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“You’re his secretary, can’t you go?” Cassandra turned to Helen, her plea obvious.
“Afraid not. I have an invalid mother I care for. I can’t leave her alone overnight. Besides, I don’t know any more about children than Jared.”
“I was hired as a marketing analyst, not a nanny,” Cassandra protested, swinging to Jared.
He smiled sardonically, anger edging him. “I believe in utilizing all experiences of my employees. Consider yourself indispensable for this assignment.”
“I protest.” She said it firmly, yet deep inside she knew it wouldn’t matter. Jared wasn’t listening.
“It’s settled. Meet me at the airport in time for the flight. Helen, give her the details. I’m heading home.” He caught her eye and narrowed his. “Don’t be late!”
Cassandra watched him leave, the unfairness of it all striking her. She met the sympathy in Helen’s gaze.
“He needs your help. You said you know something about kids, he hasn’t a clue. It’s just overnight, Cassandra,” the older woman said.
“I’m always the one stuck with children. For years, it was always, ‘Leave them with Cassandra’. Working here was my chance to leave that behind,” she said wryly, rising. “Guess that was wishful thinking.” She took a deep breath. Trying to look on the bright side of things, she wandered to her desk. Casting her mind back, she tried to picture the needs and abilities of toddlers. It really hadn’t been that long since she’d been in charge of little children. She could certainly handle a cross-country flight.
And she’d have Jared’s attention on the flight to New York. Maybe she could discuss some of her other ideas with him. Looking for the silver lining, she swept folders into her briefcase and headed home to pack.
Four hours later Jared leaned back on his sofa watching the clock on the mantel. In ten minutes he had to leave for the airport. He’d had a Scotch, but it had done nothing to ease the turmoil. Sleeping had been out of the question—he’d been afraid he wouldn’t wake up in time for the flight. He’d sleep on the plane. It would have to do. He considered the situation once again, trying to make some sense of it.
Oddly, his thoughts kept returning to Cassandra Bowles. For the two years she’d worked for him, he’d barely noticed her. She’d done her job well, already had one promotion behind her. Recently she’d been assigned as project manager for the GlobalNet account. Accomplished, proficient, professional—all desirable attributes for a career-minded woman. Her surprising outburst this afternoon startled him. Jared liked things to make sense, to follow a logical pattern—and that hadn’t. She was usually enthusiastic and agreeable, and her refusal had been surprising and unusual. A mere suggestion to accompany him on the trip to see to the children, help bring them to San Francisco, and she’d just about exploded. He wondered why.
Maybe he’d discover on the trip.
The red-eye flight would arrive in New York just after eight. They’d go directly to the attorney’s office upon landing. Jared had showered and shaved, donned a fresh suit and shirt. His overnight case contained casual clothes for the return journey. He might not know much about children, but he knew enough to suspect they’d be too messy for an Armani suit.
He wondered what he should be taking to entertain two toddlers.
His thoughts veered to the babies. How could MaryEllen have kept them a secret? If her lawyer was to be believed, she feared he would demand she return to San Francisco. Would that have been so bad? They’d worked together at McGeorge and Fergarson, discussed starting a business for months before taking the plunge. She’d had as much invested in the company as he. Pouring all their resources into the firm, they’d conserved on expenses by marrying each other. He liked the challenge of building a company, but sometimes he thought MaryEllen defined herself by the company and its success. Had business been more important to her than her children?
He rose, not liking the trend of his thoughts. He grabbed the overnight case and started for the airport.
Cassandra sat alone in a bank of chairs at the boarding gate, casually reading a magazine, a small tote bag beside her feet. She might resent the assignment, but she was professional enough to do her best. Knowing they’d head directly for the attorney’s offices, she’d dressed in a charcoal gray suit matched with a white blouse. Both traveled well, and she hoped she wouldn’t look like a wrinkled mess in the morning. A tingling awareness struck her, and she raised her gaze. As if attuned to him, she spotted her boss as he crossed the concourse toward the gate.
