by Holly Jaymes
I smiled, willing the tears to stay back so I didn’t mess up my makeup. I wasn’t sure who decided on the step-together-step of a wedding procession, because it took way too long to reach the man I loved.
Finally, I was there and able to look into Gabe’s handsome face. His eyes shone with the same awe and love I felt. And there, in the backyard of the home we renovated, where we fell in love, broke up, and found each other again, we were married.
It amazed me that we’d finally got here. Our dreams of four years ago were coming true, only better than ever. We had a beautiful home that Gabe was still adding to and improving. He’d opted to not renegotiate his contract with the network, finishing his last episode here today. Yep, the show was filming our wedding.
Gabe had gone back to doing YouTube videos showing the work he was doing on our home, although the network balked at it, accusing him of violating a non-compete clause or something. Since he was going back to his original format and in his own home, his lawyer was able to prove he wasn’t violating anything he’d done on the show. I was glad it worked out, because Gabe enjoyed sharing his projects and expertise, and his fans enjoyed watching him. Some fans even left messages in the comments asking about me and when he was going to turn one of the rooms into a nursery. First things first; we had to get married.
Along with his videos, Gabe put in more time with his tool line, and with the help of his brother, Nate, Gabe was patenting a new tool. With all that and his rental properties, Gabe didn’t need to work, but he was toying with the idea of restarting his home-flipping business.
Me, I was content with teaching and then spending the summer working on whatever project Gabe was planning. His most recent plan was to finish the attic as a recreation and play room.
So when the minister said, “I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Sloane,” I was the happiest woman in the world, living the best life ever. That perfection was sealed with a kiss when Gabe took me in his arms and pressed his lips against mine. Like the first time, the feel of his lips, the taste of him curled my toes.
Our friends and family clapped and cheered. We held the reception right there in the back yard, with all of them celebrating our love. It was like a dream come true. A dream I nearly lost because I was jealous and stubborn.
Gabe and I were master communicators now. Nothing was left unsaid, good or bad. We didn’t always agree, but we never questioned our love for or trust in each other. And now we were married.
“A year ago, I found you on the roof, perilously close to getting electrocuted,” Gabe said as he led me around the patio in our first dance. Our choice of song was common for weddings, but also, so fitting for us; At Last by Etta James.
“Thank God you were there to save me.”
He smirked. “Again.”
I nodded. “Again.”
His hand caressed my back, pulling me closer to him. “Did you think we’d ever end up here?”
I looked up into my husband’s eyes, committed to tell him what was really on my mind and in my heart. “I’d always wished for it, but I’ll admit, sometimes I thought it wouldn’t ever happen.”
He nodded as if he agreed. “I’ve always felt drawn to you, Sam. This has to have been inevitable.”
I loved his romantic side. I pushed his hair back from his brow. “I think you’re right. Are you happy?”
“I’m blissfully happy, Mrs. Sloane.” He gently kissed my lips.
I grinned, loving my new name.
“Are you happy?”
I shrugged. “Pretty happy.”
He frowned. “That’s not acceptable. What would it take to make you perfectly happy?”
I leaned closer. “You and me, naked on our honeymoon.”
“Your wish is my command.” He released me and pulled out a chair to stand on it. “Party’s over,” he bellowed over the crowd.
He was met with discontent.
“Sorry folks, I’ve got a honeymoon to attend.”
I blushed as our guests laughed.
“If you’re still in the festive mood, we’ve rented the grand ballroom over at the Capsian Restaurant. Open bar.”
There was a roar of excitement and our guests begin making their way out of our yard.
“Free booze does it every time,” Gabe said as he stepped down from the chair.
“You’re brilliant.”
It still took twenty minutes to get everyone out, but finally, it was just Gabe and me in the back yard.
“We have several ways we can do this,” he said.
I grinned. “I like all the ways we do it.”
He barked out a laugh. “I love you and all the ways we do it too.” He kissed me. “But, what I meant was, we can use the couch in the library, our bed, or…” He looked up toward the oak tree.
I followed his gaze, and just as I looked, a twinkle of lights went on, showing off a treehouse.
“Gabe. When did you do that?” How hadn’t I noticed?
“While you were at school. Since I’m retired from the show now, and I have all the time in the world, I thought we needed a treehouse.”
“Oh my God, I can’t believe it.” I walked toward the tree. He guided me to the back side where a sturdy ladder waited.
“Promise me, though, you won’t go in here without me.”
“Afraid I’ll fall?” I said as I started up the ladder.
“Yes. And let’s face it, it’s only fun if I’m there with you.”
I made it to the entrance and climbed in. Inside there was a camping mattress, blankets and pillows, and champagne.
“You thought of everything,” I said as he climbed in next to me.
“It’s not done yet. I’m going to add stairs in place of a ladder, and probably a deck around the whole thing.”
“All that?” It was going to be a second house practically.
He shrugged. “Stairs and a deck will be safer for the kids.”
My heart rolled in my chest. There was something so romantic and sexy when Gabe talked about kids.
“That’s important,” I agreed.
