Taming The Boss

Five

“Darling!” Elise Jenner said from behind her desk in her office in the mansion. Dad’s was connected to hers with a door, but they kept it firmly shut. Mom lived in mortal terror that John Jenner’s clutter would spread like a contagion through the house.

His mother’s office was best described as Louis XVI run amok. Rococo flourishes, gilt trim and pink upholstery made the place almost blinding to look at. Everything about Elise Jenner was overdone. Eric might not decorate with gold leaf, but his buildings had been described as over-the-top on more than one occasion. At least he came by it honestly.

“We weren’t expecting you tonight.” She studied him as he kicked off his shoes before stepping on the Persian rug. That had been a rule in this house for as long as he could remember. “What’s wrong?”

“Why didn’t you tell me that Sofia Cortés got married? Or widowed? Or had twins?”

His mother looked at him, surprised. “Why, dear—I didn’t think you remembered her. You never asked about her.” She sat back, looking perturbed. “What brought this on?”

“How could I forget her?” he replied, avoiding this second question. “She was practically my best friend when we were kids. Something I recall you encouraging,” he added.

Elise tilted her head and stared at him. For all of her love of extravagant interior design, the woman wasn’t soft. She cultivated a flamboyant image and then used it ruthlessly to her advantage. “What happened today, dear?”

Coming to visit his parents in this mood was a mistake. He wanted answers—not an interrogation. But the day with Sofia had muddled his thinking. “I hired her today. She’s my new office manager.”

“Oh?”

Eric glared at his mother. “And thanks to a lack of knowledge sharing on your behalf, I made an ass of myself three different times. If not more. I wasn’t prepared for her to be a mother—to twins, no less.”

“I see,” she said in that slow, maddening way of hers. He could see the wheels turning in her head.

“When’s Dad getting home?” he asked in a belated attempt to steer the conversation away from Sofia. He knew it was Mom sending Christmas cards to the Cortés family, not Dad. Plus Dad’s office was cluttered and cozy. They could kick back, drink a beer and watch the Cubs. And not discuss other people’s babies.

Elise waved her hand. “He’s touring a condo on the Gold Coast that hasn’t been on the market for forty years. It’s close to the pier you use, it’s got amazing views and it’s almost three thousand square feet—more than enough room for a family.” She smiled prettily. “You should take a look at it. It’ll need to be redone, obviously, but…”

His parents were semiretired, but to him, they still seemed as vibrant and active as ever. It helped that Mom had a really good plastic surgeon. She didn’t look like she’d had work done but she certainly didn’t look like she was in her sixties, either.

However, just because she didn’t want to look like a grandmother didn’t mean she didn’t want grandbabies, because she did.

Oh, yeah—coming here had definitely been a mistake. “Mom, we’re not getting into the topic of grandchildren again.”

“We’re not?” She sounded so innocent that he almost relaxed. Of course that was the exact moment she went for the kill. “Then why does it upset you that Sofia has children?”

“I’m not upset,” he snapped. He began to pace. “It just surprised me. I didn’t realize…”

“That she’d grown up and moved on with her life? Yes,” his mother said in the caring voice that drove Eric nuts because she really did care. He had friends—Marcus Warren specifically—who had monsters dressed up as parents. Eric knew it was a rare and wonderful thing that he had two parents who not only loved each other but also him. They wanted to see him happy.

“I understand,” his mother went on.

“Really, Mom? What do you understand?” He was aware that he was being a jerk—a fact confirmed by the pointed look she gave him. But he couldn’t seem to help it.

He found himself thinking about Sofia’s twins, Addy and Eddy. They’d been in a tub, their hair crazy and their smiles wide. They loved the water, it was clear. How much fun would they have in the pool? He’d taught Sofia to swim, after all. It would be hilarious to get those two paddling around.

And of course, if the twins were in the water, then Sofia would be with them. Which posed a very important question—bikini or one-piece? He’d love to see her curves in a bathing suit, water sheeting off her body as she pulled herself up the ladder, sun shining off her skin as she lay out under the summer sun to dry out…

He adjusted his trousers and tried to get his mind out of the gutter. It didn’t do to fantasize about old friends in his mother’s parlor. He should’ve gone out on his boat. In fact, he’d do that right now. He walked off the Persian rug and jammed his feet into his shoes.

“Things change whether you like it or not,” his mother went on. “She changed—and you changed, honey. But you know what I’ve found?”

“What?” he asked as his mother gracefully rose from her chair and came to stand in front of him, her hands on his shoulders.

