Читать книгу Engaged with the Boss - Elle James - Страница 10

Jolie staggered backward, pulling free of his grasp, her head spinning. When the backs of her knees hit the wing-backed chair, she sat down hard, a hand rising to her cheek. She couldn’t breathe, her heart having stopped at Devin’s words. “Engagement?” Had her every dream just come true?

“It’s the only way we can salvage the situation and deflect the media inquisition.” He turned and paced the floor. “It will be a fake engagement, of course. I won’t expect you to go through with the marriage.”

Jolie’s gut roiled as if she’d been punched hard. Blood rushed back into her face and her heart surged into gear. She clutched her hands together in her lap, her gaze on her fingers, not Devin, as she forced her disappointment aside. Why had she even dared to believe a man like Devin would be interested in marrying a girl like herself? Fool.

They were worlds apart. While Devin dined on caviar and two-hundred-dollar steaks, she cooked her own meals and ate leftovers. Not that she didn’t make good money as the CEO’s assistant, she just didn’t have the kind of income to throw away on extravagance.

Devin faced her directly. “Fake only to you and me. The rest of the family must believe it’s true in order to convince the paparazzi.”

“Don’t you think they deserve to know the truth?” Jolie asked, glad his focus was on his family and not her. It gave her time to think through her response.

“They will be safer with the lie. That way only the two of us will have to keep up the pretense, limiting the number of people who could slip, blowing our story. It keeps the rest of the family from worrying about making the wrong move or saying the wrong thing.”

Jolie stood. “And if I’m not willing to participate in this lie?”

“Why wouldn’t you? It’s to protect you from a media nightmare and Kendall Communications from a scandal. We keep the focus on something exciting, like a wedding. And not that our family is being investigated regarding the murders. That way, we can continue our own investigation without being too obvious.”

She swallowed hard, a wad of tears clogging her throat. Oh, dear God, don’t let her cry in front of him. Devin hated when women cried. She turned her back to him. “I think it would be best if I quit.” How could she see Devin day in and day out and not fall more hopelessly in love? Especially after the previous night’s indiscretions?

The carpeted floor muted Devin’s approach, but every nerve in Jolie’s body knew he’d closed the distance between them. When his hands descended on her shoulders, she sucked in a breath and held it.

Devin turned her to face him. “The media will crucify you and me if you quit now. I don’t care about me, but I don’t want you hurt because of my mistake.” He pulled her into his arms.

Mistake. Jolie held herself stiff. What they’d done last night was a mistake to him. She let the air out of her lungs and steeled her voice not to shake, as she responded, “I’m tough, I won’t break. Besides, how can we work together now that we’ve done … what we’ve done?” The mistake.

“I could promise not to touch you again, but I hate breaking promises.” He tipped her chin up with his thumb. “Do it for me. Be my fiancée. When the hoopla dies down we can break the engagement and everything can go back to normal.” His blue-eyed gaze bored into hers. His thick brown hair fell down over his forehead as though he hadn’t taken the time to tame it that morning, making him appear more vulnerable.

When he looked at her like that, how could she resist? Damn, she was a mess. “Okay, I’ll do it. But when this ordeal is over, we have to face reality.”

“We will. Later.” His lips tipped upward at the corner. “Ash is gathering the family. I wish Thad was here, but that can’t be helped. We can announce our engagement to them now to quell their uproar at the morning news.”

Jolie nodded and forced herself to smile. “I guess we’re engaged. Sort of.” Her laugh sounded stiff, even to her own ears. “Somehow, I pictured my first proposal differently.” She shrugged, maintaining her pretense of nonchalance when what she really wanted was to find a quiet, dark closet to hide in until her insides quit trembling. She could just imagine her reaction had it been a real engagement.

A long silence stretched between them, with Devin’s hands still resting on her arms.

Jolie’s gaze collided with Devin’s intense blue eyes.

He stared into her face, his forehead wrinkled as it did when he was working out a problem in his head.

“What?” She crossed her eyes in an attempt to view the tip of her nose. “Do I have a smudge on my face?”

“No. It’s just …”

“Having second thoughts?” Her heart stuttered to a stop and she held her breath. Not like the engagement was real or anything. “That’s bad when you’re having second thoughts about a fake engagement. Does the thought of a Kendall marrying a lowly executive assistant go against the grain?” She tried to laugh, failing miserably.

“Huh?” He shook his head. “No, don’t be silly. I was thinking we should seal this deal in some way.” His frown lifted and he leaned closer, his hand rising to cup the back of her neck, drawing her closer. “Perhaps with a kiss.”

