Page 3 of One Night on the Naughty List

I felt his deep voice in my bones, and I could almost taste his scent—a heady mix of freshly chopped wood, spice, and maybe a hint of tobacco. As far as I knew, he didn’t smoke, but I’d seen a box of cigars on a shelf in his office, so he probably had one every now and then. Maybe he kicked back in his chair and crossed his ankles on his desk, his blue eyes gleaming through a haze of smoke. God, even the mental image of it made me wet.

“Very thirsty,” Kara said. “Trust us.”

I bit the inside of my cheek. Dammit, Kara, behave yourself.

Bain gave her a look that was equal parts amusement and confusion—his usual expression when speaking to her. “Well, um, that’s good, I guess.” He looked between the two women. “I brought coffee, but I see you already have some.”

“That’s no problem, Bain.” Kara plucked the carrier from his hand and set it on my desk. “We’ll drink your coffee.”

Alexis nodded enthusiastically, setting her bell off.

Bain seemed to notice her outfit for the first time, and he smiled. “I see you dressed for the launch, Lexi.”

He did that—gave all his employees nicknames. Kara called them “Bain names” and claimed hers (Kara Kara) came from the way he shook his head and said her name twice every time she said something inappropriate. Which was often. Everyone in the office had a Bain name.

Everyone except me.

I fixed my smile in place as I watched him and Alexis banter back and forth. If anyone’s name lent itself to a nickname, it was mine. There were so many variations with Samantha.

Sam.

Sammy.

Sammy Whammy Ding Dong.

Okay, so maybe my dad’s version was a little out there. But Bain had never given me one. Even after three years and countless late nights working one-on-one together on marketing plans and advertising campaigns, I was still just “Samantha” to him. It didn’t mean anything. He was probably just waiting for something unique to come to him. Something special and different. One day he’d say it, and I would know I was more to him than just his advertising director.

“Samantha?”

His voice snapped me out of my daze. “Yes?”

His blue eyes crinkled, the laugh lines at the corners in no way detracting from his sexiness. “I asked if you’re ready to go.”

No.I was in no way ready to spend the day—and most of the night—with Bain Thatcher.

“Yes,” I said. “Absolutely.”

“I’m going to grab a few things from my office, and I’ll meet you in the car. Oh, and bring your camera, would you? Mom puts up some pretty impressive decorations. I thought we might be able to get some holiday shots for the company.”

“No problem.”

He flashed a good-natured grin. “Fair warning, my mother is obsessed with Christmas. I hope you’re prepared for the North Pole.”

“I am.” Except I’m totally not. Not when his smile made me feel like the only woman on earth. It was a good thing I was sitting, because I was pretty sure my knees were weak.

“Great. See you out there.” He gave Kara and Alexis a wave and disappeared down the hall.

Kara waited until he was out of earshot, then turned to me. “What do you say, Sam, are you prepared for—”

I held up a hand. “Do not say Bain’s pole.”

She opened her mouth.

“Or stocking. Or Yule log.” Good grief, why did Christmas have so many sexual innuendos?

She pressed a hand to her chest. “I would never.”

I relaxed my shoulders.

“I was only going to say I hope you jingle his balls. I mean bells!” She and Alexis high-fived, both of them cackling like hyenas.

All I could do was shake my head as I pushed back from my desk and grabbed my bag. It had everything I needed—change of clothes, toothbrush, a little bit of makeup, and the special outfit the mall saleswoman insisted was “stunning” on me.

Yeah, right. She also earned a commission on every purchase.

But it was too late to change things now. Bain was waiting.

I stuffed my camera in the bag. See? It’s a marketing meeting. He wouldn’t have asked me to bring it if he intended this to be a date. I could handle marketing, and I could handle my attraction to Bain Thatcher. I’d done it for three years. I could manage another three hours.

I just wasn’t sure what I was going to do about the night.

---