Snowbound Seduction: A Night of No Return / To Claim His Heir by Christmas / I'll Be Yours for Christmas

That information was private. His secret, not hers to tell.

‘Wow.’ Effortlessly elegant, Avery uncurled her legs and sat up. ‘You’ve led this life driven by duty and responsibility and then suddenly on one snowy night it’s all blown apart. That’s so romantic.’

‘It’s not romantic. It’s embarrassing and inconvenient. And my life hasn’t been driven by duty.’ Emma shifted uncomfortably. ‘It isn’t like that. I adore Jamie.’

‘I never said you didn’t adore him, but that doesn’t change the fact you’ve always put him first. And you’re so different from Lucas’s usual type of woman.’

‘What do you mean by that?’

‘You’re the home and hearth type that Lucas usually avoids like a non-alcoholic cocktail.’ She gave a slow smile. ‘And you spent the night together. How interesting.’

‘It’s not interesting. In fact I think it’s fair to say he was appalled. He thought it meant I would automatically fall in love with him.’

‘Whereas you were already in love with him.’

‘No, absolutely not! I don’t love him.’

‘Probably why you slept with him,’ Avery said helpfully, ignoring Emma’s denial. ‘Let’s just hope he doesn’t figure that one out. So—you’ve freaked him out. Lucas Jackson is Mr Cool so I’m looking forward to meeting the freaked-out version.’

‘He is so freaked out he spent all yesterday making sure I knew it was never going to happen again. And he was really angry about the whole thing.’

‘Definitely freaked out,’ Avery murmured, ‘which would explain his reaction to the red dress.’

‘No, that was just because he thought it was too frivolous for work.’

‘You think so?’ Avery gave a cat-like smile and pulled her phone out of her purse as it rang. ‘Excuse me for one moment while I get this—’

While Avery solved some problem that involved lighting and fireworks, Emma brooded on the grim reality of her situation. She wasn’t in love with him. It would be madness to fall in love with a man who would never love her back. Even greater madness to be in love with her boss.

After his initial response to the dress, Lucas had returned to his detached, slightly intimidating self. Their evening had been starchy and formal. Their whole relationship had changed. They couldn’t go backwards and it seemed they couldn’t go forwards either.

‘Right—where were we? Ah, the dress—’ Avery came off the phone and looked at her. ‘You were saying that he found it incredibly sexy.’

‘I didn’t say that. I said he was angry.’

‘Presumably because he found you attractive and didn’t want to.’

‘I’ve no idea. I work for him and I want to carry on working for him. But I have to stop feeling this way.’

Avery shrugged. ‘A man like Lucas Jackson comes along once in a lifetime. My advice? Take the sex and get a different job. Problem solved.’

Emma gaped at her. ‘I could never pick sex over job security. You don’t understand—’

‘I’m the child of a single mother. A strong single mother, so believe me I do understand about the importance of job security. And I’m not really suggesting that you throw in a job just for sex, but it seems to me that this isn’t the job for you anyway. You need to find something closer to home so that you can have a life. Maybe this is the trigger you need to make you do that. You’ve had far too much responsibility and not enough fun but we’re going to fix that.’

A job closer to home? ‘Even if I were prepared to look for another job it wouldn’t make a difference. He isn’t interested in a relationship. And I made a total fool of myself last night because when he invited me to dinner, just for a moment I thought he meant dinner, if you know what I mean.’ She thumped her forehead with her fist and Avery looked amused.

‘Yes, I know exactly what you mean. So the first thing you have to do is find out whether or not Lucas is interested. Wear a really knockout dress tonight.’

‘He’ll think I’m trying to seduce him.’

‘Not if you don’t try to seduce him. Wear the dress but be businesslike.’ Avery narrowed her eyes. ‘If you dance, you dance with other people. If you talk, you talk to other people. Any connection with him should be brief and businesslike. If he really doesn’t want you then he’ll be fine with that. If he does—well, we’ll see.’

‘No, we won’t see! He’s my boss. He pays well and he’s a good employer.’

‘I pay well and I’m a good employer. You could always work for me and I don’t care where you’re based as long as the work gets done. Now let’s get started on these clothes.’

Unable to summon up any enthusiasm, Emma slipped off her shoes. ‘I thought after his reaction to the red, we’d better go for something a bit more muted. Maybe beige?’

‘Sure. Let’s just put you in a canvas sack and have done with it, shall we?’ Avery shuddered. ‘Emma, you are never wearing beige again. Your beige days are totally behind you. I’ve earmarked a nice boring navy dress for you to wear in your meetings this afternoon because it will make the contrast all the more startling when you dress up tonight, but your days of dressing like a nun are over. They’re fetching me a selection of dresses and while we’re waiting you can tell me something about Lucas, apart from the fact he rocked your world. What’s going on behind that handsome face?’

‘He’s a clever man. Very talented. I’m really lucky to work for him.’

