Opening the door quietly, Kate stepped inside. The team was focused on the dark-suited man talking at the head of the table.
His face was in profile, but he turned and stopped speaking as Kate entered and she was blasted by the full force of his gaze. Pinned in place by topaz eyes.
Oh. No. Her Saturday night’s casual encounter was her new boss? Surely it wasn’t possible. Perhaps he just looked like that guy because he’d invaded her mind.
‘Good morning, Ms…?’
His aftershave wafted beneath her nose. Expensive. Spicy. Familiar.
She clenched her hands together and dared to look straight into those eyes she was already too well acquainted with. She schooled her voice to chilly formality as she said, ‘Kate Fielding.’
‘Ah. Kate.’ He nodded, his eyes imprisoning hers for probably only a second or two, but it felt agonisingly like minutes. ‘Damon Gillespie. You were incommunicado yesterday. Was it an eventful Saturday night?’
When not teaching or writing, Anne Oliver loves nothing more than escaping into a book. She keeps a box of tissues handy—her favourite stories are intense, passionate, against-all-odds romances. Eight years ago she began creating her own characters in paranormal and time travel adventures, before turning to contemporary romance. Other interests include quilting, astronomy, all things Scottish, and eating anything she doesn’t have to cook. Sharing her characters’ journeys with readers all over the world is a privilege…and a dream come true. Anne lives in Adelaide, South Australia, and has two adult children. Visit her website at www.anne-oliver.com. She loves to hear from readers. E-mail her at [email protected]
Recent titles by the same author:
PREGNANT BY THE PLAYBOY TYCOON
BUSINESS IN THE BEDROOM
THE EX FACTOR
Dear Reader
It’s always especially sad to hear about the death of someone young. A life over before it’s barely begun. In HOT BOSS, WICKED NIGHTS I wanted to explore how two people who deal with their losses in very different ways can learn from each other and risk falling in love again.
At first glance Damon Gillespie might seem like an irresponsible thrill-seeker. An adrenaline junkie, into extreme sports with no fear of death—not the kind of man who should be taking over his deceased uncle’s ailing travel agency business, in Kate Fielding’s opinion. Kate, on the other hand, is afraid to take chances after a disastrous relationship failure and the loss of a family member. Work is her life, and office romance is definitely off the agenda. But suddenly her new boss is diverting her attention and the office is the last place she wants to be.
Damon can’t resist drawing the take-no-risks Kate out of her shell. After all, he knows there’s a warm, passionate woman inside who’s in need of some fun and loving. And he’s just the man to give it to her—while he’s in Melbourne. Because he has no intention of sticking around longer than necessary. But Damon is beginning to realise his resolve not to get involved is proving more difficult every day. In fact the greatest challenge he faces is not the risk to his life, but the risk to his heart.
There’s something forbidden about office romance, and very appealing. I hope you enjoy my first office romance story, with a side trip to Bali and a BASE jump in KL, as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Best wishes
Anne
HOT BOSS, WICKED NIGHTS
BY
ANNE OLIVER
Many thanks to Meg Sleighthome
for her invaluable assistance.
CHAPTER ONE
A CONDOM? Kate stared into the organza pouch that the inebriated vestal virgin—aka the bride-to-be—had just dangled on her finger as if it were about to spontaneously combust.
She ignored the other recipients’ smirks—all single girlfriends who appreciated the humour—but her free hand fisted with embarrassment against the filmy skirt of her belly-dancer’s costume. Hen dos and their sexual innuendoes weren’t her thing. How was straight-down-the-line all-work-and-no-play Kate Fielding going to cope with the rest of the evening with a condom burning a hole in her hand? Even if it was disguised as a lavender bag.
Thank goodness most of her face was veiled because she could feel a riot of crimson exploding into her cheeks. ‘Ah…I um…’
‘Go for it, Kate,’ Sheri-Lee told her. ‘You only live once.’ While Kate stood speechless, Sheri snatched the tiny organza pouch from Kate’s fingers and tucked it out of sight beneath the beaded waistband of her friend’s skirt against her right hip. ‘Casually single until you meet Mr Right.’
A chorus of girly giggles broke out as if the idea was absurd. Kate couldn’t help feeling a little hurt. And self-conscious. Was she the only one here over twenty-one?
‘Thanks…I think.’ A strangled laugh escaped her and she looked longingly towards the door. She noticed some of the girls had spilled out of the private room in search of male company and were mingling with hotel patrons near the bar. Escape. Before anyone else could elaborate on the sad status of her life. ‘Excuse me, I just need…’ A breather. Her costume jingled as she ducked around an Amazon warrior queen and Cleopatra, then squeezed past what looked like a female version of a sixties Russian spy.
She let out a sigh as cooler air enveloped her. Less raucous here. Dim lighting lent an intimate atmosphere to the quaint but tiny turn-of-the-century pub in Sydney’s trendy suburb of Paddington, a few steps from Kate’s office. Wandering to the wall plastered with its familiar framed pictures of the pub in its early years, she sipped the champagne she’d been holding for over an hour. But she wasn’t seeing them, she was seeing her ex-fiancé.
Every hen night evoked the same sharp reminders. She should be married with kids by now. Her sister—her much younger sister, Rosa—was going to beat her to it. No thanks to Nick.
She shook her head. She was not going to think about Nick. Or how he’d betrayed her with another woman after she’d given him three years of her life. Three precious child-bearing years. And she was happy Rosa had found true love.
So what if Kate had turned thirty last month and—if her father’s attitude was anything to go by—was rushing headlong into spinsterhood? Since Nick’s defection Kate had never deviated from the narrow path she’d set herself and walked on the wild side. Her choice, she reminded herself, and a good thing. But the little bump of the organza bag against her hip stirred something hot and primal deep in her belly, calling up other times…
Oh…drat.
The aromas of Italian and Middle Eastern cuisine mingled on the air as suppertime approached. She wished it would hurry up so she could make her excuses and leave.
Sheri-Lee had met her Mr Right. She was getting married and leaving work and she was doing both next week. Still, Kate wondered…Why did marriage often mean the end of paid employment? Independence?
She almost felt sorry for Sheri-Lee. Love always seemed to involve sacrifice, women’s sacrifice. Except that Sheri radiated happiness and couldn’t wait to resign and set up house.
Four years ago Kate had nearly fallen into that trap herself. Forget that she’d have fallen willingly, safe in the knowledge that Nick loved her. In hindsight she knew it hadn’t been love at all on his part.
So…casually single?
Dream on, Kate. She didn’t have time for