by Jayci Lee
“I can’t, um... I...” Natalie had no idea what to do. She wasn’t used to getting hit on at a bar.
“Thanks, Kenny,” a deep voice rumbled behind her. “I got this.”
Natalie stiffened in her seat as the hair on her arms stood on tiptoe and a shiver ran down her spine. The deep, rich voice did strange things to her body, but she wasn’t sure she approved of the stranger’s high-handedness. Either way, she couldn’t face him until she reined in her galloping pulse, so she downed the Scotch in a single tilt.
“As a matter of fact, why don’t you put her drink on my tab?” A strong, long-fingered hand passed a hundred-dollar bill to Kenny, who dropped her hand and accepted the tip with a grudging shrug, bowing out to the alpha.
Okay. She definitely did not like that. Natalie spun around to give the arrogant stranger a verbal ass kicking, but the sharp challenge froze and died a quiet death on her lips.
The stranger with the sexy voice was none other than Garrett Song, and he was even more magnificent outside of the office. He was closer than she’d thought—only a few inches separated them when their gazes collided. The amusement flickered out of his eyes and a charged silence tightened around them.
Natalie vaguely heard Kenny’s curt “two double Scotch, neat,” but she remained fixated on Garrett’s jet-black hair, strong jawline and full lips. And my, oh, my, those fiery eyes. Her gaze flitted down to his broad shoulders, chest and long, muscular legs. The conservative dress shirt and slacks couldn’t hide the power of his body.
Her heart fluttered like a dragonfly taking flight under his insolent perusal. His face didn’t register a hint of recognition, which wasn’t surprising. Natalie didn’t resemble the woman he’d seen at work.
Natalie drained her second drink without breaking eye contact. She uncrossed her legs and slid off her seat, her calf accidentally grazing the side of his body. She was about his height in her four-inch heels, so they faced each other squarely. His heat embraced her, and his masculine scent, like an autumn wind, beckoned her closer.
She couldn’t follow her instincts to climb her boss like a tree even if her inner thighs were slick with desire. She would act professionally. Natalie would state her business and not take no for an answer. She opened her mouth but promptly closed it shut.
Apparently, she’d forgotten how to speak.
* * *
Garrett was lost from the moment she swiveled in her seat.
She had glided into the club as he was leaving. Then his legs had brought him to her without his permission. Her sculpted body was meant to bring men to their knees. And her dress seemed like it had been painted onto her lush curves.
The sight of her made him weak with lust, but her air of vulnerability made him want to shield her from other hungry eyes. His fervent urge to possess and protect the woman tripped all kinds of alarms in his head, but his brain had decided to take an inopportune hiatus.
“Dance with me,” he said.
Her eyes widened and his pulse quickened in anticipation. She looked familiar but he wouldn’t forget a woman like her if he’d met her before. He held out his hand and she stared at it, her head cocked like a curious bird. After a pause, she placed her hand in his. It was warm, smooth and delicate. The thrill of their connection gripped him by the shoulders and shook him alert.
As their feet touched the dance floor, Garrett wrapped his arm around her waist, cradling her right hand against his chest. They swayed softly to the music while the crowd gyrated around them. He brushed his fingertips against her bare back. Her skin was like warm silk. As a gnawing hunger filled him to the brim, Garrett laid his palm on her lower back and pressed her body flush against his. A tremor ran through her.
God, she feels so good. He struggled to make sense of her—the stark contrast between innocent wide eyes and a body that radiated raw sensuality.
“Who are you?” he rasped.
Her eyelids fluttered at his question as though he had awakened her from a dream. She shook her head briskly and a veil shifted across her face. Suddenly, he recognized her and his arms fell to his sides.
“You...you really don’t know who I am?” she said, unease crossing her lovely features.
That thrill. He’d only felt it once before, and he belatedly realized this was the same woman who’d made him feel it the first time.
Was her voice this velvety when she barged into my office?