‘I love a bit of moody, cerebral introspection as much as the next girl, but that isn’t exactly what I was asking. I want to know why the man has never settled down. You do realise that of all the women he’s ever been with, his longest relationship is with you?’

‘I’m not a relationship. I’m his PA.’

‘And before you he was getting through a PA every six weeks. But you’ve stayed the course. That has got to mean something.’

‘It means I need the job too badly to resign.’

‘Or that you’ve become important to him.’

Her heart skipped. ‘Only in the sense that I make his work life run smoothly.’

‘Really? So why did he bring you here?’

‘Because he and Tara broke up and he needed someone with him.’

Avery gave a womanly smile. ‘And you don’t think Lucas Jackson has a million replacements waiting in the wings? Come on, Emma. He wanted you. And I’m so pleased he finally dumped that awful Tara.’ She poured two glasses of water and handed one to Emma. ‘Tara got horribly drunk at one of my parties a year ago and we had to tactfully remove her before she stripped on the dance floor. I’ve been wishing her bad karma ever since.’ She frowned as the personal shopper in the exclusive store arrived with a selection of clothes. Within seconds she’d dismissed them all. ‘I saw this bright blue dress at one of the shows in fashion week that would be perfect.’ She named the designer and described it and the girl hurried off while Emma looked on in amazement.

‘Do you know every dress in every designer’s collection?’

‘No. Only the ones that catch my eye. The others I forget—’ Avery drank the water and looked longingly at the bowl of fresh dates that had been put on the table. ‘I am starving, but if I eat that I’ll never get into my dress for tonight. Ah—’ She sprang to her feet as the girl returned carrying a sheath of midnight-blue silk. Avery took the dress from her with a crow of triumph. ‘This is the one. I would have bought it myself if I hadn’t already picked one out for the party. It’s going to look perfect on you.’

‘How much is it?’

Avery rolled her eyes. ‘Who cares? Just try it on. Every woman should own at least one dress like this. It is going to turn you from a sensible, professional woman into a wanton sex goddess.’

‘Firstly, Lucas wants sensible and professional and secondly I’m not remotely wanton sex goddess material.’

‘You will be by the time I’ve finished. Now shut up and try the dress, Emma. You’re old before your time and we’re going to fix that.’ Avery thrust it at her and waved away the saleswoman with a winning smile. ‘We’re fine here. Thanks. But some more water would be great. That’s another thing I have to do before a big party. Hydrate. Go and change, and while you’re undressing tell me how you concentrate while you’re working with Lucas. I’d be lying on his desk panting hopefully every morning saying “Take me, take me”.’

Giggling, Emma slipped behind the curtain and slid her skirt off. ‘You wouldn’t really. He’s horribly moody in the mornings. I try not to speak to him before he’s had at least two cups of coffee.’

‘I’m good with moody men. Are you dressed yet?’

‘Nearly.’ Surprised by how much chatting to Avery had lightened her mood, Emma slid the dress over her head. ‘I think it might be a bit tight.’

The curtain was whisked back and Avery stared at her. ‘Oh Lucas, Lucas,’ she purred, ‘you are in so much trouble. I almost feel sorry for you.’

Emma gave a nervous laugh. ‘You don’t think it’s too tight?’

‘That’s not tight. It’s called a perfect fit. Have you even looked in the mirror?’

‘Not yet, but—’

‘Then look.’ Avery spun her round and Emma stared at her reflection.

‘Oh my God.’

‘Yes. My thoughts exactly. And the back of it is—’

‘Non-existent.’ Emma felt a lurch of excitement and terror. ‘I don’t look like me.’

‘Yes, you do. But it’s you as you’ve never seen yourself before.’ Eyes narrowed, Avery reached forward and twisted Emma’s hair into a loose knot. ‘Hair up, hair down... Up, I think. Then he’ll fantasize about letting it down over your beautiful, bare back.’

‘I don’t want him to fantasize about me! We’re trying to get things back to normal, not make them worse! Avery, you have to stop this.’ And she had to stop it too. She had to stop thinking about that night. She had to stop thinking of him as anything other than her boss. She had to—

Her eyes met Avery’s in the mirror.

‘The man is delicious and it’s time he got together with someone decent instead of choosing shallow, brainless women who are only interested in his money and contacts. I’m going to arrange for you to have hair and make-up in your suite—’ Avery whipped her phone out and sent a string of emails. ‘Do you own any diamonds?’

‘Of course not. Nor do I go anywhere that I could wear any.’

‘Well, tonight you are. That dress needs diamonds,’ Avery murmured without looking up. ‘I’m going to arrange for one of the jewellery companies to loan you something for the evening. Smile—’ She snapped a photograph with her phone and then proceeded to email it to someone. ‘They will be able to decide what will look best with that colour and neckline.’

‘OK, stop! Now you’re going over the top.’ Emma backed away. ‘Tonight is about work. I’m supposed to be mingling and networking, not parading around in diamonds.’

