Page 16 of Boss with Benefits (Boss of Seduction #6)
After a quick squeeze, he moved the hand to his own lap.
“We can do this however you want, but keep in mind we want the court to believe this is a real marriage. If you married the man of your dreams, wouldn’t you be screaming the news loud enough for all to hear?
Wouldn’t you want to share it with everyone? ”
He had a point. If they were in love, she would be walking on a cloud. People would see the joy on her face and know she was head over heels. How was she supposed to fake that?
“How should we make the announcement?” she asked. “What do we say?”
“No worries. I’ll do it, and I’ll answer their questions. You can just stand there and smile.”
She nodded. “I can do that.”
“Can you look happy and not like you’re facing a firing squad?”
“I’ll try.”
He put an arm around her and kissed the sensitive place behind her ear.
Butterflies flapped their wings in her stomach.
She considered turning her head so she could press her mouth to his.
So tempting. A naughty thought occurred to her.
They were already sitting on a comfy couch.
If they locked his office door, they could enjoy some alone time together.
The employees would definitely believe they were newly married if they made love in the office and perhaps even sent everyone out to an early lunch.
Heat burned her cheeks, and she turned away to keep him from noticing. She reminded herself why she couldn’t allow him to get under her skin. Brady had only married her to help with the custody case. As soon as it was over, he would put in for a divorce.
“When do you want to make the announcement?” she asked.
He stood and walked to his desk. “I have a better idea. Play along.”
His finger tapped the intercom button.
Katherine’s voice came through instantly. “Yes, boss?”
“Can you come in here for a second?” he asked.
“Yes, sir.” Katherine entered the office with a pad and pen in hand. “What do you need me to do, Brady?”
The entire staff called him by his first name—if it was his first name—at his insistence. When asked his full name, he would change the subject. He signed his contracts and checks with the name Brady, so it was legal. Maybe his law team had worked it so he could do business simply as Brady.
“Close the door,” he said.
Katherine did as instructed.
Brady crossed the room to the couch and pulled Jessica to her feet. With his arm around her waist, he said, “We need you to keep this under your hat for a while, Katherine. The thing is, Jessica and I got married two weeks ago. Secretly.”
His secretary gasped. “Are you being serious right now?”
He lifted Jessica’s left hand to show off the wedding band. “I don’t joke about stuff like this.”
“Why keep it a secret?” Katherine asked as her eyes narrowed on them.
Jessica looked at him and waited in silence, hoping his story would be a good one. She stiffened beside him. His arm tightened around her waist. Maybe it was supposed to reassure her, but she couldn’t relax until she heard what he was planning to say to their secretary.
Brady turned on the charm on cue. His easy grin deepened the dimples in his cheeks.
That and the hair falling over half his forehead made him look younger.
Sexier. “We’re keeping it a secret, because being single works for us.
Male clients flirt with Jess, and models do their best work when they think I desire them. We don’t want to rock the boat.”
Jessica pasted on a smile and nodded.
Katherine blinked behind her glasses. “O-kay. Guess that makes sense.”
“We’re trusting you with our secret,” Brady said. “Keep it to yourself.”
“You got it, boss. Anything else?”
He shook his head. “Nothing I can think of. Thank you.”
Katherine walked out.
The second the door clicked into place, Jessica turned on him, stunned by the performance. “Why did you ask her to keep it a secret? I thought you wanted everyone to know so we’ll look legit.”
Brady grinned. “There have been three great forms of communication. Telephone, telegraph, and tell Katherine. Trust me. By quitting time today, everyone here will know we’re secretly married.”
“I realize Katherine likes to talk, but do you really think she’ll break your confidence when you asked her specifically not to?”
“It wouldn’t be the first time.”
Jessica shook her head in open wonder. “Why do you keep her on then? Don’t you want employees you can trust?”
He shrugged. “I like working with predictable people. I know what she’ll do in any given moment. Makes my life easier.”
“What about partners?” Jessica asked. “What about me? Do you think you can predict what I’ll do?”
Laughter burst past his lips. “You? Are you kidding me? I’ll learn to predict when a natural disaster will hit before I figure you out.”
He was aiming for sarcasm, but his statement warmed her heart. Being unpredictable was a good thing in a relationship. Or so her mother had told her. Men enjoyed unraveling a mystery.
His hands went to her face and cupped it gently. He kissed her briefly on the mouth. A jolt of electricity zinged through her entire body. The fact he had such a compelling effect on her still amazed her. No other man had the power to turn her inside-out.
He took a step back, and they stared into each other’s eyes. Now what?
An awkward moment stretched between them until he headed for the door.
He snapped back to professional mode. That was the best way to handle things between them at the office.
Focus on work. “Those models you picked are coming in for a test shoot later, and the clients will be here to look them over. I’d like you to be there. ”
Jessica nodded. “Good. I need work to take my mind off things for a while.”
“What things?”
Him, for one. She couldn’t stop thinking about how much she wanted to lock the door and rock his world on the couch. Knowing he would take advantage of the slightest wavering on her part, she lied. “Axl, of course. I need to get my mind off the upcoming court battle.”
“Understood.” He gestured to the paperwork on his desk. “Let’s get busy.”
Jessica tried to concentrate on work, but it was hard to keep her mind off her problems. Especially when one of those problems was talking to her in a husky voice that gave her goose bumps.