The Book Boyfriend Series Box Set

by Carly Phillips

  “You sounded excited about this listing,” she said, glancing up at the exterior of the contemporary-looking building they were standing in front of—a three-story chrome-and-glass structure in the trendy Logan Square. The location was a quick twenty-minute drive from downtown Chicago, which also meant she’d get more building for her buck outside of the city limits.

  “A friend of mine is looking to put this building on the market, and I immediately thought of you.” Dark green eyes sparkled with an enthusiasm that was infectious. “In fact, I’m so confident that it’s going to come damn close to checking off every box on that wish list of yours that I didn’t even list the property because I wanted to make sure you had first crack at it.”

  Yes, she had a wish list. If she was going to spend a high six figures on a place of business, then it needed to meet every one of her requirements and then some. “No one else has seen the place?”

  He shook his head. “Nope. Trust me, Hailey, this property has your name written all over it, and I wasn’t about to let anyone else near this building until you looked it over first.”

  She laughed, even though she appreciated just how diligent he was about finding her a building that fulfilled her expectations. “I’m thinking you’re hoping I’ll jump on it so you won’t have to deal with the most demanding, pain-in-the-ass client in all of Chicago for another three months.”

  “Not even close,” he said, amusement infusing his always upbeat voice. “You’re far from difficult. You know what you want, and I happen to like a decisive woman. It was just a matter of being patient and waiting until the right piece of property came on the market. I think today is going to be your lucky day.”

  He was so sure of himself, and she tipped her head to the side, causing her long, wavy blonde hair to tumble over her right shoulder. “You really think so, huh?”

  “I know so,” he said, and winked at her.

  Of course, it wasn’t a flirtatious wink, but that didn’t stop her pulse from skipping a beat and those butterflies from swirling in her stomach again.

  The phone in his hand pinged, and he glanced at the lit-up display, that perturbed frown appearing again.

  “Everything okay?” she asked. “I don’t mind waiting if you have something you need to attend to.”

  He shook his head and looked back at her with a smile that didn’t completely erase the slight furrow between his brows. “Sorry. It’s nothing important. Let’s head inside so you can check out the place.”

  He tucked his phone into the inside breast pocket of his suit jacket so she had his undivided attention, and they walked side by side up to the glass door leading into the bottom level of the building. He unlocked the door and held it open for her, and she slipped past him, catching the enticing fragrance of his cologne that never failed to arouse every one of her senses. It was warm and sensual but subtle, like black silk wrapped in masculine heat. The smell of him was like an addicting pheromone, and it took major restraint on her part not to rub up against him like a kitten rolling in catnip and bury her face against his neck for a long, deep inhale of his male essence.

  The door closed behind them, and he flipped a switch on the nearby wall that turned on the lights affixed to the steel beams above them. They were standing in the lobby, which opened up into a spacious reception area that would easily fit two couches, end tables, and a few chairs. The walls were a soft gray hue, with plank flooring in a complementary slate color that gave the place a modern vibe.

  At first glance, she really liked what she saw, but she also knew that was subject to change as the rest of the building’s layout was revealed. It wouldn’t be the first time a listing started out with promise and ended with disappointment, so she kept her initial reaction to herself.

  “So, this first floor is pretty much set up and ready to go for commercial use,” Max told her as he led the way down a wide hallway, drawing her attention to one of the open doors with a wave of his hand. “There are three separate rooms with built-in workstations and shelving, which would be great for individual offices, a conference room, or whatever else you might need.”

  She peeked inside one of the rooms, impressed with how large they were and especially appreciating the expanse of windows along the side wall that allowed natural light to filter into the first floor of the building. She really only needed two offices. One for herself and one for Brielle, her best friend and right-hand woman at the Ellison Agency, but she did like the idea of having a separate room for meetings with clients.

  They reached the end of the hallway and Max pointed to the right. “There’s an elevator that goes to all three floors, but you do need a key to get to the third floor, which is a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment.”

  She came to an abrupt stop beside him and gasped in shock. “Did you just say apartment?” One of the things on her wish list was an attached residence, which had been nonexistent up to this listing. She’d pretty much given up hope on finding a building with that particular feature.

  A sexy smirk curved his lips, and his eyes gleamed with wicked delight. “Ahh, you caught that, did you?”

  He seemed very pleased with himself, and she was giddy with the possibility that this place might be the one, just as Max had promised.

  He inclined his head, his gorgeous features completely dazzling her. “Come on. I’m not done wowing you just yet.”

  Instead of taking the elevator, they ascended the open staircase to the second floor, and Hailey’s breath caught in her throat as she assessed the open concept of the room in front of her that was beyond perfect for the reception and mixer parties she held for her clients. The chrome embellishments and fixtures against the gray walls provided a sophisticated yet elegant atmosphere that she instantly fell in love with.

  The sitting and lounge area was huge, with plenty of space for mingling, as well as places for private conversations between couples. A full bar for serving cocktails encompassed an entire wall, and as they walked toward the back of the room, Max showed her the small kitchen for the caterers she hired to use.

