Page 14 of Secret Billionaire

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Faye could hardly believe that it had been two weeks since Jesse had started working for her. They’d discovered that they worked remarkably well together. In no time at all they’d fallen into a comfortable rhythm albeit with an intensely sexual overlay.

“Faye!”

She walked outside onto the deck for the third time in the last hour, hands on her hips, trying hard not to smile, “Can I help you?”

“Could you please turn on some country tunes? This pop music is driving me bat shit crazy! You’re killing me.”

“Anyone in particular you’d like me to stream, your highness?”

Positioned on his hands and knees, and no shirt, he looked up at her grinning, and her breath hitched at the sight of him. “Brett Young station.”

Her eyebrows rose, “Anything else?”

“Some water when you get the time. And I might need your help in a few minutes. I need to do some more measurements and figure out exactly where you’d like to see this bar and arbor placed.”

“Let me take care of the music first, then I’ll grab some water for you.”

He winked. A sure sign he knew he was being a diva. “Thanks, darlin’.”

“Anything to keep the help happy.”

He chuckled. “When I agreed to help you out, I had pictured you on your hands and knees, by my side, handing me nails... I’m lonely out here all by myself.”

She rolled her eyes, “And they say women are high maintenance.”

“Your point?”

“I’m not inside twiddling my thumbs you know,” she teased.

“You sure about that?”

Her eyes narrowed and she was about to let him have it when she saw the gleam in his eyes. She didn’t go for the bait this time. Shaking her head, she went back inside to do his bidding. After changing the music, she reached into the cooler and grabbed an ice-cold bottle of water, hesitated, then pulled another one out for herself.

When she returned, Faye found him sitting on the deck floor, legs extended, leaning back on his elbows. His muscular pecs and six pack abs were on full seductive display. Same pencil tucked behind one ear. Her earlier curiosity about shirt or no shirt was answered. His torso was a golden-tanned washboard…matching the parts she’d already admired.

She swallowed hard then leaned down to pass him the water. After plopping beside him, she crossed her legs and took a long swig. She looked out across the water. “Heaven on earth isn’t it?”

His gazed followed hers and he nodded, “Pretty much.”

Faye was quiet, taking in the moment. The sun shone, and the temperature had climbed into the low seventies. The briny sea air and squawking of the shore birds were hypnotic. The slight breeze stirred her hair, tickling her cheek. She brushed it back. Brett Young crooned in the background about mercy and a broken heart.

“This must be why there is such a thing as island time,” Faye said.

“Yep.”

She heated as he turned his attention back to her. His eyes burned a trail across her skin. She met his gaze—big mistake. His eyes smoldered with desire. Her belly flip-flopped and she suddenly became aware of a warmth between her thighs.

“Faye,” he said gruffly.

She pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around them before burying her face. He reached out and traced his fingers across her bare arm, sending jolts of electricity through her entire body. Lifting her head, she whispered, “Jess, I don’t think this is a good idea.”

“Why not?”

“Because technically, I’m your boss…and I don’t want to lead you on. I’m not entirely healed from the last breakup.”

“How’s that?” he asked gently.

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