She sighed softly and sat up straighter. Jared was so good-looking he shouldn’t be let out without a keeper. Unconsciously she noticed the glances he received from the other women in the area. Some bold and interested, others more surreptitious, but all following his long stride as he crossed to join her. His dark hair was thick and neatly trimmed. The tan he’d had in the summer was not as evident after his recent trip, but the rugged masculinity in his face struck a spark of interest for the first time.
Cassandra frowned. Was it knowing he was single again that caused that? She’d thought he was drop-dead gorgeous when he’d interviewed her, but so far out of her league, she’d immediately ignored the sensations that flittered inside her and concentrated on doing the best she could on her assignment.
In reality, nothing had changed. So why this sudden awareness? She smiled politely as he drew closer.
“Here as ordered, sir,” she said briefly.
He sat beside her and glanced at her carryon bag and briefcase. A sardonic smile creased his cheeks. “You sound like a kitten spitting at a bulldog. Just remember who’s the boss.”
She met his hard eyes, a faint hint of anger visible in her gaze. “No danger of forgetting that, is there?”
Jared smiled.
She tightened her lips and returned to her magazine before she gave way to the urge to slap that smug grin off his face.
“Do you sleep in suits?” he asked.
“What?” She looked around and stared at him in disbelief.
“Just wondering. MaryEllen wore suits all the time except to bed. I thought you might wear something more comfortable for the flight.”
“This is appropriate attire for a business meeting. We are meeting the lawyers before we see your daughters, right?” she replied.
“Maybe they’ll be dressed like miniature businesswomen, too,” he murmured, not putting it past MaryEllen. Wearily Jared felt as if he’d never known his wife at all.
“I doubt it.” She eyed his suit. “I hope you brought something else. Kids can be messy, especially when confined in airplanes.”
He looked at her lazily. “I have a couple of changes in the bag. I figured we would stay at least one night in New York. If I don’t get some sleep soon, I’m going to just pass out.” He rubbed his eyes with his thumb and forefinger.
“You can sleep on the plane.” Compassion struck Cassandra. He did look exhausted. After flying in from Asia, it had to be next to impossible to fly on to New York.
“I’ll have to. After the flight from Bangkok and the flight tonight, my body won’t know whether it’s coming or going. Do you know how many time zones I’ve crossed in the last twenty-four hours?”
She shook her head, her gaze moving slowly over his shoulders to the long legs stretched out before him. So much for her idea of discussing business on the flight to New York. For a moment Cassandra wondered what it would be like to travel with him when he was rested. Would he be a fascinating conversationalist? He’d been to so many places and done so much. Wasn’t he only in his early thirties? She would love to hear how he and his wife had started Hunter Associates and where they planned to take the company.
But it wasn’t going to happen tonight, she knew that.
Jared idly noted Cassandra’s perusal. Or was he imagining it? She probably wanted to discuss the bottom line or future projections and was trying to think up the best approach. She was no more interested in him than he was in her.
And he was not interested in any woman. Except he couldn’t quite explain the desire to loosen her dark hair, unbutton that high collar and remove the glasses. He couldn’t remember if he’d ever seen her not wearing them. He wouldn’t mind seeing her in a dress, or shorts—or nothing at all.
Nothing?
God, he must be tired—now he was hallucinating. Closing his eyes, he tried to focus on the impending meeting with his daughters. Disbelief warred with fascination. He had no time for idle fantasies about one of his employees—one. moreover, who reminded him strongly of his late wife. He’d had his fill of determined career women who cared more for competing in the business world than in making a home and planning a future complete with family.
Next time he ventured into a personal relationship, he’d find someone soft and feminine and more interested in flowers in the garden and a comfortable home than spreadsheets and bank statements. That’s what he’d look for—if he ever wanted to marry again.
The flight was called. Jared and Cassandra boarded first class. He offered her the window seat. “I plan to sleep the entire trip, don’t need to see out the window,” he said.
“Thank you. Though I should mention I’ll also be napping. If not, I’ll be a zombie tomorrow.” She slipped in, stowed her bag and briefcase, clutched her magazine like a lifeline. Bemused, Cassandra realized she could smell his after-shave lotion—tangy and masculine. Sitting close enough to feel the heat from his strong body, she wanted to draw away, but there was only the airplane wall on the other side. Tongue-tied and feeling awkward, she gazed at the magazine, wondering why all her common sense seemed to have gone cockeyed. Jared sat beside her, fastening his seat belt. She’d attended meetings in the conference room that he’d chaired. So what was the problem tonight?
