Unexpectedly, Amaya found herself enjoying the hotel’s dinner dance.It wasn’t an exceptionally lavish function they attended—that was the type of thing that had gotten the company into a mess in the first place—but it was a genuine, feel-good party, and Chase was the man everyone wanted to greet. His prowess had salvaged a sinking ship and, in the process, saved hundreds of jobs.And Chase was a very nice date.He turned off his phone the moment they arrived, and he remembered to introduce her to enough people so that when he was circulating, she didn’t feel like a complete spare part. He even swapped his chocolate and nougat mousse with her when she landed with the lemon torte, and when the dancing started, he didn’t ditch her just because she was a work date, even though on many occasions he could have. In fact, apart from one duty dance with the CEO’s wife and a long conversation with some potential investors, Chase never appeared off duty."Thank you…" He held her loosely in his
One month later, Amaya’s rented Toyota swerved on the dusty, potholed driveway of the Johnson farm, and Amanda bit back a curse. "What the f*ck is wrong with him?" Cursing her way into the massive farmland of his boss, she grumbled to herself. "In this Godforsaken town? Seriously? What the hell is he doing here anyway?"Her average driving skills had little to do with the state of the road or the unwelcome memories of their shared goodnight kisses in his office a week before going to Los Angeles assailing her and everything to do with the naked man bent over a thresher.Semi-naked, technically, as her gaze riveted on the tantalising expanse of her broad back, glistening.Shit!The muscles shifted, bunched, and slid as he straightened and thrust his hands into his back pockets of ripped, faded denim, and as her greedy gaze strayed to his buttocks, she suddenly wished she hadn’t stayed away so long.A few months in JC Johnson had been a sane choice, a safe choice considering what she’d
"Here we go again," she grumbled to herself.His teasing smile slammed into her, the familiarity of it making her gasp.Was he playing? No, maybe a little, but he was in mourning.Play….Play….She didn’t play anymore. Her playing days had stopped when she hightailed it out of Tyler and Mary’s wedding and never looked back.Work helped her forget everything. Her son’s well-being only mattered.Work proved how far she’d come.Work gave her the hard-fought independence she’d clawed her way to the top for—an independence that guaranteed she’d never have to look back.Biting back a pithy retort, she ducked into the car and grabbed the Manila folder from the passenger seat."What you do in your spare time isn’t my concern, Mr. Johnson. I’m here because it's my job.""Whatever this job of yours is about—""Seriously? I'm here to make you sign this. Nothin fancy…"He fixed her with a probing stare—a potent stare that sent a ripple of unease through her.She almost banged her head on the door
"Why the hell would I..."To Chase’s delight, Amaya blushed, her gaze lingering on his chest for a few too many seconds.Oh, this just got better and better, he thought to himself. "Come on, Miss Patterson, it's not like you have another choice. My farm house is the most modern dwelling here in the town.""That won’t be necessary—""There is an inn there, but surely you’ll hate the bed bugs there. My extra rooms have all the amenities of a hotel."Amaya sighed, "Of course, it’s super modern; what did I expect?" Yes, she never expected mundane things with her boss; of course, he'd make his stay like a five-star one. But could she stay? After the kiss? Could she stay in a house with him alone?"Mocking becomes your hobby, I see. I like that." Chase leaned closer, her awareness of him evident in the widening of her pupils, the tip of her tongue darting out to moisten her bottom lip, and his gut clenching with how badly he still wanted her.Maybe he should tell her the truth now and be do
"So let's talk about signing the papers," Amaya said. Memories slammed into her: snuggling in the crook of his arm under their sheets, lying on top of him along her fake dark wig, nuzzling his neck as they made love... She gulped a lungful of air—or several—to ease her breathlessness.Chase's scent was so evocative and rich in memories that she struggled to remember what he’d just asked her.Casting a curious glance her way, he sat opposite her, his knees in close proximity to hers, and she surreptitiously sidled back to avoid accidental contact."Come on, Amaya. We can talk about that later, but for now, enjoy the wine."That was all she needed. As if she hadn’t made enough of a fool of herself already."So what do you think of my little farm house?" Chase asked her with a little tease in his voice, to which Amaya knew so much; he was trying to get on her nerves again."Little? Seriously?""Well, considering that it had three bedrooms, I consider it little by my standard."She manage
"What?" Amaya’s eyes widened. "Are you kidding me?""Do I look like I know how to joke around?" Chase smirked. With their lips so close, so tantalisingly close, and the ever-present heat shimmering between them like an invisible thread binding them despite their time apart, it took a few seconds for his words to penetrate.What the hell is wrong with him? How could she play her like this?When they did, she jerked back, shock rendering her speechless.Her mouth opened and closed as her mind spun with confusion. She could’ve sworn he’d just proposed."Miss Patterson, you heard me."He straightened, and while half of her wanted to clobber him for the ludicrous statement he’d just made, the other half irrationally missed his proximity.He perched on the desk, towering over her."Marry me. That’s my condition.""Are you out of your mind?"She leaped to her feet and stood toe-to-toe with him. "What sort of stupid condition is that? Like I’d ever marry you, like I’d agree to—"The idea didn
Amaya shook her head.Why a man like him with charm to spare would choose her for his insane idea had been bothering her since he'd first laid out his outrageous proposal."Surely the great Chase Johnson would have a slew of babes waiting to tie you down?"His eyes sparkled as she hated her choice of words and raced on. "I mean, why me specifically? What do I have to offer?"Chase smiled and asked, "Do you really want me to answer that?""Yes.""For the fact that we have history, and I know that you aren't after my money; otherwise, from what happened six years ago, you can trick me into—""Why on earth would you bring up such an incident again? We already made a deal to never talk about it, remember?""I'm just stating a fact—I'm just answering your question. The obvious one." Chase bit her lips and looked at her.Amaya's breath hitched at the clear intent in his loaded stare, and she took a step back. "The obvious one is that I don't want to—""Are we going to argue again about this
Chase couldn’t stand it—he just couldn’t stand it!For weeks, Donna had been ringing every day, then every hour, and now even here on the farm, she’s been bugging him.He picked the mobile up and threw it across the room, but still it rang.He picked up his landline phone and tossed that too.Ah, but soon the emails will come...So with one swoop, he cleared his entire desk of its contents: the computer, papers, his lamp, his coffee, everything, crashing in one swoop, a smash of glass, and chaos, with no relief or reprieve because Amaya walked in."Out now!" he roared at her, but Amaya just stood there, frozen. "Get out!" "NOW!"Except she didn't; she just stood there, eyes wide in shock and then, worse, with tears in them, refusing to leave, refusing to go. So he stormed out of his office.Inside the office, Chase began to pace. Shocked. He would explain.He must explain the sudden outburst.He hadn’t wanted her to see him like that. Chase turned and walked back, calmer now, together