Beguiling the Boss(9)

On reflection, Jen appeared down-to-earth and easygoing with a good  sense of humor and an excellent work ethic, and her cooking could put  most professional chefs' offerings to shame.

But the thing that really got to him was she sang while she worked.  Even though her tone was soft it had filtered under his office door a  few times. The sound had the power to cause a strange sensation inside  him, bringing back old memories he hadn't thought about in years.

He was just a kid, a kid whose mother had left him wondering what he  had done to make her go. His father was so desolate he barely spoke to  his son.

Fortunately, Marsh had had a friend from school. His name was Ben, a  good kid whose mother, Marie, invited Marsh to come to their home  whenever he wanted to go. And, with the constant gloom and doom in the  house, Marsh was always ready to go.

Marie had a beautiful laugh, and she laughed a lot. It was a feel-good  sound that touched something in him...just like Jen's singing.

Marsh had a startling realization. Practically everything Jen did  evoked those warm sensations he had enjoyed in Ben's home. He knew Jen  would make a good wife and an excellent mother-without straining he  could almost hear her crooning to a baby.

This was what he was thinking when he looked down and realized Jen was  standing next to him. All he could do was hope she wasn't a mind reader.                       
       
           



       

* * *

Jen had obviously caught Marsh deep in thought-she could tell from the  faraway look on his face that he hadn't known she was there. She'd been  pretty lost in thought herself the whole time she'd been changing into  jeans, a pullover cotton sweater and low-heeled ankle boots. She'd  grabbed a straw cowboy hat from a hook on the wall in the laundry room,  and strode out into the beautiful October day, aware that her breath was  coming a trifle quickly the closer she got to the stables-or rather, to  Marsh.

He hadn't heard her come in, and for a moment, she'd just watched him  standing by the horses, reins in one hand as he stroked the neck of the  nearest animal with the other, an expression of deep contemplation on  his face shadowed by the brim of his hat.

For an instant, Jen had wondered how it would feel to have his hand  stroking her. She'd had that image in her head as she came to stand next  to him. And when he turned to look at her, the expression on his face  sent a sizzle up her spine, leaving her breathless.

"Ready to go?" he asked, handing a set of reins to her.

"Yes," she said, forcing her gaze from him to the horses. "They are  beautiful animals," she murmured, moving forward to stroke the white  star on the long head of her horse. She laughed as the shiny roan  nuzzled her hand. "Morgan horses?"

"Yes," he answered, offering her a smile that set off the sizzle again. "Do you need help mounting?"

Jen shook her head, certain that if he touched her, however lightly,  the sizzle would consume her. "Is she gentle?" Her voice was barely  there. She cleared her throat.

Marsh frowned. "Yes. Is something wrong?"

"No...no." Feeling like a fool, she again shook her head. "I'm fine."

"Her name is Star." He shrugged. "Applicable, if not very original."

"I think it's perfect." Smiling, Jen moved to the left side of the  horse, slipped her boot into the stirrup and swung her leg over into the  saddle. She didn't realize until she settled into the leather that  Marsh had mounted at exactly the same time.

He glanced over at her. His steely eyes held a silvery gleam. "Ready?"

"Yes." Jen nodded, suspicious of the meaning behind that gleam.

They moved off at a walk, which became a jog. Marsh turned to look at her. "Are you up for a good run?"

"I'd love it," she said.

He took off.

Laughing, she was beside him within seconds. He flashed a grin, she  returned it. The flat-out gallop was invigorating and ended much too  soon. Marsh pulled his mount up beside a narrow stream and dismounted.

Jen did likewise, following as he led his horse to the water. "What's  your horse's name?" she asked, looking over the sleek, dark brown  gelding.

"Cocoa," he said, his tone serious.

"You're kidding." She couldn't help the laugh that escaped. "Cocoa?"

"Isn't that what his color looks like?" he said, "Dark, rich cocoa?"

"Yes, delicious dark chocolate, like your hair."

The words were out before she could catch herself. She had been looking  at the horse, but her eyes instinctively found his. "I...uh..."

"Yours is golden-honey and looks like silk." His voice was low, almost a growl.

Jen was suddenly hot, an ache settling in the pit of her stomach. She  stared at him in silence a moment, searching for something to say.  "Th...thank..." Her throat went dry as he stepped close to her.

"You're beautiful." A wry smile played at the corners of his mouth.  "But then you know that." He moved to within a breath of her. "Don't  you?"

If only she could breathe. She managed to inhale. "Thank you."  Surprise, she had managed that, too. "And you're right. I do know." She  swallowed, quickly licking her lips. It didn't help-they dried again as  his gaze followed the movement of her tongue. "I've been hearing it from  the day I was born." He was standing too close, much too close. "But no  one has said it quite like you."

"I want to kiss you."

"Wh...what?" Her chest felt tight. Her heart was thumping. The ache in  her stomach swirled down to the core of her body. "Why?" Dumb, Jen, she  thought.

"I want to taste you." His breath misted her lips. "I want to find out if you taste like honey."

Yes, yes, a murmur inside her head whispered as she trembled...and parted her lips.

Marsh didn't hesitate. Lowering his head, he touched his mouth to hers  with gentle care. Then he slightly, tentatively deepened the kiss as he  pulled her into a tight embrace. She made a soft sound in her throat.  His mouth went hard to devour hers.                       
       
           



       

Oh, he is delicious, Jen mused fuzzily, curling her arms around his  taut neck and spearing her fingers through the thick strands of his  silky hair.

Releasing his hold on her, he stepped back, causing her arms to drop,  her fingers to slide from his hair. He stared hard at her. "You taste  good."

"You need a haircut." It was true, but Jen could have kicked herself  for saying it. Still, that was better, she felt sure, than admitting his  taste outdid anything she ever could have imagined.

"You're right." He laughed and raked his fingers through the wavy dark strands.

Jen loved the sound of his laughter, delighted she had been the cause  of it, wanting to make him do it again, especially knowing how seldom he  laughed.

They stood staring at each other for several long seconds. She wanted  to fling herself back into his arms, take another taste of him, this  time with her tongue.

She took a hesitant step toward him. Star chose that moment to nudge  her. She laughed and turned to pet the animal just as Cocoa gave a  whinny.

"At the risk of sounding corny and cliché," she said, "I think the horses are getting restless. I guess we'd better head back."

Marsh nodded as he moved to Cocoa. "I have a few phone calls to make."

Jen mounted, and glanced back at Marsh. Heavens, she thought, he looks magnificent on a horse.

"Who do you think enjoys it more?" He raised an eyebrow. "You or the horse?"

Jen laughed, then, clicking her tongue to get Star moving, she called back to him, "Me."

As they galloped back to the stable, Jen could barely think of anything  besides that kiss. But once they dismounted, everything went back to  the status quo. Marsh handed the horses over to a man who suddenly  appeared at his side, then without another word strode off to his  office. Jen smiled at the man, assuming he was one of the security  guards. Confused by the tumble of emotions inside her, Jen headed  inside, started the laundry and went to her apartment to change before  cleaning.

She undressed and put on the raggedy clam-diggers and shirt she'd had  on earlier. She still planned on giving a quick brush-up to the first  floor, but first, she needed a cup of coffee.

Marsh beat her to it.

When she walked into the kitchen the aroma of brewing coffee wafted to  her. Marsh was standing at the stove, stirring something in a pot. Jen  knew without looking that the pot held soup.

"I hope you don't mind me taking over your kitchen," he said, "and that  you like vegetable soup." He slid a quick glance at her, his eyebrows  arched.