Of course, at the meetings, she had not sat beside him. Not been so acutely aware of his strong hands, the width of his shoulders and the smooth skin of his freshly shaved jaw. She tightened her grip lest her fingers give way to the desire to brush against that stubborn jaw and test the texture of his skin, feel his heat sear into her.
Cassandra swallowed hard, moving her gaze out the window. There was little to see in the darkness. Lights lit the service vehicles scurrying around the big jetliner, but beyond that nothing was visible. Yet she continued to stare out the window. It felt safer, somehow.
“As soon as we get airborne, I’m reclining the seat and going to sleep. If anyone asks, I don’t want food or drink,” he murmured in her right ear.
Cassandra turned and drew in her breath. His face was mere inches from hers. She could see the lines of fatigue radiating from his eyes and her own image reflected there. His breath caressed her cheek. Swallowing, she nodded, fascinated to be so close to the man.
“Been to New York before?” he asked, his eyes searching hers.
She shook her head, conscious of the wild beat of her heart. Mesmerized by the sensations that raced through her, she couldn’t look away.
“Sorry we won’t have time to go sight-seeing.”
“I hope to go one day on vacation. I’d like to see the sights, maybe go to a Broadway show.”
“It’s okay to visit, but I prefer San Francisco any day.”
Cassandra nodded.
“Are you from the Bay Area?” he asked.
She shook her head. Feeling like an idiot and not the competent woman she tried to portray, she cleared her throat. “I grew up near L.A. Now I prefer San Francisco.”
“Live in the city?”
“In a small place on Telegraph Hill.”
“Lots of tourists.”
“Mostly in the summer. Coit Tower is a popular site. I like to walk up there myself and gaze out over the city. It offers a magnificent view.”
“How long have you lived there?” Jared asked, wondering why he didn’t know more about an employee who had worked for him for two years.
“I arrived a couple of weeks before I went to work for you,” she replied. Why didn’t he lean back in his chair? Why was he still so close, close enough for her to feel as if there were only the two of them on the entire plane? She longed for some distance. His eyes were dark, compelling, mesmerizing. She liked the lights that danced in their depth. Wondered what he thought as he gazed into her eyes.
The flight attendant began her preflight demonstration. Cassandra drew a deep breath and looked at the woman. She knew Jared continued to watch her through narrowed eyes, but she focused on the demonstration as if she’d never seen one before. Almost feeling the waves of fatigue wash through him, she knew he’d last only a few more minutes. Once he reclined his seat and slept, the trip would be easier.
Jared awoke as the plane began its descent. He felt the pressure in his ears and yawned to relieve it. Something heavy and warm rested against his shoulder. Turning his head, he realized Cassandra had decided to use him as a pillow during the night. Both of them were covered with airline blankets. Both seats had been reclined. Had he done this? Had she?
He shifted a bit, his arm asleep. How long had she rested against him? A faint hint of roses wafted on the air. Her special scent? He tipped his face toward her and took a breath. Sweet, definitely roses. Closing his eyes, he tried to envision her purchasing that particular scent and spraying it on each morning. Somehow it evoked images of a different woman, soft and feminine—not a straitlaced, ambitious businesswoman.
He had to get a grip. She was not there to be his personal fantasy, but to play nanny to his daughters on the return trip. That was all. Once they reached San Francisco, she’d resume her role as marketing analyst, and Helen would have located a nanny for the twins. He had other things to think about besides Cassandra Bowles.
Immediately thoughts of the twins had him awake and alert.
He shook his seat companion, then waited while she slowly came awake.
“Oh, sorry.” Instantly she pushed back and sat up. Her cheek was warm and rosy, with a slight crease mark from his jacket crossing it diagonally. She looked at him and blinked. The glasses were gone. Her eyes were dark and mysterious. Slowly Jared felt attraction build. Glasses off, she looked younger, shy almost, and definitely as feminine as he could ever wish. Her tight French braid had worked loose during the night. Wispy tendrils of glossy dark hair framed her face. When she licked dry lips, he felt a sharp tug of awareness—total male awareness of an attractive female. All thoughts of sleep fled. Suddenly he was more than curious about this woman.
