Page 341 of The Christmas Wife

“No, I’m not.”

“If you weren’t, you wouldn’t have mentioned it,” I point out.

“What do you— Wait… You— I—" Finally, she throws her hands up. “Aargh. Even if I were considering it, which I’m not, you’d be the last man I’d marry.”

“Oh?”

“Oh,yes.” She tips up her chin. "You’re too arrogant, too unfeeling, too conceited. You’re the kind of man?—"

"—you’d prefer to fuck you."

Color flushes her cheeks. "Excuse me, did you use the F-word with your employee?"

"Get used to it."

"You’re breaking every rule in the employee handbook,” she informs me.

"I’m paying you enough to look past it."

She rubs at her temples. "This is all too much. I’m definitely not going to marry you. In fact, I’m not even sure I want to work for you?—"

"Yet, here you are."

"You caught me at a vulnerable time." Her shoulders slump. "I suppose, that’s what makes you good at your job. You see an advantage and move in. It’s annoying; except, a part of me can’t help but admire it, too." A determined look comes into her features. "I want to be more like you."

"No, you don’t."

She sets her jaw. "Yes, I do."

"Trust me, you don’t."

"You don’t understand. You’re confident and in control of your destiny. You can do what you want, when you want, how you want, and no one’s going to stop you."

"Who’s going to stop you?"

She opens her mouth, then seems to catch hold of herself. "Doesn’t matter."

"Of course, it matters. Everything you say or think matters."

She flushes a little. "That’s not a very professional thing to say."

You make me forget what it is to maintain a professional relationship. In fact, I’d rather we skip the professional etiquette and head to the more personal stuff and—what the—!I stiffen.Why is it that talking to her tempts me to break the vow I made to myself?In the three years since my last relationship, I haven't been with another woman. I haven’t been interested in much else, except spending time on my own. I used to hang out with the Seven, but it became too painful to see Ava with Baron, so I reduced the amount of time I spent with them.

After leaving the church, and after fucking up the opportunity I had with Ava, I travelled the world, searching for a challenge, a focus, anything to get my mind off what I could not have. It’s what led me to accept the post of the General Manager for the London Ice Kings, and now, the role of the CEO of the Davenport group of companies.

Perhaps that’s what she is—a challenge. Is that why I haven’t been able to get her out of my mind since I met her?

"You’d prefer for us to keep our relationship professional?"

"Is that a trick question?" She frowns.

"You want control over your destiny. This is me giving you the chance to define this relationship."

She rubs at her temple. "You’re confusing me. There shouldn’t even be a choice here. You’re my boss. I’m your assistant, who’s been working for you for less than a day. Of course, I want our relationship to be professional."

"Okay."

She seems taken aback. "That’s it? Okay?"

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