everything was going according to plan, she went into the employee locker room, where she’d stashed her duffel of supplies. She traded her heels for sneakers and decided to take a look at the golf course. It was her responsibility to report any exceptional messes or mix-ups to the club’s management. Although the golf tournament had ended hours ago, she knew that drunk people loved to go sneaking off and causing havoc. No matter how distinguished the executive, everyone was unpredictable once the blood alcohol levels started to climb.

It was a job that was probably better suited to Andre, but despite the exhaustion that crept up on her, she would love the chance to get some fresh air and stretch her legs.

The well-manicured lawns and perfectly landscaped hills and slopes seemed to take on an ethereal quality at night, lit only by the moonlight and fading lights from the ballroom. Grace considered herself an extrovert. She got off on the crowds of people and the rush from knowing she was the reason they were all enjoying themselves so much. But even so, she relished these quiet moments after a hectic evening.

Footsteps sounded from behind her, and Grace turned to see Simon approaching. Not running. Of course not. He caught up using the confident stride she was becoming so used to. “Done with the party?” She stopped to let him catch up.

“I wanted to say hi.” He came up alongside her and they both started to walk at a slow pace.

“Because it would look good for people to see us together?” She inwardly frowned at the unexpected bitterness in her voice. There was nothing wrong with him wanting to make sure the ruse he’d made up to help her continued. She was the one who should be going out of her way to keep it up.

But last night had confused things. As much as she tried to keep her mind from straying back to when his mouth moved over hers and his hands were on her skin, it was impossible to avoid. Good grief, he’d brought her to orgasm without much more than a kiss. She’d ridden him like a wanton woman. And for the life of her, she couldn’t figure out what he thought of the whole situation.

She’d half imagined his controlled, structured mind laughing at her outburst. Giggling at how quickly she came undone. But then he’d seemed so serious this morning when he told her not to be sorry.

“So did you meet anyone interesting?” she asked as they passed the third hole.

He shrugged. “Interesting is relative. It was a who’s who of Fortune 500 in there.”

She laughed. “Relative how?”

“Honestly, I think you’re more interesting than most of those people in there.”

She shook her head as she studied him, trying to read whether he was making some sort of joke. “Before the media decided I was a harlot and sleeping with a married senator, I can promise you that I was a very boring woman.”

“I don’t think anyone with a pit bull named Princess can be called boring.”

She fell silent. Normally she could take a compliment rather well, but hearing someone like Simon call her fascinating left her speechless.

“So what were you and Mark talking about?” he asked.

She looked away from him. So that was why he’d run out to talk to her. Not to see how she was doing or flatter her ego. To ask about Mark. “He was warning me away from you.”

“Really?” he asked, his full attention now on her.

“Yep. He suspects you were the reason the Donald Hunt deal fell through.”

He rubbed a hand on the back of his neck. “He told you about Hunt? Did he normally mention client names to you?”

She shook her head. “Never. He was adamant about client privacy when we were together.”

“So he must really want you to stay away from me then.”

“Be careful with him. He obviously already suspects something. If he’s as devious as you say, I’m sure he isn’t afraid to play dirty.”

Simon raised a brow and looked her over. “Are you worried about me?”

“I’m a worrier in general. It’s in my nature.” A breeze ripped through the trees around them, rustling a few leaves free, and sent a shiver through her.

“Shit,” muttered Simon as he pulled his jacket off. “Here.” He set it over her shoulders.

As his warmth enveloped her, she let her eyes drift shut. “It will probably look better if I’m wearing your jacket,” she murmured.

“And you won’t freeze to death,” he said.

“It’s June in the Hamptons. I don’t think freezing to death is likely.”

She wrapped the fabric tightly around her, enjoying the protection from the wind way too much. “I’m probably going to get it all wrinkled,” she admitted.

“I can get it pressed later.” He didn’t seem all too concerned.

Once again silence fell over them and she ran through possible conversation topics. She had to constantly remind herself that they were working together. This wasn’t some close friend who she could joke with about the various figurative, and one literal, fires that had been put out that day. She couldn’t tell him how cute Princess had been as she bit at the waves during her four a.m. walk.

“A few people told me that you’d said some very complimentary things about my work tonight. I might be getting a few new clients, thanks to you,” she said.

He shrugged. “Anyone there tonight knows that you’re good at what you do. It’s not like I had to say much. Your work speaks for itself.”

She beamed up at him. “You really think everyone had fun tonight? I mean, everyone told me they enjoyed it, but it’s always nice to hear from someone else.”

“Fishing for compliments now?” he asked.

“Honest feedback.”

He stopped and stared down at her. “No lies. You’re the best at what you do. Anyone can see it.”

Her breath caught in her throat as she met his serious gaze. “Don’t do this, Simon.”

His brow furrowed. “Do what?”

She took a step back. “Act like this is real. As though you actually like me.” He reached out for her, but she twisted away.

“I do like you,” he said, following her retreat.

“Do you?” She held her ground now and looked up at him. “Or am I just convenient?”

“What are you talking about?” he bit out.

Something about his tone and rigid back told her he knew exactly what she meant. “You need something from me. You need me on your side. Wouldn’t it be easier for you if our fake tryst became real?”

He clenched his jaw as he stared down at her. “What do you want me to say?”

She rubbed a hand over her eyes as exhaustion set in. The endless events of the day finally caught up to her.

She didn’t even know what she wanted from him. “I want…I mean, listen. I admit that I enjoy being with you, and I don’t think anyone in their right mind wouldn’t find you insanely attractive. But as long as I know you want something from me, I’m not going to believe anything is genuine.”