“I didn’t mean to fall asleep on you,” she said, moving farther away, straightening her clothes beneath the blanket, retrieving her glasses. Jared experienced a repeat urge to unbutton the top of her blouse to enable more of her warmth and sweet scent to fill his senses. He looked at her moist lips and yearned to taste her.
Closing his eyes, he turned away. He’d been too long without a woman. Even in a business marriage, he’d believed in keeping his vows. Since MaryEllen had departed almost three years ago, he’d spent his nights alone. Sexual deprivation—that was all it was. And now that his wife was dead, he was free to consider other women. Nothing more than that. He was not attracted to Cassandra. Any woman would affect him the same way.
Opening his eyes, he didn’t bother to analyze why there was no pull of attraction between him and the buxom blond flight attendant. Instead, he tried to ignore the attraction to the woman beside him and concentrate on attempting to anticipate the information he’d receive from the attorney.
When they landed, Jared reached for Cassandra’s cases and carried them easily.
“I can manage my own cases,” she protested, following him up the jetway.
“I don’t mind. You’ll have your hands full later. No sense in not taking advantage of my generous nature now.”
“Generous, my foot,” she mumbled. “Dictatorial, more likely.”
“Why’s that?” Jared found himself amused at her grumbling. Was she always cranky in the morning? For the first time her perfect image shifted, blurred. He liked her better when she wasn’t the flawless employee.
“You ordered me here. I didn’t want to come.”
“Don’t you like children?”
“I don’t like watching them.”
“When was the last time you did?”
Kennedy Airport hummed with activity. A uniformed man stood in the crowd holding Jared’s name on a card. Jared handed the limousine driver the bags. Following him, Jared placed his hand on Cassandra’s back. She was not as tall as MaryEllen had been. Yet she held her head high and marched determinedly after the driver.
“Children?” Jared said again, a hint of steel in his voice.
“I’ve had to watch children almost all my life. I swore when I was on my own I wouldn’t do it again. I’m not real happy with this assignment. If you hadn’t made it an order, I wouldn’t be here,” she grumbled. Despite her annoyance with her high-handed boss, she was fascinated with the bustle of the international airport.
“Ah, but think of the brownie points you can rack up helping the boss out this way.”
“I’d rather get points for merit than for baby-sitting capability.”
“Maybe the merit is in the baby-sitting,” he replied calmly, noting her agitation. “Tell me about watching kids all your life.”
“I’d rather not. I’m sorry I opened my mouth yesterday.”
“About knowing about twins?”
She nodded. Dodging a man obviously in a hurry to make a plane, she pushed against Jared. He shifted her to the other side, continued walking smoothly.
“It slipped out,” she said.
More curious than ever, Jared wondered if he could get the full story from her before they met with MaryEllen’s attorneys.
CHAPTER TWO
“I HAVE to compliment you on your restraint and tact,” Jared said to Cassandra when they were seated in the back of the limousine heading for Manhattan.
“About what?” she asked warily.
After entering the limousine, Cassandra had moved as close to the far door as possible. Jared almost smiled at the distance she placed between them. Was she uncomfortable around him? Interesting. For a moment he considered testing the theory.
“Another woman would have bombarded me with questions about my marriage, my wife and why I apparently have two-year-old daughters I know nothing about,” he said instead.
“Of course I’m curious, but I do respect your right to privacy.” She tilted her head and smiled mischievously. “And I picked up quite a bit from around the office. The scuttlebutt is that you two married to pool resources so you could build Hunter Associates. She moved to New York a few years ago to open a second office and to try to crack the European market. She had two little girls you knew nothing about. If there’s more you want to volunteer, I wouldn’t interrupt.”
Startled, Jared almost laughed aloud at the unexpected glimpse of minx in his companion. He knew what she had told him was no secret—except for the babies. He was more intrigued that she had apparently picked up quite a bit. Any special reason?
“Ours was not an ordinary marriage. We married for expediency. Starting up a new company calls for a lot of hard work, long hours and money. It was easier to minimize expenses and to work long hours by sharing a home.” He wasn’t trying to justify the relationship, just explain it. Why that was important, he wasn’t sure.