“The more things change, the more they stay the same.” Even though he’d been nothing but surly to her, she hugged him and Eric hugged her back. “I hope she does well working in the office,” Mom said when she leaned back. “She always was a bright, beautiful girl and a true friend to you.”

He scowled at his mother. He hated it when she was right. Everything had changed. Sofia had grown up into a gorgeous woman who’d loved and lost.

But for all that, Sofia was still bright and beautiful and no matter what she said, they were still friends.

Because some things never changed.

Eric wasn’t in the office much. The weather was perfect, so most afternoons he was aboard the Jennerosity, speeding away from Chicago and out onto the lake. He could breathe out there, far away from prying eyes and the sounds and smells of the city. He had no trouble being the social playboy people expected one of the “Top Five Billionaire Bachelors of Chicago” to be, but he needed time to recharge.

A few times, he’d been on the verge of asking Sofia to come with him—hand on the doorknob, question on his lips. But how would that look, giving his brand-new office manager the afternoon off, just to take her boating? Bad, that’s how it’d look. So he didn’t.

Of course he worked, too. He made a quick trip down to St. Louis to get a look at the property alone. He thought he knew how the city would sell the development’s benefits but he liked to check out every potential site unannounced, without anyone else offering their opinions. The property centered around the indoor football stadium that had been recently vacated when St. Louis lost its football team. Without crowds pouring in for weekend home games, whole blocks seemed to be boarded up. Much to Eric’s advantage, an attempt to bring in a pro soccer team had recently failed. The city was no doubt growing desperate.

All of which meant he didn’t see Sofia for several days. Which was fine. She didn’t need him to babysit her. She’d made it plenty clear during their last conversation that the only relationship they could have going forward was a professional one.

That didn’t mean he didn’t think about her constantly. It took real work to make sure his thoughts stayed away from her body in a bikini and focused on her job performance. Heather reported that Sofia was naturally organized and seemed to be picking up the office systems quickly. “Thank God,” she added, tapping her fingers on the desk nervously. “This final project for school is killing me, but she’s taken over enough that I actually got a few hours of sleep last night.”

Meryl and Steve had much the same report. Sofia was highly organized, detailed and neat. She asked good questions when she hit a stumbling block. “She’s a little quiet,” Meryl noted, “but you get the sense she’s listening to everything.”

“We don’t need her to be loud,” Steve countered. “That’s my job.”

Eric rolled his eyes and left his employees to squabble. There was a reason the two of them had their own office removed from everyone else. The Nortons deeply loved each other and they worked well together but their verbal gymnastics could wear on even the mellowest of cube workers.

Eric stood in his office, staring at the lake. Of course Sofia was an organized quick study. He remembered all those times she’d been in the house while he’d had friends over. She’d always hovered on the edge of the conversation until she’d been sure she was welcome to join in. She hadn’t been quiet when it’d been just the two of them but for Sofia, at least, two had been company and three was always a crowd.

Were her children like her, quiet and watchful? Or were they handfuls?

He remembered so many things he hadn’t thought about in such a long time. The sailboat, the kiss. Teaching her to swim, with her mother watching nervously from the kitchen window. He’d picked out a birthday present for her with his own money, a Barbie with dark hair, just like hers.

But she wasn’t that girl, not anymore. Back then, she’d been a kid—and so had he. Now she was a woman and he wanted to get to know her again.

Without being aware of leaving his office, he found himself standing in front of her desk, located on the opposite side of the floor from his.

“Hi,” he said, pointedly not staring at her.

Startled, she looked up at him, her dark eyes bright. She looked amazing, he realized, his breath catching in his throat. Her color was good and her breath came easily and everything about her radiated calm. In no way, shape or form did she look like she was struggling with the burdens of the job.

But that wasn’t what had him unable to tear his gaze away. Somehow, she was even prettier than the last time he’d seen her. Today, she had on a wine-colored jacket over a patterned shirt and her hair was pulled back at the temples, the mass of dark waves spilling down her back. God, how he wanted to peel that jacket and shirt off her and sink his fingers into that silken hair and wind it around his fist so he could angle her head to the side and scrape his teeth over the delicate skin of her—

“Hi,” she said, snapping him out of his insanity.

He couldn’t respond for a moment as he fought to regain control of his body. Finally, he managed to croak out, “How’s it going?”

She notched an eyebrow. “Fine. Haven’t seen you for several days.” He heard the challenge in her voice. She knew he’d been avoiding her.

But he hadn’t been. Not intentionally. “Business waits for no man. I hear you’re settling in.”

“So far, so good.” Her voice was perky and confident, but then she looked down at her desk. “Everyone’s been really nice.”

He almost heard a…so far at the end of that sentence. “But?”