A muscle ticked in his jaw. “You think I’d lie to you?”

“I think you’d lie to yourself if it would help you get a job done. I’ll help you. I promise. But don’t turn me into a pawn that you manipulate. We’re partners, Simon. Purely platonic partners.”

“You’re wrong.” His dark eyes met hers and the intensity of his gaze pulled her in like a trap. “I want you, Grace. And that has nothing to do with DuFord, or your company.”

For a brief second, she let herself believe his words. That this all-powerful, all-knowing sorcerer somehow wanted her for her. Because he enjoyed her company and liked what he saw. But in the short time she’d known Simon, he’d never acted without calculated purpose and reason. Every action had a reaction that he’d planned down to a T.

She blinked rapidly, trying to clear her head and break the spell. “Dean will give me a ride home.” She turned away and refused to look back. “I’ll see you back at the cottage.”

“What?” Simon barked into the phone.

“Rough night?” Victoria’s sultry voice didn’t lose any of its impact through the tiny speaker.

“You could say that.” He fell back into the wood rocking chair on the deck that overlooked the steady waves. “How are things on your end? Did you get a chance to look at those projections?” Victoria was silent and Simon sat up straighter. “Victoria. What’s going on?”

“Dad’s in the hospital.” Her tone was as calm and collected as ever, and he couldn’t get a read on her mood.

“Shit,” he whispered. “What happened?”

“I need you back here, Simon. Dad’s heart is failing him faster than anyone ever expected. They put him in a medically induced coma for now, but no one knows if he’s going to come out of it. Terry’s back in town, and I need some more people on my side here.”

Simon clenched the phone in his fist. Richard Green had always had the grand plan to leave his chain of hardware stores to his family. Only he’d never planned on his daughter being the only business-minded one of his two kids. Hence the ineptly titled Green & Sons hardware chain.

“Do you think Terry’s going to cause trouble?” he asked.

“Don’t ask questions you already know the answer to, West. You’re better than that. I know he wants control back. I just don’t know how far he’s willing to go to get it.”

Simon rubbed at his temples as his mind formulated all the ways Terry could use Richard’s rapidly declining health to his advantage. “I’ll be in your office first thing tomorrow morning,” he promised.

“Good,” she said simply. “I’ll see you then.”

The line went dead and he slammed the phone down on the armrest.

“Whoa. What’s going on?”

He twisted in the chair and his jaw dropped. “What are you wearing?” he blurted out. He blinked a few times to clear his head. He didn’t
blurt
things.

Grace frowned. “What’s wrong with this dress?”

He sucked in a deep breath. Nothing was wrong with the dress. She looked amazing. Her hair falling against the thin, white sundress made her look like an angel. She looked so different from the sleek, sophisticated woman who’d thrown two hundred socialites in a room together and managed them successfully the night before.

“Nothing’s wrong,” he said. “You just look different.”

She tilted her head as she looked down at him. “In a good way or a bad way?” she asked skeptically.

He looked her over. His eyes lingered on her long legs, which only looked longer in her strappy sandals. The puffy skirt was made of a material so fine, he was sure if he stared long enough, he’d be able to see the outline of her body. “A good way,” he croaked out.

She rolled her eyes. “Well, I’m ready to get to Mark’s barbeque whenever you are. The sooner we get this over with, the better, you know?”

She smiled down at him and he bit back the urge to ask whether it was fake.

He nodded as he pushed himself off the chair.

~~~~~

DuFord’s home was an exercise in opulence. The shiny marble floors glistened from the sunlight streaming in from the massive windows in the atrium-like living room that stretched up the entire three stories of the main section of the house.

Grace wrapped her arm around his and leaned in close enough for him to smell the delicate floral hint to her shampoo. “The hall to the left leads to Mark’s rooms. His bedroom and study are right next to each other. Ohh!” She squeaked as her bracelet clattered on the white floors. As she went to pick it up, her foot kicked the silver chain to the side and past Simon.

His brows furrowed together as he bent to pick up the bracelet, taking his time as he stood to take a good look at the hallway Grace mentioned. Most of the guests seemed to be out the back, so he had a mostly clear shot, but anyone on the crowded patio would have a perfect view of him if he went there.

Simon turned back to Grace and dangled the bracelet in front of her. “Lose something?”

“I’m so clumsy sometimes.” She held her wrist out to him.

He shook his head as he clasped the jewelry around her small wrist. “You’re enjoying this too much.”

She shrugged. “I’m just trying to help. Are you just going to walk on in there? What’s the plan?”

Simon interlaced his fingers with hers and led her out onto the brick patio. “We’ll mingle for a while.” He leaned in close so only she could hear. “Once everyone is a bit more settled, I’ll try to slip away.”

She nodded. “Do you want me to cause a distraction or anything? I can knock over a bottle of wine and spill something on that woman’s dress.”

He followed her gaze to a tall, slender brunette who stood by the hors d’oeuvres. “What did she ever do to you?”

Grace smirked. “Not her. The dress is worth a fortune. I guarantee you if I get anything on it, you’ll hear her screaming all the way in Jersey.”

“You have a very devious mind.”

She beamed up at him as though it was the nicest compliment. “Seriously. Tell me what you want. I’m here to help you.”

Simon snatched a drink from a passing waiter and took a deep swallow of the much too tame alcohol. If she only knew what he wanted.

Except Grace did know. She didn’t want to go there, and he had to respect that. He didn’t have to be happy about it, though. “At some point tonight, DuFord is going to try to get you alone. When he does, keep him busy. That’s when I’ll do it.”