Page 10 of Some Like It Hott

Yes, I checked. The universe has spontaneously served me up a Hot Man in a Suit. I challenge any single, straight woman with a pulse not to try to figure out if this guy’s married.

Although it’s pointless.

Because things never work out between men like him and women like me. They’re all business, and I’m a party. They take themselves and everything else seriously, and I’m still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up.

But it doesn’t stop me from having to wipe imaginary drool from both corners of my mouth.

It might be the stern look and the crease between his dark eyebrows. The set of his jaw or the harsh twist of his lush mouth.

Whatever it is, I have to force my eyes away from him and back to my boss’s face.

Which is pained.

Whatever the bad news is, it involves this man. And that makes sense because no matter what happens next, I already know he’s bad news for me.

“Preston,” Hanna says, “this is Natalie Archer. I’ve, er, hired her to be Hott Springs Eternal’s activities coordinator.”

His scowl deepens, making my heart beat faster, out of both fear and lust.

“That’s unfortunate,” he says.

Yikes.

Nice to meet you, too, Preston.

5

Preston

Natalie’s face falls. Which is understandable, considering my words. But I can’t walk on eggshells here. I have less than a month to do the impossible, and she’s the first obstacle.

“I assume Hanna told you the bad news.”

“Preston, hang on,” Hanna says.

“We’re going to have to let you go.”

“Jesus, Preston! Hang the fuck on!”

My sister is furious.

“You can’t barge in here and start— Natalie, you’re not being let go. Preston, sit the fuck down.” Hanna buries her face in her hands momentarily. “There’s a simple solution to this. Natalie, I’m sorry. My brother is—” She throws up her hands.

Natalie is taking all this surprisingly well. She stands up and holds her hand out to me. “Natalie Archer.”

Her eyes—a cinnamon-brown color—are curious but not panicked. She’s shorter than I am by almost a foot, with curly dark brown hair, and she’s wearing a loose tunic-style top over a pair of leggings. A lot of her is hidden, but the part of my brain that never shuts up registers that her curves are…generous.

She’s extremely attractive.

Which has no bearing whatsoever on the situation, so my brain and I agree to disregard it.

“This is my brother Preston Hott.” Hanna’s voice is aggrieved. “Like all my brothers, he’s an acquired taste. Which can also be unacquired.” She turns back to me and glares.

I glare back. Mergers and acquisitions is a good school for standing your ground.

“Don’t listen to anything he says until he listens to whatIhave to say. First of all, he doesn’t have the power to let you go because he doesn’t actuallyown this business.” She glares at me again. “I’m your boss, and he’s…” She sighs. “He’s basically the mother-in-law of the bride in this scenario.”

Natalie bites her lip—holding back a smile, I think.

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