Page 10 of More Than A Boss

“Um, I would have to get a pole to fish them out. Thanks anyway!” she laughed at his surprised expression.

“How is your salad?” he asked.

“Fabulous! The chicken breast is seasoned to perfection, the ham is obviously fresh baked and not just deli meat, and there are enough hardboiled eggs to feed a family of four! What’s not to like? Yummy. Honestly, there are almost as many calories in my salad as are in your burger and fries, but who’s counting? Not me.” She grinned.

A short time later, the waitress returned with their bill and batted her eyes at Zane as she leaned over the table with cleavage in full display. Looking him straight in the eye she said, “You, sir, are a heartbreaker. Take good care of this skinny little thing and try to fatten her up a little!” Winking at Allie, she strutted away, hips swaying, to seat some new arrivals.

“Well, I guess she told me. Now I’m on a mission. Our grocery shopping just took on a whole new importance.” He grinned at Allie as they rose from the table. He held her coat so she could slip her arms into the sleeves. He reached into his back pocket for his wallet and pulled out a fifty to settle the bill. Walking back to their booth, he left a very generous tip and called out a thank you. He pulled on his own jacket as they made their way to the exit. The bells on the door made a jingling sound as he opened it, and they headed for the car.

—

They arrived at the lake house after buying way too much food, as far as Allie was concerned. It was enough for a whole week, but Zane assured her he would make use of anything leftover. She hadn’t been sure what to expect of the accommodations, but it wasn’t what she saw before her. She had thought it might be a rustic cabin or small cottage, so she was totally unprepared for the large waterfront home. It was situated on a cul-de-sac, which provided plenty of privacy. She was speechless. Now it felt more like a luxury vacation that she was getting paid to go on! Who would have known?

“Well then, I guess we won’t have to be concerned with sleeping arrangements,” Allie said tongue-in- cheek.

“Oh, I wasn’t worried, Allie Rose.” He raised his eyebrows suggestively with a devilish smile.

She playfully glared at him and quickly changed the subject by grabbing a few bags and shoving them toward Zane, saying, “Lead the way, Mr. Dunn.”

He just laughed out loud, taking the bags from Allie and followed her suggestion.

Upon entering the main living quarters of the house, the panorama from the open kitchen, dining room, and living area was simply breathtaking. The entire wall facing the lake was windows and sliding glass doors that opened on to a massive deck. There was plenty of outdoor seating, lounges, couches, and chairs, just waiting for their colorful cushions to be thrown on. A large, covered eight-person hot tub graced the corner closest to the water. It could be a home right out of Architectural Digest, Allie thought. Its location, right on a bluff, gave them an unobstructed view of the water. Zane informed her that there were stairs and a drive leading down to the private beach and the docking area where the boat was.

He made several trips, unloading their luggage and groceries while Allie became somewhat familiarized with the kitchen while putting the groceries away. With the wine and perishables already tucked away in the fridge, she began to open cabinets to put away the dry goods and spices. Zane came up behind her to help, as she was trying to reach a shelf a little too high for her stature, when the sudden feel of his body heat, close to her back, made her feel weak-kneed. When she tried to turn, she bumped up against him only to find herself facing him with about an inch between their bodies. Oh dear, she thought, glancing up at his lips. She unconsciously licked her own lips, causing him to inhale sharply.

He placed his hands on the counter, putting his arms on either side of her, and just leaned his forehead against hers and whispered, “Don’t do that.”

He was so close she could feel his breath. “Do what?” she replied breathlessly.

“You know what,” he said, with his forehead still resting against hers.

“I really don’t,” she said, now starting to get irritated.

“Licking your lips while looking at me with those liquid brown eyes!” Zane said seductively.

“Pardon me, YOU are the one who came up behind ME! Why don’t you just learn to keep your distance,” she replied defensively, pushing softly against his muscular chest.

“Touché,” he responded, backing up, and, with a salute of his hand, said, “I stand corrected.”

“Well, now that we have that settled, where do I park my bags?” Allie inquired scrambling to regain her composure. Anxious to put some distance between them, she retreated to the other side of the room to grab her things. “I’d like to call my mom and sister-in-law to let them know I’ve made it safely and also to freshen up a bit.” Secretly, she felt like she was running from a firestorm. Unfortunately, that storm resided within, so there would be no escape.

After splashing her face with some cold water and making her phone calls, she felt more like herself. Now she had a chance to study her surroundings. Much like the rest of the house, it was pure luxury. An inviting king-sized sleigh bed with a cream-colored duvet was topped with a half-dozen pillows of assorted sizes, patterns and colors. There was a matching soft cream shag rug over cherry hardwood floors. The large window provided a view of the wooded lot adjacent to the house.

There was an en suite adjoining the bedroom that was practically as big as her guest bedroom at the farmhouse. The double walk-in shower had white tiles from floor to ceiling. A his-and-her white marble sink with a full mirror behind ran the length of the wall. The bath had all the latest bathroom fixtures, of course. Sumptuous white towels hung from racks, with extras neatly folded on shelving. The dark navy tiled floor appeared to be heated, as she spied the wall switch to activate that feature. Oh, she thought, I could get used to this!

How in the heck did she ever think that Zane Dunn was aloof, she wondered, returning to her earlier musings? He was all smoldering embers under that calm exterior. Out of the office environment, he was revealing a much more dynamic side that up until now she had only caught glimpses of. He wasn’t all brains, looks, and bossiness. He was displaying a carefree side. She would even go as far as to say he was fun to be with. She was still trying to wrap her mind around this information when her cellphone started chirping.

The screen said it was a private number, but she answered anyway. “Hello?”

Just heavy breathing as she strained to hear the person on the other end. “Hello?” she said again.

Still no response. Allie felt a chill go down her spine. She gave it one more try before hanging up the phone. Shake it off, girl, she said to herself. Wrong number obviously. Yet she still had a vague sense of uneasiness as she made her way back to Zane.

“What’s wrong, Allie? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Concern etched his features.

“I just had a prank call. I’m sure it was just a wrong number, but the breathing rattled me a bit,” she admitted.

“Did the caller say anything?” he inquired.

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