Author: Rosemary Indra
Email: indrascloset@msn.com
Genre: contemporary romance
Excerpt Heat Level:
Book Heat Level: 1
From
the moment Jay Prescott meets his new employee Lillian Ross, she turns his
orderly life upside down. He’s captivated by her take charge attitude and
shapely legs. To improve his grandmother’s morale after breaking her hip, he
asks Lilli to pretend to be his girlfriend for two weeks. Their friendship
grows and he realizes he wants a life long relationship with Lilli.
Lillian is attracted to her handsome
boss despite his unsettled lifestyle. Remembering her own loving grandmother,
she agrees to portray his girlfriend. Her attraction turns to love and she
longs for Jay to see their relationship in a new light. When Lilli tells his
grandmother the truth she has her own plans for Jay and Lilli.
EXCERPT
The moment Jay Prescott
opened the executive rest room door he encountered a delicate wild rose
fragrance. The men’s room at the architectural firm of Prescott and Wilkes had
on occasion smelled of his partner’s favorite green cigars or expensive
aftershave, but never roses. Jay stepped back, double-checking the sign on the
partially opened door. Written in white letters was the word "Men."
He breathed in the faint
aroma which reminded him of a walk in a rose garden. Jay shook his head and
walked farther into the carpeted lounge.
Obviously, he still suffered
from jet lag if he allowed something this trivial to distract him. After a
grueling three-week schedule in New York, where he’d battled record snowfall
and frigid temperatures, Jay wasn’t sure which he’d looked forward to more --
returning to his regular schedule or to Oregon’s misty sunshine.
He looked around the corner
expecting to see someone by the row of sinks. At first, the rest room appeared
vacant; then the rustling sound of a paper bag caught his attention.
"Steve, is that
you?" Jay called out to his partner.
"I thought I locked the
door."
The voice from the last
stall was muffled, but it was definitely a woman’s voice. He moved closer and noticed the nylon-covered
ankles, well-turned ankles, the best-looking ankles he’d seen in some time.
Mesmerized, he watched her kick off one black pump. Before he could ask her why
she was in the men’s room, he heard the sound of a zipper. Jay froze. Proper
etiquette would call for him to leave, but he couldn’t tear his gaze off her
wiggling toes as they celebrated their freedom.
"I’m sorry. No one was
in here and I thought I’d be finished before anyone noticed. I’ll be out in
just a minute."
Jay tried to recognize her
voice, but she sounded as if she held something between her teeth. "Why
are you changing in the men’s room?"
"I went jogging this
morning."
"That doesn’t explain
why you’re here." Jay crossed his arms in front of his chest.
"Oh. The door to the
women’s was locked with two "Out of Order" signs on it, and I have a
meeting in less than ten minutes."
Ten minutes. With a glance
at his watch, Jay swore under his breath--he also had a meeting.
Could the mysterious woman
be the one Steve Wilkes hired while Jay was in New York? His partner had been
evasive on the phone--something about a fresh new face and how she’d be good
for the company.
Unable to curtail his
curiosity any longer, Jay asked, "Are you the new personnel
director?"
"Umm-hmm. I’ve only
been here two weeks, and already I’m giving a presentation--Steve
insisted."
Jay watched as she slipped
her foot back into her shoe. He wondered how old she was. Judging from her
light, breathless voice, she sounded rather young.
What an unusual way to meet an
employee for the first time, behind a closed door in the men’s room no less!
Although he hadn’t interviewed her, Jay didn’t doubt her qualifications. Steve
had an uncanny feel for people. He had a reputation for hiring the right person
for the right job.
Apparently she didn’t allow
small obstacles to stand in her way, or she wouldn’t be changing in the men’s
room. Instead she found solutions to her problems--he liked that trait.
"I’m sure you’ll do fine."
"Sorry to keep you
waiting."
The stall door opened,
startling Jay. He stepped back so fast his feet started to slip out from under
him. To prevent himself from falling he jerked back hitting his head on the
wall. Tilting his head down, he rubbed the painful spot.
"That must hurt. Are
you all right?" She moved closer.
His gaze traveled up the
ankles he had secretly admired moments ago to her beige linen skirt and a white
silk blouse. Not even her loose fitting blouse could hide her trim figure. Her hand fiddling with her pearl necklace
drew his attention. She had a good overall professional appearance--another
plus for her. He watched her push back the thick spectacles that started to
slide halfway down her nose. Her gray hair was stylishly short.
Gray hair? Heavy wrinkles
flanked her mouth and creased her forehead. Stunned, Jay simply stared at her.
He’d been admiring the legs of a woman who appeared to be as old as his
grandmother.
"There’s a small button
on the top of my blouse that I can’t reach. Would you fasten it for me?"
She turned her back to him. "These old hands don’t cooperate like they
used to," she explained.
He considered her request
unusual, yet it didn’t surprise him. Nothing about their first meeting had been
ordinary. Jay shrugged his shoulders and moved closer. He fumbled with the tiny
button before it slipped through the loop. When his knuckles brushed against
the soft skin at the nape of her neck, Jay jerked his hands back. He’d admired
not only the older woman’s legs but also her silky skin.
"See that wasn’t so
bad, now was it." She slipped on her suit jacket then retrieved a shopping
bag and burgundy briefcase from the stall. A mischievous smile played across
her lips. "You’re a good-looking young man. I bet you’ve helped a few
women get dressed." She elbowed him in the side.
Amazed at her outspokenness,
he continued to stare. So much for secretly admiring her. Jay’s mouth felt dry.
He muttered something he hoped sounded acceptable.
He’d become so engrossed in
their conversation he hadn’t given her lack of privacy a second thought. Or how
she’d feel about it. Feeling guilty, Jay was at a loss for words to explain his
inconsiderate behavior.
"Have a nice day,"
she said.