“But until they’re big enough, it will do for us, don’t you think?” He popped the cork on the champagne and poured some of the bubbly into flutes.
I laughed, giddy with joy. I was about to consummate my marriage in a treehouse my husband built as part of our perfect home he’d renovated. Life just didn’t get much better than that.
“This is perfect. You’re perfect.” I kissed him.
“I love you, Mrs. Sloane.” He clicked his glass against mine.
My insides went all gooey as I toasted with him. “I love you, Mr. Sloane.”
We each sipped the golden bubbly, and then he took my glass, setting it aside with his.
“Now, let’s seal the deal. I don’t think this marriage is legal until we get naked.” He took me in his arms and laid me back on the mattress.
“Gabe, do you think the magic couch would fit in here?”
He laughed. “I messed that bit up. I’m sorry.”
I ran my fingers through his hair. “You tried?”
He nodded. “Of course. But I didn’t think of it until after I started building.”
“Well, that’s okay. That couch belongs in the library.”
“I agree.” He unzipped my dress, pulling it from my shoulders and freeing my breasts.
“I feel like I’m in a dream.”
He lightly bit my nipple. “Did you feel that? Not a dream.”
“No, my dreams were never so good.” I unbuttoned his shirt, and ran my hands over his broad chest and over the new tattoo of a Victorian style heart that said “Samantha”. “But I’m living a dream come true.”
He lifted his head and smiled. “Me too, baby.” He kissed me, slow and tender, causing my body to go soft and pliant. “Do you remember the first time we made love?”
“Before the couch?” I slid out of my dress and panties.
“Yes. The very first time.” Gabe pushed down his slacks and boxers
.
“In your treehouse.” I pulled him over me.
“It seemed fitting to start our marriage the way we started our relationship.”
I laughed. “I thought it started when you saved me from the mud puddle in seventh grade.”
“Well, yes. That’s when I first felt the pull to you.”
“You’re always there to save me.”
He looked down on me. “Did you know, my beautiful Samantha, that you saved me too?”
I shook my head, liking the idea, but knowing it wasn’t true. “From what?” I squeezed his hard biceps.
“I fell head-over-heels for you and your love saved me.”
I snorted. “You’re such the romantic.”
“You inspire me.” He maneuvered his hips between my thighs.
“We both fell and caught each other,” I said wrapping my legs around his hips. “Catch me now, Gabe.”
In one smooth, long move, he was in me, a part of me, making me feel whole. Like he was the missing piece of me.
“Are you happy?” He whispered in my ear and then trailed kisses along my jaw.
“Yes, perfectly.” I pulled his face to me, kissing him passionately and tilting my hips to take him deeper in me. “Are you happy?”
He wrapped his arms around me, holding me tightly to him like he’d never let me go. “Perfectly.”
Book 2: Her Hero Boss
Book 2: Her Hero Boss
Rules for Working for a Sinfully Sexy Boss
1. Never fall for your boss no matter how kind, smart, successful and sexy he is.
2. Never agree to fake marry your boss to help him improve his womanizer image.
3. Never have sex with your fake husband boss no matter how delicious his touch promises to be.
Yes, I broke every one of these rules.
But now our fake marriage agreement is done.
It’s time for me to go back to being his capable assistant.
There’s only one problem.
How can I go on like before when I broke the most important rule of all - never fall in love with your boss?
Her Hero Boss is book 2 in the “Her Hero” book series about four hero brothers!
Book 2: Chapter 1—A Bad Reputation
Chapter One: A Bad Reputation
Nate
“If you want to get rich, Nate, you’ve got to stop fucking around, literally.”
I glared at Dave Collier, my lawyer. Feeling contrary, I responded, “I’m already rich, and I like fucking around.”
As usual, Dave simply shrugged off my attitude, which he probably saw as juvenile, “Then it doesn’t matter that potential investors are worried your fucking around will hurt the company?” He stood like he was going to leave, calling my bluff.
“Sit down, Dave,” I sat back in my chair, using the heels of my hands to rub my eyes. We were in the offices of Sloane Labs, the pharmaceutical company I founded. I was also the sole owner of Sloane Labs, but now that I had a couple of patents and FDA approved drugs, and the company needed to grow, I was getting ready to take it public. We’d found a bank and filed the paperwork, but now we’d reached the point in which I needed to attract initial investors. I was set to travel to major money-hubs around the country to do investment presentations referred to as ‘the dog and pony show.’ According to Dave, my success in this process could be hurt by my reputation as a ladies’ man. I couldn’t deny that I liked women, or that I had dated my fair share. However, I was single, so it seemed unfair to hold all that against me.
“This isn’t a joke, Nate,” Dave sat again, crossing his ankle over his knee.
“Why do investors give a shit about who I sleep with?” That’s the most baffling part of all this. What does my dick have to do with my company’s ability to cure disease and reduce suffering?
“They don’t. They care about the scope and potential ramifications of your philandering. They worry you’ll choose someone that decides to sue you or can hurt your reputation, which by extension will hurt the company, which then can adversely impact stock value. Investors are in it for the money, Nate.”