Jolie leaned forward, memories of the night before rushing in to fuel the flames building inside. Her breasts touched his chest, the hardened tips rubbing deliciously against the inside of her lacy bra.

Her arms crept up and around his neck, pulling him closer.

Devin’s lips crushed her mouth, his tongue sweeping in to tangle with hers, thrusting and tempting her to forget everything but that moment.

A professional down to the sensible shoes she wore, Jolie had been thrown into the deep end. Kissing the boss in his office wasn’t something a woman did, unless that woman was completely out of her mind in love.

A sound penetrated the back of her thoughts, the creak of a door opening, the light squeal of a hinge.

“Oops, sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt.”

Jolie jumped back, her eyes wide, her heart thumping against her ribs.

Natalie stood at the door, her face flushed, her green eyes dancing. “I can come back when you’ve concluded your … er … meeting.”

“Bull on that.” Ash pushed his way through the door, followed by the owner and one of the original cofounders of Kendall Communications, Craig Kendall. “We have some serious damage control to conduct and you two aren’t helping by playing tonsil tango on company time.”

Her face burning, Jolie attempted a dash for the door.

Devin, anticipating her move, grabbed her arm and pulled her against him, his hand slipping around her waist. “I’m glad you were all able to join us on such short notice. I’m certain you have seen the morning newspaper?”

Every head nodded.

He stood straighter and faced curious eyes. “Well, I have an explanation for that.”

“I’m glad someone does.” Craig crossed his arms and waited. “Go on.”

“Jolie and I have an announcement to make.”

Natalie’s eyes widened, her mouth falling open. “No way.”

Devin glared at her. “I haven’t even said what it is and you’re already saying ‘no way’?”

“No way!” Natalie clamped her mouth shut and slapped a hand over it. Through her fingers she muttered, “Okay, I won’t say a word, oh, my God, hurry up with it.”

A chuckle rose up in Devin’s chest. “How old are you?”

Natalie dropped her hand. “Twenty-six, will you tell already?”

If Jolie didn’t have a knot the size of a sweat sock lodged in her throat, she’d have laughed out loud at Natalie’s enthusiasm. But the whole situation was surreal, as though it was happening to someone else. Not plain Jolie Carson.

Devin smiled down at Jolie and winked.

Immediately, her world lit and her nerves calmed. She could handle just about anything if Devin Kendall looked at her like that all the time.

“Jolie and I are engaged.”

Natalie squealed and rushed forward to hug Jolie. “I knew it. I knew it.”

“How did you know?” Ash asked, his gaze on Devin, not Natalie. “None of us knew until now, unless you had some inside information.”

“Oh, Ash, relax.” Natalie hugged Jolie and turned back to face her detective brother. “I could tell by the look on Jolie’s face.”

“What, the look of stunned disbelief?” Jolie pressed a hand to her burning cheeks. “I can barely believe it’s true.”

Natalie hugged her again. “I get another sister. I won’t be outnumbered by men anymore.”

Ash frowned at Devin. “That’s the way you’re going to play this?”

Devin met his frown with a clear and steady gaze. “We’re not playing. Jolie and I are getting married.”

“When?” Ash shot back at him.

Fighting to keep irritation from rising into his voice, Devin answered, “We haven’t set a date.”

“Ash.” Natalie glared at her brother.

Ash refused to be quieted. “I want the truth.”

Jolie’s arm slipped around Devin’s waist and she smiled up at him. “Devin just asked me to marry him. I haven’t thought that far ahead. I’ve been pinching myself, thinking I’m still sleeping.”

“I just don’t want you two walking into something you’ll both regret because of a picture in the newspaper.”

“We should give the couple a little space.” Uncle Craig winked, saving Devin from a response. “They have some … er … celebrating to do. Aunt Angela and I will help you with the wedding preparations. We can shop for two since Rachel and Ash will be getting married soon, too.”

“Why don’t you two get started?” Devin said.

Jolie chimed in, “Just because we’re engaged doesn’t mean I’m commitment free. I have a job to do and a very demanding boss.”

Ash smiled for the first time since Devin’s announcement. “I think you’ve met your match there, brother. How are you going to live without her managing your office?”

Devin frowned. “I hadn’t thought about that.”

“Because he’s not going to live without me managing his office. At least not until I find a suitable replacement.” Her arm dropped from around his waist and Jolie stepped back. “Now I have work to do.”

Devin grabbed her hand to keep her from going too far. “You’re officially off the clock at three this afternoon.”

“I have too much to do to take off that early.”

“You need time to find a new dress. Natalie will help you.” He fished in his pocket for his wallet and withdrew a credit card. “You can use this.”