  With her speechless and in awe, he led the way to the elevator, and once they were inside, he inserted the key so that they were delivered to the third floor. The doors opened directly into an apartment that was bigger and more luxurious than the current one she was living in, and by the time Max was done showing her the entire upstairs, she was giddy and nearly bursting with exhilaration.

  There was only one thing keeping her from expressing her elation and shouting I’ll take it!, and that was the cost. A move-in-ready place like this couldn’t be cheap, but it was exactly what she needed to take the Ellison Agency to the next level.

  Back in the apartment living room, she turned to face Max, who was watching her expectantly, clearly waiting for her reaction—and obviously expecting an exuberant one. It was all she could do to keep from bouncing on the balls of her feet. No way was she giving in to premature excitement until she had all the details to make an informed decision.

  She shifted anxiously on her feet. “I’m afraid to ask the price on this building.”

  “Hailey,” he said softly, cajolingly, his voice sounding husky to her ears—or maybe she just imagined it. “Didn’t I tell you to trust me before we even entered the building? I wouldn’t bring you to a property that wasn’t within your budget.”

  She bit her bottom lip, and for a brief moment, his gaze lowered to her mouth, then quickly returned to her face. “Don’t tease me, Max.”

  Now whose voice was husky? Hers, that’s who. And as for the don’t tease me reply, its purpose was twofold. One, she really wanted to believe this amazing place could possibly be hers, so she prayed that he wasn’t pulling her leg. And two, having his eyes on her mouth, even for a quick, limited time that probably meant nothing to him, was the epitome of being teased with something she’d never have or experience. . . feeling his lips sliding slowly, sensually against hers.

  “I wouldn’t joke about something as important as th
is,” he assured her, and there was no refuting the sincerity in his tone. “Here’s the deal. My friend is getting a divorce and wants to unload this property as quickly as possible. I ran the top end of your budget by him this morning, before even calling you to see the place, and he’s already agreed to the price. This building is yours if you want it.”

  She absently turned the engagement ring on her finger around and around, trying to process what Max had just said. She took a moment to let his words sink in and to absorb everything that was within her grasp. She’d started her matchmaking company four years ago and had slowly built it into a reputable business that was steadily growing. She was fortunate enough to be able to do something she excelled at and enjoyed, that brought other people happiness, and equally lucky that she had a substantial trust fund left to her by her deceased parents that enabled her to avoid having to work a dreaded nine-to-five job. It was something she didn’t take for granted, because given the choice, she’d choose having her mother and father alive over any amount of money.

  But with each milestone she achieved, she did so knowing that her parents would be proud of her. She glanced around the apartment, resisting the urge to do a happy dance right there in front of Max. Instead, she met his confident, waiting gaze and somehow managed to remain calm and composed, like the poised businesswoman she was. Or tried to be, anyway.

  “Yes,” she said, her steady tone belying the jumble of emotions rising within her. “I’ll take it.”

  “I knew it.” A wide, brilliant grin appeared on his full lips, and he executed a triumphant fist pump, clearly proud of himself for accomplishing the challenging task of finally finding her a new place of business that included every feature she’d asked for.

  He looked so satisfied with himself she couldn’t contain the amused laughter that escaped her.

  “Let me make a quick call to confirm the deal with the seller.” He retrieved his phone from his suit jacket, unlocked the screen, and paused for a moment as his gaze seemed to scan something on the display.

  Another annoying message, she assumed, judging by the slight clenching of his jaw before he shook his head and continued swiping through his phone. Once he had his friend’s number pulled up, he connected the call and brought the device to his ear.

  As soon as Max started talking to the owner of the building, she glanced away from his too captivating stare and tuned out the conversation, still afraid to get her hopes up. Instead, she started twirling the engagement ring on her finger again—something that had become a nervous habit since she’d put on the piece of jewelry. Maybe because self-consciously she knew the ring didn’t really belong there, and a part of her felt bad executing the charade because she wasn’t prone to lying.

  But the appearance of having a fake fiancé wasn’t hurting anyone, she’d reasoned with herself. And if it made her feel more secure and confident, and being in love gave credence to her expertise as a matchmaker, then the perception was like any other marketing tool, right?

  “Hailey?”

  She was so lost in her thoughts that she hadn’t heard Max end the call. With her stomach flip-flopping with equal measures of anxiety and hope—because her chances of finding another place like this were slim to none if the owner had changed his mind for any reason—she met Max’s unreadable expression.

  She swallowed hard. “Yes?”

  “The place is yours.” A huge, delighted grin spread across his gorgeous face. “I’ll submit a formal offer this afternoon and get all the paperwork in order and started. The owner asked for a thirty-day escrow, if possible, and since you’re already pre-approved and offering a fifty percent cash down payment, I don’t see that as an issue. In about a month, this place will belong to you and the Ellison Agency.”

  Ahhh. Hailey finally gave free reign to the overwhelming excitement and emotion she hadn’t allowed to surface until now. Everything she’d suppressed bubbled up and burst through her in an adrenaline rush of gratitude that prompted her body to react before her brain could process her spontaneous reaction.