“What do they think I do? I don’t have a revolving door on my bedroom,” I knew I had a reputation as a womanizer, but I was certain no man alive could actually achieve what the rumors said about me. Not that I didn’t earn this reputation, but to make the rumors accurate, I’d have to be fucking someone different several times a day.
Dave gave his usual nonchalant shrug, “The reality doesn’t matter. Perception is everything, especially now. You don’t want people getting the idea that you don’t respect women.”
“What? They think I don’t respect them?” I respected women, and I didn’t mean just in the bedroom. I had more women scientists in my lab than other company. Fifty percent of my executives were women. I bet the numbnuts who worried about my reputation didn’t have as many women on their teams. They were probably fucking their secretaries too, which I’d never do because I never sleep with women who work for me. They are hypocrites.
“That’s the perception people have of a womanizer.”
“Fuck,” I wouldn’t deny that I liked women, but they liked me back. I was also always careful to pick women who weren’t looking for more than a good time. I didn’t want romantic entanglements or a woman who only saw dollar signs when she looked at me.
“Who’d you see last night?” Dave asked.
I shook my head. That was the most fucked up part about this whole thing. I hadn’t been with a woman in weeks, “No one.”
Dave quirked a brow like he didn’t believe me.
“Swear to God, Dave,” I held my hands up in surrender. “I’ve actually been a good boy for several weeks. This IPO has taken most of my time.” That and helping my brother Gabe, along with my other brothers Will and Mitch, do some work on our mother’s home. Our father died nearly two years ago, and it had been a long adjustment for all of us. But recently Mom decided she wanted to turn their home into a bed and breakfast, so we were helping her make the necessary changes to the house.
“Well, keep it up. Not your dick, but your celibacy.”
I smirked not finding his joke funny, “Except no one seems to know that I’ve been celibate. You didn’t, and you’re my lawyer. I don’t have much time before I’ve got to start schmoozing with the investors. What can I do if my behavior isn’t changing people’s opinion?”
“You could get married,” Dave grinned, knowing I’d hate that idea.
He was right. I shivered at the thought. It was not that I had anything against marriage. My parents had a great one. My brother Gabe and his wife Samantha seemed completely content, but I couldn’t imagine picking just one woman to spend the rest of my life with. At least so far, I’d never met a woman that made me want to leave the marketplace. Not that I didn’t care for the women I spent time with, but I’d never been in love. Not like my parents or Gabe.
“I know the idea makes your skin crawl, but it wouldn’t hurt for you to settle down.”
“You’re not joking?” I was horrified.
“I was joking, but you’re thirty now, Nate. It’s time to leave those frat boy ways behind and take your company to new heights,” Dave leaned forward, and for the first time in a long time, his face held a passion. “What you’ve got here is the potential to not just make a ton of money, but to really help people. Your womanizing takes away from all the good you’ve already done. No one thinks of Nate Sloane as the guy who created cutting edge medication to help in the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease or as the guy hard at work developing something to treat multiple sclerosis. Nope, all they think of is the guy who has bedded nearly every Victoria Secret model.”
“Not every.”
He sat back and smirked, “The details don’t matter. Just the per—”
“I know, perception.”
Dave nodded.
“Am I totally fucked?”
“No,” Dave said, “but if you want to raise the most capital possible du
ring this IPO, you need to make people see Nate, the businessman, not Nate the lothario.”
I wasn’t sure how to do that. Laying low didn’t seem to be working. Perhaps someone in the PR department would have ideas on how to get media coverage regarding the business and away from my personal life.
“You can start by attending the Madison event this weekend in D.C.”
“Madison?”
“It’s a fundraiser for a school in Africa or something, but there will be a lot of potential investors, including Janine Madison. She likes to invest in pharmaceuticals and is good at it. You get her, Nate and others will follow.”
I nodded, “Do I need an invite?”
“I’ve taken care of it,” Dave reached into his briefcase and pulled out a piece of paper. “All the details are here. You’re on the list to attend. You just need to behave. There will be no picking up a waitress or anybody else.”
I rolled my eyes, “I’m not that out of control.”
“Perceptions,” Dave closed his briefcase and stood. “I’ll be in touch about the dog and pony show. You ready to travel? We’ve got New York first.”
I nodded, “Yes.”
“Good,” he headed to the door of my office. “If you need anything, call.”
When Dave left, I blew out a breath and stood to stretch. I looked out the window of my office. Outside the heat and humidity from the hot summer beat down on Northern Virginia. Fortunately, my building was well cooled. Along with pharmaceuticals, I had an interest in the environment, and so my building was outfitted with all the latest energy-saving and earth-friendly systems. I made sure that my lab that was just south of here also had the same systems.
It was easy to be annoyed and feel like I was letting down my company at Dave’s insistence that I change my image. Truth be told, I was proud of what I’d accomplished career-wise. Starting out after college, I took my chemistry degree and got a job in drug research and development. Even in that job, I liked to enjoy my evenings and weekends with women. I was a single man, dating was what men like me did.