A blush darkened her cheeks. “We’re going to St. Louis next week, right?” She worried her lower lip with her teeth.

He almost leaned over to brush his thumb across her lip and soothe the worry away. Somehow, he just managed not to but his hand shook with the effort. She wore a shade of lipstick so deep a red it was almost brown. It looked great on her but God help him, he’d love to mess it up.

Then what she’d said penetrated his thoughts. She was worried about the trip. Was it the thought of traveling—or was it the thought of traveling with him? “Nervous about leaving your babies?” He leaned over and picked up the framed photo she’d put on her desk. This was a formal shot and, if he had to guess, he’d say it was for the twins’ one-year birthday.

God, they were cute. Eddy, dressed in a tiny tie that was hilarious on him, was standing with his hands on a small stool. Addy, wearing a dress that almost swallowed her whole and bows on itty-bitty ponytails, sat on a blanket next to the stool. Both kids were grinning wildly and Addy was clapping. They looked…perfect. Something in his chest tightened as he stared at the picture.

He said a silent prayer for their father. What a damn shame that the man hadn’t lived long enough to love his perfect family. If Eric had a wife like Sofia and kids like these babies, he wouldn’t have done anything stupid like die. He’d spend the rest of his life making sure this family was happy and whole. He’d give them every opportunity he’d ever had and more.

His mind spun out a—well, a fantasy. Working with Sofia, then going home with her at the end of the day, doing all those things he’d watched Marcus do with his wife and son—messy dinners and playing in the park. Then, when the kids went to bed at night, Eric would pull Sofia into his arms and into bed, where he’d spend the better part of the night—and the next morning—getting lost in the pleasures of her body.

It was almost perfect, that little fantasy of his. But he couldn’t just step into Sofia’s life like that. He did not sleep with employees. Hell, he shouldn’t even be fantasizing about them.

Belatedly, he realized Sofia hadn’t answered his question. He glanced up and caught her staring at him staring at her picture. Trying to act casual, he set it back on the desk. “I’d miss them, too,” he admitted, touching the frame with his finger. “How are they doing with you being at work?”

“It’s been a little rough,” she said quietly, as if she were afraid someone might overhear her admit to a weakness. She quickly added, “But it’s not impacting my ability to do the job, Mr. Jenner.”

It should have been the thing he wanted to hear. Yes, he wanted his employees happy, but only because he wanted them to do their jobs to the best of their abilities.

So why did her words bother him so much?

He must have scowled because her eyes widened in what looked like alarm.

“Then what’s bothering you?” he asked.

She didn’t answer for a moment. Instead, her gaze lingered on his face before drifting down to his shoulders and the rest of his body.

Eric liked to think he wasn’t a stupid man. He liked women on principle. He’d been enjoying them in one capacity or another since he’d gone away to school.

So he didn’t think he was misinterpreting the way Sofia took in his body or the way the color on her cheeks deepened as her gaze met his again.

Interest. Attraction, even. Sofia looked at him as if he was a man she might just like to take a weekend trip with. And his body responded in a primal way. He heard his voice deepen when he said, “You can tell me, Sofia. You know that.”

Her gaze jerked up to meet his. Her eyes were dark with desire and when she ran her tongue over her bottom lip, he went painfully hard. His body tilted toward hers of its own volition.

She glanced away, breaking the spell. “I was looking at the itinerary and it says we’re having dinner with the lieutenant governor and a cocktail party with the mayor? I don’t know what to wear…”

Ah, this was a problem he understood. “Is that all?”

“No,” she said quietly. Her face turned bright red. “I mean, that’s the only thing that I’m concerned I won’t be prepared for. For the trip. The kids will be fine. We’re only going to be gone two nights, right?”

“Right. We’ll leave Friday morning and be back Sunday evening.”

He knew what he needed to do. He’d have to give up his afternoon on the water but for some irrational reason, he found himself looking forward to it. Because this was one way to get her out of those stuffy jackets.

“Tell you what,” he began. “We’ll take the afternoon off and get you something to wear.”

Limos, while practically a requirement for billionaires, were damned inconvenient to get around in downtown Chicago. Eric vastly preferred his Ferrari F60—one of only ten made—and he preferred driving himself.

Which meant Sofia was sitting next to him, clutching the door handle as if her life depended on it as he weaved through traffic on his way to Barneys. Her scent filled the car, warm and light. She smelled so good, like cookies fresh out of the oven. That had to be why he wanted to press his lips against the base of her neck and take a little bite.

“Macy’s is fine. Even Nordstrom,” she said for the sixth time.