  She flung herself against Max’s chest, wrapped her arms around his neck, and hugged him tight. And she certainly didn’t anticipate the next words that impulsively blurted out of her mouth. “Oh, my God, Max! I love you.”

  The hard body pressed so intimately against hers immediately stiffened, and his hands came to rest on her hips to tactfully push her away. Her inappropriate behavior along with the way Max was trying to gently but firmly put distance between them hit her like a dousing of cold water.

  She quickly extricated her arms from around Max’s neck and took a substantial step back so that his hands dropped from her hips. Her face heated with mortification as she tried to explain what she meant.

  “I don’t mean I love you I love you,” she rambled, her embarrassment making her voice pitch higher than normal. “I meant, I love you as in you’re the best real estate broker ever.”

  The corner of his mouth quirked with humor, though his eyes were a few shades darker than they’d been before she’d assaulted him with her hug. “I know I’m an extremely loveable guy, but I knew how you meant it,” he teased.

  Relief made her relax somewhat, but it didn’t completely chase away the buzz of awareness still lingering from being molded against the hot, sexy man she’d been lusting over the past three months. A man who’d clearly been uncomfortable with the close proximity of her body against his a few moments ago.

  She regained her composure and returned her attention to the building that was soon to be hers. “Thank you, Max,” she said more calmly. “This place is everything I wanted and so much more.”

  “I kinda told you so.” His eyes crinkled at the corners with amusement and satisfaction.

  “Yes, you did.” She laughed, grateful that things were back to normal between them after that awkward encounter.

  He glanced at his wristwatch, then back at her with a smile. “It’s too early to drink, so how about I take you to lunch to celebrate? There’s a fantastic restaurant within walking distance of Premier Realty, and afterward you can come up to my office and we’ll get the offer drawn up, signed, and submitted.”

  She nodded. “That sounds great.”

  As they left the building, there was only one thing that put a damper on Hailey’s great mood—the realization that now that she’d found a place, there wouldn’t be any other reason or excuse to see Max anymore.

  Chapter Two

  Max was going straight to hell for lusting after another man’s fiancée. He was absolutely sure of it.

  As he followed Hailey out of the three-story building she was about to purchase, he berated himself for allowing his attraction to this engaged woman to obliterate any self-control he’d had over his physical response to her. Just because he’d had her soft, curvy body pressed intimately against his a few minutes ago—okay, plastered against him would be a more apt description—it was no excuse for his unruly dick to leap to immediate attention.

  Yeah, bad choice of words, but leap it had, without his goddamn permission and before he could fully process what was happening—beyond the instantaneous knowledge that Hailey Ellison fit against his body as if she’d been created specifically for him to fuck. In a matter of seconds, the surge of heat and awareness brought on by having her full, lush breasts crushing against his chest and her hips aligned so perfectly to his had his cock perking up and responding to all that physical stimulation.

  God, he was such an asshole. It wasn’t enough that he’d gotten a boner, but in that brief moment, he’d imagined what it would be like to take the embrace one or two steps further. To back her up against the nearest wall and slide one hand beneath the hem of her prim and proper black skirt that hugged her hips and flared out around her knees. To wrap that thick, silky-looking hair of hers around his other fist to pull her head back so his mouth would have unobstructed access to the creamy expanse of her throat while his fingers slipped beneath the edge of her panties and touched her intimately, de
eply.

  See? He was totally going to hell.

  Regretfully, and out of respect, he’d pushed her away. Because it was the right thing to do, and the last thing he wanted was for her to realize his dick was hard. But mostly, he’d ended the embrace—no matter how innocent she’d believed the gesture was—because he had absolutely no business coveting another man’s fiancée.

  Yet, as she walked a few steps ahead of him, his disobedient gaze strayed from all that luxurious hair tumbling down her back and traced along the indentation of her waist. He shamelessly watched the mesmerizing sway of her hips, the perfect curve of her ass that made his palms itch to grab, caress, and smack just hard enough to make her gasp, then moan . . .

  Jesus Christ, he thought with a firm shake of his head. What was he? A goddamn hormonal teenager who had no discipline when it came to a girl he was attracted to? It certainly felt that way, and he needed to get his shit together, like now.

  He deliberately picked up his pace so that he was now walking by Hailey’s side, and the temptation to leer at her ass was no longer an option. “When you get to Premier Realty, go ahead and park in the underground structure and I’ll meet you in front of the building,” he told her. “We can walk to the restaurant from there.”

  She glanced up at him with a smile that reflected her current happy mood—one he liked being directly responsible for. “Sounds like a plan.”

  They each got into their vehicles, and on the drive to the office, Max made a call to his secretary, Olivia. He gave her all the details, stipulations, and contingencies of Hailey’s offer on the property so that after lunch she could read over the purchase agreement and make any changes before she signed the paperwork and he submitted the formal offer. He also asked Olivia to make a reservation at Spiaggia Cafe. The five-star restaurant was packed at lunch, but Max frequented the establishment often enough with clients that the manager always found a spot for him.