“Should I know you?” He stalled to figure out what her game was.
Samantha had been his first lesson in gold diggers, but she certainly hadn’t been his last. Naturally, Garrett considered himself something of an expert on the issue, and Natalie Sobol didn’t fit the profile. He trusted and respected her. She had backbone and integrity, which made her damn good at her job. Even so, she must’ve orchestrated their run-in to get something out of him.
“I’m...” She cleared her throat and drew back her shoulders. Regrettably for him, the small adjustment managed to thrust her glorious breasts forward, nearly derailing his focus. “It’s Natalie Sobol, Mr. Song.”
“Call me Garrett,” he said, leading her by the arm to the relative privacy of the outdoor balcony. “While we’re getting familiar, care to tell me what you’re up to?”
He couldn’t make out her expression in the moonlight, but he heard a sharp intake of breath. To his surprise, she didn’t pretend their run-in was a coincidence.
“I came here to ask you for a second chance.” She spoke quietly, but her words carried the weight of determination.
“A second chance at what?”
“VP of Human Resources. I missed my interview because of a family emergency, but I’m confident I could do the job better than anyone else.”
So that was her game. His lips twisted. “How do you suppose I fit into that?”
“Please. All I ask for is a chance to get my interview. You’ll soon be our new CEO. The hiring committee would listen to your request.” She swallowed, hesitating for a second. “Please believe me when I say I would never dream of imposing on you like this if I had any other choice. I need that job.”
She was good. He’d long outgrown any disappointment at being used for his money or connections. But he almost believed this woman. Sympathized with her. Garrett hadn’t allowed anyone to manipulate his emotions since Samantha, and his brief slip infuriated him. It made him want to test her.
“And are you offering something in return?” He didn’t bother disguising his disdain.
She gasped and her hands clenched into fists. He watched through hooded lids as pride, anger and mortification splashed across her features. Then, she breathed slowly through her nose before replying in measured tones.
“I’m offering to be the best VP of Human Resources Hansol has ever had.” She arched an eyebrow in cold challenge. “Do I need to offer anything beyond that?”
When he didn’t respond right away, Natalie turned her back on him and strode toward the door with the poise and dignity of a queen. Damn it. He caught up with her and grasped her arm, trying not to notice her warmth.
“Wait.”
It was true. She was a perfect fit for the position, especially with her experience as the interim VP. She wouldn’t have needed his help if she hadn’t missed her interview. Maybe he’d misread her. It was difficult to think with so much of his blood pumping away from his brain.
“Are you willing to consider my request?” Her tone was clipped, but at least she was talking to him.
He understood the hiring committee’s refusal to reschedule her interview—reliability was the bare minimum requirement for an executive position—but Garrett respected her decision to put her family before her promotion. He was only too familiar with putting his family ahead of his own needs.
Garrett froze. It couldn’t have been more than a few hours since his declaration of independence. What if the key to his f
reedom stood in front of him? Natalie’s appearance was timely enough to be eerie. She was intelligent, pragmatic and desperate—maybe even desperate enough to accept his unconventional proposal.
“Yes, and you can help me in return.”
“You need my help?” Her eyes widened in surprise, but not alarm. He was gratified she didn’t jump to an unsavory conclusion despite his earlier brutishness.
Garrett scanned their surroundings. They had some privacy in their corner of the patio, but a popular nightclub wasn’t the place for a lengthy discussion of his plans.
“I need a wife.”
“You want me to find you a wife?” Her eyebrows scrunched together as though she was struggling to untangle an intricate knot.
“No. I want you to be my wife.”
Her eyes grew impossibly wide, and he was struck once more by her alluring beauty. Her contrasting layers—demure and sizzling, uptight and witty—intrigued him. She was intoxicating. But for this arrangement to work, he couldn’t go there. Something told him sex would mean more than an enjoyable pastime to Natalie Sobol, and messy emotional entanglements could make even the most rational people reckless. No matter how tempting, she was off-limits.