To Eric’s ears, she sounded almost desperate about it. Which was enough to keep him focused on the task at hand. Barely. “Come on, Sofia. I’m not exactly leading you to the gallows here. It’s just a department store.” They came to a screeching halt at a stoplight and he glanced over at her.

No, she wasn’t happy. He had to be careful that he didn’t accidentally push her too far. A cocktail dress was no reason to have a panic attack, in his opinion.

She snorted. “Eric,” she began and he secretly thrilled to hear her use his name again. It bothered him more than he’d realized that she’d called him Mr. Jenner. “Look. I can’t afford anything in this store, okay?”

Yeah, but he was buying. “Don’t worry about it.”

The light turned green but, in true Chicago fashion, he had to wait for another four cars to blow through the red before he could go.

“No,” she said, sounding stronger. “We’re not ten anymore. And don’t you dare turn into your mother, buying me frilly dresses that I’ll never be able to wear again.”

“First off, how dare you?” he said in mock outrage and she laughed. He grinned wildly at her. This was how he liked her—not cautious or worried, but ready and willing to give him hell. “I’m nothing like my mother, I’ll have you know. Any dress I buy you won’t be frilly.” Even as he said it, his mind began to leap ahead. Sofia had the kind of body that called out for something slinky that cut close to her body, with a deep V in front so he could properly appreciate her…assets.

“You can’t buy me clothes, Eric,” she said in a quiet voice. “Would you buy Meryl clothes? Or Steve, for that matter?”

He scowled at a car that cut in front of him. “No, but they already know what’s expected. Besides, if you think I’m going to let you walk into a situation where you’re unprepared, you don’t know me as well as you think you do.”

But she was right. He wouldn’t buy clothes for anyone else, wouldn’t give anyone else the afternoon off and take them shopping. Just her.

He cleared his throat as the car came to a screeching halt outside Barneys. The valet was at Eric’s door in an instant. “Mr. Jenner, good to see you again,” the man said.

“Norman,” Eric replied, handing over his keys. “Extra gentle with her, okay?” From the passenger seat, Sofia snorted.

He crossed around the front of the vehicle and opened Sofia’s door. “It won’t be that bad,” he promised, holding out his hand to her. “It might even be fun.”

Because, oddly, he was having fun. Sofia shot him a dirty look, which made him want to laugh. The few times he’d taken a woman shopping, they’d always simpered and smiled and were so effusive with gratitude that it had seemed less…real, somehow.

He didn’t want things to be like that with Sofia. He was aware of her in a fundamental way that didn’t make a lot of sense. He knew what she liked and, more than that, he knew what she needed.

Hell, he knew what he needed—but he was trying to be a better person. In the months since his ex had bailed on their wedding, he’d re-sowed a lot of his wild oats. But he wasn’t a randy kid anymore and meaningless sex was just that—meaningless. He didn’t want to chase a sexual relationship with Sofia if…

Well, if it didn’t mean anything. Because even if this relationship never became sexual, Sofia meant something to him. More than an office manager, anyway. Much more.

Then she put her hand in his and the world stopped spinning. He didn’t hear the noise of the streets or feel the heat of the summer sun on the back of his neck. He didn’t see anything but her as she raised her gaze to his. All he saw was Sofia, her hand warm and light in his. Skin to skin, he swore he felt something pass between them. Something that maybe had tugged at his awareness when he’d touched her back through her jacket during her interview. Something that couldn’t be ignored now.

“Come on,” he said gruffly, pulling her to her feet and tucking her hand in the crook of his elbow. He didn’t trust himself to say anything else.

Six

Sofia stared up at Eric in shock. What was happening? Really? Eric had been avoiding her since she’d scolded him—and she couldn’t blame him. No one wanted to hang out with a harpy. But suddenly he’d appeared in front of her desk and not only asked thoughtful questions about her twins, but seemed genuinely interested in the answers. And then, when she broke her own rule about telling him she wasn’t prepared for her job? He took her shopping.

At best, she might have expected him to send her out to Macy’s with Heather, who no doubt knew exactly what kind of dress an office manager should wear to a cocktail party with the mayor of a midsize Midwestern city.

But that wasn’t what was happening. Eric was going to take her shopping himself. At Barneys, of all places. Even with her newly generous salary, Sofia couldn’t afford to so much as walk through the doors here.

Well. This was a fine mess. She should refuse, absolutely. Except…

Except he really seemed to care about how her babies were doing now that she was back at work full-time. And sometimes, when he looked at her…she swore he was looking at her with new eyes. And she had nothing to wear and didn’t want to show up at a semiformal event representing the company in the wrong kind of dress.