“Sounds like a business arrangement.”
“Essentially.” He had almost forgotten how it started. For the last three years they had shared nothing beyond a meal in Washington. “MaryEllen wanted Hunter Associates to succeed even more than I did. She found the business environment challenging and exciting.”
“It can be exhilarating,” Cassandra murmured, watching ing him closely.
“I know. Now I understand her sudden determination to move to New York and open an East Coast office. She never came back to San Francisco because she feared she’d be stuck with the babies rather than in the trenches of high-tech business, I think.”
“Not every woman wants to stay home and raise children.”
“You don’t,” he stated with certainty. Her outburst yesterday in his office confirmed that.
“What I want right now is a chance to build a life of my own. Maybe down the road I’ll marry and have children. Then I’ll have to see what I want to do. Children are fine as long as they are wanted and loved.”
“I hear a but.”
“But I don’t want the choice taken from me.”
“As I did with this assignment?”
She nodded, looking out the window as the tall skyscrapers of Manhattan came into view. Puffy white clouds drifted in azure blue skies. Traffic was heavy, but moving steadily on the congested highway. Jared wondered if her attention was truly taken with the approaching city or if she was trying to distance herself to rebuild her anger. It had blown over quickly. He was glad she wasn’t the type to sulk.
“Be honest, Cassandra. I didn’t ask for much. A day to help get them home. Helen is working on finding a nanny. You have experience I lack. Wouldn’t you take advantage of any needed expertise?”
“Probably,” she admitted grudgingly.
“Where does that expertise come from? Lots of brothers and sisters?” He knew he was probing where she didn’t want him to, but his curiosity rose. Solemn and serious, Cassandra Bowles never gave the impression she was anything but a well-trained employee. Yet she had to have a private life—he didn’t demand his employees dedicate their entire waking hours to the job. Suddenly he wanted to know more.
“None, actually.”
“We have about thirty minutes before we arrive at the attorneys’ office. Why don’t you tell me about your experience with children.” If she wouldn’t open up voluntarily, he’d ask specific questions. For a moment he wondered why he pushed. Was it only curiosity, or was he trying to stop thinking about two toddlers waiting to meet him? He’d negotiated multimillion-dollar deals. Why was he growing more and more nervous at the thought of facing two small girls?
The silence stretched. Cassandra slowly turned and looked at him assessingly. She didn’t like to talk about her past. All her life she’d wished for a fairy-tale family, something like the Brady Bunch—a dream far from her reality. She guessed it wouldn’t hurt to explain why she hadn’t wanted to come on this trip.
“My mother died when I was seven. I had no other family, so I ended up in foster care. The home I was assigned when I was ten had lots of young children, mostly other foster kids. I baby-sat constantly over the next eight years. Once I turned eighteen, I split. No more kids for me, I vowed.”
“Until today.”
“I wish. When I got to college, I needed money. Only job I was qualified for was watching children. So I was a prime candidate for professors’ families looking for baby-sitters. Another four years of watching other people’s kids.”
“Now mine.”
“Right.” She frowned. “It’s not what I expected when I hired on with the firm. I have a degree in marketing, not child care. I want to use my mind, not be a baby-sitter.”
“Nor did I ever think I’d need a baby-sitter. But then I had no idea MaryEllen had delivered twins.” Jared lapsed into silence, again wondering how MaryEllen could have kept such an event from him. After all, he couldn’t have made her return to San Francisco to live. He should have known about his daughters.
The law offices of Sattler, Randall and Peabody were located on the thirty-third floor of a skyscraper on East Fortieth Street. A high-speed elevator whisked them quickly to their destination. Jared located the door to the offices, pushed it open and stood aside to allow Cassandra to enter. Stepping inside, he immediately stopped, his eyes on the two toddlers playing by a maroon-colored crushed velvet sofa. Dark hair caught up in wispy ponytails, matching overalls, a pink shirt and a yellow shirt on the two little girls—other than those shirts, they were identical. Both stopped playing when Jared entered, turning toward him and Cassandra, bright blue eyes staring.