“In exchange for getting me an interview?” she asked.
“You won’t need one. The job is yours if you accept my offer.”
“I don’t need you to hand me the position.” She lifted her chin, narrowing her eyes at him. “I could get it on my own if I get my interview.”
“I wouldn’t hand you the job if you weren’t qualified. Why don’t we say your performance as the interim VP was your interview and you passed?”
“I could have the job? Just like that?” She arched an elegant brow, communicating both her skepticism and distaste.
“If you marry me as soon as the wedding can be arranged, I’ll promote you to the position at the end of the year.” She did a poor job of hiding her eye roll, and Garrett rushed to clarify. “The marriage obviously won’t be permanent.”
“Obviously.” Her expression told him none of it was obvious. “Just out of curiosity, how long is not permanent?”
“Good question.” Garrett hadn’t thought through the details, but it had to last long enough to convince his grandmother that the marriage was real. But, most importantly, it had to last until he closed the Vivotex partnership and was appointed as the new CEO. It will happen. It has to. His grandmother had been grooming him for the position since the day he was born. It was her greatest wish to see him become Hansol’s CEO. Once he sealed the Vivotex deal, she could give in without losing face. “About seven to eight months until your new position opens up. Perhaps a few months longer. But definitely no more than a year.”
Natalie sighed deeply, and raised her eyes to the night sky. “Why?”
“It involves a sensitive and complicated family issue.” She deserved to know everything about his unorthodox proposal, but not here. “I trust you’ll keep this conversation confidential until we can discuss the details somewhere more private.”
“Anything else?” She met his gaze, but her voice sounded distant and tired.
“You have the key facts,” he said, tension edging into his words. “Will you marry me?”
She stared back at him for a few seconds then shook her head. “That’s probably the worst proposal ever made. Like catastrophically bad.”
A bark of surprised laughter escaped him. “You’re probably right, but this is the most efficient and effective solution to both of our problems. If—”
She held up her hand to stop his words, and he obeyed her silent command out of shock. He was accustomed to deference from executives twice his age. He long admired her strength and confidence but being on the receiving end of her imperious attitude was startling.
“This scheme of yours is beyond ludicrous.” She heaved a ponderous sigh, making the milky mounds of her breasts rise and fall. It took Herculean effort to keep his eyes focused on her face. “But I’m desperate enough to consider it.”
“Good call,” he said with equal parts irritation and relief. To his chagrin, her reluctant not-quite-assent stung his ego, but his rational side was relieved she would even consider his preposterous proposal. Natalie Sobol was practical to a fault, but this time it worked in his favor.
“I highly doubt that,” she said with a quirk of her red lips.
Of course she did. The more she thought about it, the more dubious everything would seem. He couldn’t give her too much time to think things through. “Given this is a time-sensitive situation, you have until tomorrow at midnight to give me an answer.”
“Tomorrow? You’re impossible.” With an exasperated glare, she spun away and stalked toward the staircase inside. His mouth curved into a grin. He’d spiked the ball into her court and she wasn’t the kind of person who would back down from a challenge. He was looking forward to her next move. Before he could turn away, the sight of her softly swaying hips recaptured his attention and his smirk morphed into slack-mouthed admiration.
When she disappeared from sight, Garrett leaned against the railing and frowned at the starless sky. Why is she so desperate that she’d consider giving up a year of her life for a second chance at a promotion?
Three
Natalie shut down her computer after a long day and stretched her back with a groan. She was determined to catch up on the projects that had fallen behind while she was on bereavement leave. Challenging work kept her mind sharp and focused, and made a great excuse for avoiding Garrett. Her heart leaped at the mere thought of him, as though it was startled awake by his magnetic pull. Gah.
