Taming Her Billionaire Boss(9)

As Erica left, Samantha sat for a few moments then looked down at the remains of her scrambled eggs. She just hoped she didn’t end up like her breakfast—out in the cold and barely touched.





After lunch Blake’s bad mood increased as he watched Erica leave his office, taking his assistant with her for the afternoon. They were going shopping, for Christ’s sake! For a dress for Samantha’s date tonight!

Damn Erica. His half sister was beautiful and smart, but, unlike his brothers and Melissa, he didn’t totally trust her. After listening to her for the last five minutes, he hadn’t changed his mind. She was unmistakably adroit at getting her own way, using his outburst this morning against him to make him feel guilty. It had worked like a charm, as she’d known it would.

But it was Samantha he really needed to fathom, he decided, leaning back in the leather chair. He’d woken up thinking he’d go after her with an enthusiasm he rarely felt for a woman these days.

And then it had all gone wrong. First, there had been the note slipped under his door that she’d already gone to breakfast and hadn’t waited for him. She’d never done that before, not here in Aspen or anywhere else they’d stayed throughout the world.

Then he’d found her accepting a date with that gigolo doctor, Joel Remy. That was like going out with one of the ski instructors. Didn’t Samantha know women were lined up to sleep with these guys? He’d seen it all his life.

Take a number, Samantha.

What the hell was going on here? She suddenly seemed a different person. It was like she’d decided to place being a woman first, his assistant second.

What had got into her? Was she trying to pay him back for not letting her walk out on the job early? Would she really do that? He grimaced. She was a woman, wasn’t she? She’d probably decided to have a farewell fling just to rub his nose in it.

Thoughts of Samantha in bed with another man were suddenly anathema to him. He couldn’t let her do it. He knew her and he knew she’d regret it.

And surely if she was going to make love to anyone, then she could damn well choose him. He was the one who’d worked closely with her for two years. He was the one who would appreciate her in bed. He was the one who had to save her from herself.





Three





As she descended the stairs that evening, carrying her clutch bag in one hand and her cashmere evening coat over her arm, Samantha’s foot faltered on the next step. She’d been hoping to show herself off to Blake before he left for his business dinner, and now her heart began knocking against her ribs when she saw the man in question look up from the corner bar in their lodge and catch sight of her. His glass stopped halfway to his mouth and he stared…just stared…as she slowly came the rest of the way down.#p#分页标题#e#

Thanks to Erica, she knew she looked fantastic. She’d always taken pride in her appearance and in making sure she looked right for her position, but this long-sleeved dress—this piece of hot-pink knit material that stretched over her body like it had been lovingly cling-wrapped to every curve—made her feel a little naughty.

Without taking his eyes off her, Blake put his drink on the bar and watched her walk toward him. “I’m stunned,” he said in a deep, husky voice that held true admiration and sent her pulse skipping with delight. “I’ve never seen you look so…”

“Nice?” she gently teased as her confidence soared. She would forgive him anything right at this moment. “Sexy.”

The word took her breath away. She moistened her lips and saw his blue eyes dart to her mouth. “Thank you, Blake.”

Then his gaze rolled down her, before slowly coming up again, his eyelids flicking briefly when he passed over her breasts both times. She had the feeling her nipples may have beaded with sexual excitement and one part of her wanted to hunch over and say “don’t look,” while another forced her to hold her shoulders back proudly.

His eyes—dark with a desire she’d never seen before—finally stopped at her head. “What have you done to your hair?”

She swallowed. It hadn’t taken much to style the silky brown strands into bouncing curls around her shoulders. “I had a couple of inches cut off it.”

“It looks terrific.”

This was the reaction she’d been hoping for from him. “Thank you again.”

He picked up his drink and took a sip. Then, “I have to ask you something.”

Her heart took a leap. “What is it, Blake?”

“Are you sure you want to do this?”

She blinked. “Do what?” Resign?