Jolie’s hands shot up. “No, really, I don’t need a new dress.”

“You do for tonight. It’s a special occasion. We’ll be attending the gala for the St. Louis Children’s Hospital.”

“I can wear the dress I wore to the company Christmas party,” she insisted.

“No.” Devin loved the mutinous expression on her face and wanted to kiss it off. But with his uncle, brother and sister watching, he held back, holding to the firm older brother and CEO persona. “You will buy a new dress.” Devin pressed the credit card into her hand and curled her fingers around it. “And while you’re at it, some new shoes. We’re announcing our engagement to the city at the gala.”

Jolie opened her mouth to protest, then shut it.

Devin almost laughed out loud. “What is it you always say?”

Jolie sighed. “Stop finding reasons not to and start finding reasons to.” She scowled for a moment, then a smile curved her lips, making the entire office light up. “You’re absolutely right. I think I’ll take the rest of the day off. Finding the right dress could prove challenging.” She turned to Natalie. “Can you spare the afternoon?”

“I don’t know. Devin has my proposal for the advertising campaign. I believe Jolie delivered it last night. Or had you forgotten?” Natalie cocked an eyebrow at her brother. “Until you review it, I’m at loose ends. If you need me, I’ll be out with your fiancée.” She flung her hair over her shoulder, hooked her elbow through Jolie’s and tugged her toward the door. “Come on, sister. We have some power shopping to do.”

Devin’s gaze followed them through the door, the scent of Jolie’s perfume lingering in the air, reminding him of the hours they’d spent in his bed. Hell, his sheets still smelled of Jolie.

“If you two will excuse me, I have to prepare for the gala, as well. We’re making a sizable donation to the hospital and I need to make sure Accounting has written the check.” Uncle Craig stuck his hand out. “Congratulations, son.”

Devin took his uncle’s hand and was pulled into a bear hug.

Guilt gnawed at his insides. How could he lie to the people he loved about a matter like an engagement? But for their own protection, it had to be that way. “Thanks, Uncle.”

As soon as the door closed behind his uncle, Devin braced himself for his brother’s inquisition.

“Why?” Ash started.

Devin turned away from his brother and walked to the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the St. Louis skyline. The arch gleamed white in the morning sun, like a beacon of hope under the weight of the resurgence of the case of the Christmas Eve Murders. “I would think it obvious. We’re in love.”

Devin marveled at how easily the lie rolled off his lips. Not that he couldn’t fall in love with Jolie. After last night, he truly believed he could. Why he hadn’t seen it earlier was a mystery to him. Still, his responsibility to his family came first. His own desires had always gone on the back burner.

“As much as we all love and appreciate everything Jolie has done for you, I feel that the media is pushing you into this farce of an engagement.”

Devin looked back over his shoulder. “Ash, have you ever known anyone to push me into doing something I didn’t want to?”

Ash sighed. “No.”

“Then leave it at that. Jolie and I are getting married. We make the news public tonight.”

Ash dug his hands into his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “At the very least, your engagement will lay the wagging tongues to rest.”

Devin nodded. “Any new forensic evidence surface?”

Ash shook his head. “You’re changing the subject.”

“No, the previous conversation was over.”

Ash’s lips twisted and then turned up in a smile. “Rachel and I have gone over and over the evidence remaining from twenty years ago. We’ve got nothing. No new matches have surfaced on the DNA in the National DNA Database. Which only tells us that whoever murdered our parents hasn’t been convicted of another crime.”

“Why would someone come after us now, when they’ve been safely hidden for all these years?”

“Could be a couple of reasons.” Ash paced the carpeted floor. “The exoneration of the man originally charged with the murders could have shaken the real killer. He might want to eliminate all those who give a damn about our parents. He could be operating under the assumption that if no one is monitoring the case, it will grow cold again.”

“Or it could be someone hoping to use the past murders as a cover.”

Ash stopped pacing. “I’d thought of that, which is part of the reason I’m here today. I’m compiling a list of all those who hate the Kendalls and want us dead.”

“That might take a while.” Devin’s lips twisted. “Anytime you own a big corporation, you’re going to piss someone off.”

“Start with disgruntled ex-employees. Work the inside first and anyone you might have fired in the past year. The reopening of the murder investigation gives someone an opportunity to hide behind an existing killer.”

“I’ll get Jolie on it.” Devin reached for the intercom button on his phone.

His brother smiled. “Afraid that won’t work.”

Devin snatched his hand away. “Oh, yeah. She’s shopping.” He frowned. “How the hell am I supposed to function without her in the office?” he grumbled, staring down at his desk as if it was a foreign object.