After tidying up her desk, she left the office and drove home on autopilot with tension tightening her shoulders and pain drilling into her temples. A bubble bath and a glass of wine should take care of that. But as soon as she sank into the fragrant bath, Garrett invaded her thoughts. The way his hand had trailed down her naked back and how her softness had molded to fit his hard lines. She sighed as she ran the washcloth down her legs, her oversensitized skin trembling with pleasure. Her body begged for release, and the warm water and her slippery skin tempted her hands to slide up her thighs.
“No, no, no.” Natalie scrambled out of the tub. She would not pleasure herself daydreaming about her boss.
Why the heck did he want a temporary wife anyway? His proposal was pure, unadulterated madness. They would have to live a lie for the duration of the contract. And how could she weather the vicious rumors that were sure to come? There had to be another way to secure Sophie’s adoption.
With Tin Man–stiff shoulders and a migraine, Natalie sprawled out on the living-room couch and glared at her ceiling. There was no other way. If she agreed to Garrett’s crazy scheme, she and Sophie could move to New York in seven months. Maybe a few months longer if her and Garrett’s objectives weren’t met by the end of the year. But still, Natalie could start a new life in no more than a year. The custody battle alone could last longer than that and would likely bankrupt her.
With Garrett’s help, Natalie could convince the Davises to reconsider contesting her adoption application. They couldn’t want a drawn-out custody battle any more than she did. Even if they continued to contest the adoption, having a wealthy husband with a recognizable name would support her position that Sophie would have a secure, stable home. And with her promotion, Natalie could afford a nice place and excellent childcare for the baby even without a rich husband.
More importantly, something about Garrett Song centered her. True, he made her hormones streak naked across her mind, but on a deeper level she trusted him. He was too arrogant to say something he didn’t mean and he valued his word too much to go back on it.
As for the anticipated gossip, Natalie could handle the ugliness for a few weeks. The wedding bells would soon soothe her coworkers’ ruffled feathers. An office fling was fodder for gossip, but love and marri
age wrought oohs, ahhs and well wishes.
With a long, frustrated growl, Natalie sat up on the couch. She needed to handle some time-sensitive work before making a decision about Garrett’s proposal. She reached into her bag to retrieve her laptop, but her hand came out empty. In her rush to leave the office—and Garrett Song—she’d forgotten it. Grr. She exhaled with enough force to collapse the third pig’s house.
Reining in her temper, Natalie left for the office. From her Koreatown apartment, it took only fifteen minutes to reach downtown Los Angeles.
When she got there, Natalie tapped her toes as the elevator crawled up to the fifty-fifth level. Once she arrived on her floor, she sidestepped through a six-inch gap in the elevator doors, while rummaging around her purse for her office keys. Half of her head was crammed into her tote when she walked straight into something big and solid. She wobbled and a pair of strong hands reached out to steady her.
She didn’t need to see whom she’d run into. Her body already recognized Garrett Song. Fire kindled where he held her and blazed across her skin. Keeping her head bent, she focused on slowing down her pulse.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know anyone was here.” Natalie tried to back away, but his hands stayed firm on her arms. She raised puzzled eyes toward his face and her voice caught in her throat—his gaze was boring into her with unsettling intensity.
“Are you all right?” Garrett’s voice sounded husky.
When she nodded, he stepped back and folded his arms across his chest.
“I forgot to bring my laptop home.” Nerves on hyperdrive, Natalie babbled on with her explanation. “I need to finish up some work tonight. A good HR director never rests.”
He didn’t respond and continued staring at her, as if trying to decide whether he was amused or bored. She couldn’t help noticing how well he filled out his jeans and T-shirt. He looked younger, more approachable, in his casual outfit. Without her consent, her eyes traveled down to the sculpted pecs pushing against his white shirt. He could’ve been used as the mold for one of those anatomically correct Batman suits. Dual forces fought inside her—part of her wanted to run as far from him as possible, but a troubling and foreign part of her wanted to run straight into his arms.