‘I’ve never understood why a woman can’t look her best while she’s mingling and networking,’ Avery murmured. ‘I suspect Lucas Jackson hasn’t been so interested in a woman for a long time—maybe never. We should make the most of that.’

Emma found herself trapped. She couldn’t tell Avery that the only reason Lucas had slept with her was to get through a truly terrible night. So now Avery had totally the wrong impression and this whole situation was spiralling horribly out of control and all she could do was mutter a lame, ‘He’s not interested.’

‘He’s interested. He noticed the red dress. Men only notice what a woman is wearing when it makes them think of sex.’

‘Avery!’

‘What?’ She looked up from her phone. ‘You are very, very pretty. You deserve diamonds.’

‘I do not want to be wearing anything valuable. What if someone steals it from around my neck?’

‘Do you want an estimate of the combined wealth of the people attending tonight?’

‘No. I assume that the Crown Prince alone is worth a fortune. I wonder why he isn’t married?’

Avery’s smile faded and her pretty face lost some of its colour. ‘Because, like you, he puts duty before his personal needs. Only in his case he intends to marry the boring virgin princess his father has picked out for him. I don’t know who I feel more sorry for.’

‘How do you know that?’ Emma stared at her. ‘Oh! You and he—’

‘Yes. But not for a while.’ Avery gave a bright smile. ‘Our Sultan-to-be needs a well behaved obedient bride prepared to honour and obey and, as you’ve probably guessed, I am so not that person. Even if I could occasionally obey, which is a major struggle if I’m honest, I totally bombed out at the word “virgin”.’

Emma wasn’t fooled by the light tone. ‘You’re in love with him.’

‘God, no,’ Avery answered just a little too quickly. ‘I’d never be stupid enough to love a man who doesn’t like me to argue with him. I’d never be so stupid as to love a man, full stop. Now what are we going to do about shoes for you?’

Emma looked at her closely but Avery was back to normal again as she made arrangements for the dress to be delivered to the hotel.

‘I’m worried this outfit is over the top. I’m his PA. I work for him and I want to continue working for him. This whole thing is so complicated.’

‘Welcome to the real world. Love is complicated. Why do you think I’m so careful to avoid it? Nothing can ruin a perfectly planned and ordered life like love.’

‘I’m not in love.’ Horrified and defensive, Emma removed the dress carefully. ‘Absolutely not.’

‘So here’s a little tip from an expert—’ Avery’s tone was conversational as she helped Emma out of the dress. ‘If you don’t want people to know you’re in love, be careful not to let your face light up like a halogen light bulb when his name is mentioned. I’ll deal with this while you get dressed—no, not the skirt you arrived in. Try this blue linen. It’s cool and professional. Perfect for meetings.’

It was just physical attraction, Emma told herself as she slid into the blue dress. She liked him, of course she did, but she wasn’t in love.

‘How is the dress? Businesslike?’

‘It’s perfect. What about you? Has there been someone else since the Prince? You must meet gorgeous men all the time.’

‘I do. Unfortunately I have a congenital urge to want what I can’t have.’ For a fleeting moment Avery’s eyes were sad and then she shrugged. ‘Are you ready?’

‘But if you have feelings for him then this whole party must be hell for you, because the Prince is going to be here,’ Emma said slowly as the implications sank in. ‘Why didn’t you turn it down?’

‘Pride.’ Avery gave a lopsided smile. ‘If I turned it down, people would think I was broken-hearted and I don’t want him to have that power over me. I intend to go out there and show that his careless, heartless attitude hasn’t made a dent in me.’

But Emma could see that it had. A big dent. ‘You must feel terrible.’

Avery gave a careless shrug. ‘Nothing that a pair of killer heels won’t cure. That and the money they’ll be transferring into my account when I’ve given them a party that no one is going to forget. This is business, Emma. I never feel terrible when I’m parting the rich from their money.’

Emma felt a flash of admiration. ‘You make me feel guilty for moaning. If you can go out there and pretend you’re not bothered so will I. Just share the secret of how you do it.’

‘Look fabulous,’ Avery said simply. ‘Show him what an excellent time you are having without him. And if it gets too much just text me and I’ll meet you in the Ladies. We can both cry in the toilet.’

* * *

Seriously distracted, Lucas tried to concentrate as Cristiano Ferrara outlined his objectives for the proposed development in Sicily. Across from him sat Emma, making notes in her usual efficient manner. Her hair was twisted into a severe, businesslike style and today she’d chosen to wear sober navy. A perfect choice. He’d insisted that their relationship remained professional and she was following that instruction with the same efficiency with which she followed every other instruction.

Everything should have felt fine.

It didn’t.

In the past he’d always managed to compartmentalize his life and Emma fell into the category marked ‘work’, but suddenly the edges of those compartments had broken down. Instead of focusing on the business, he found himself focusing on her. He noticed things he hadn’t noticed before, like the way she listened attentively to everything that was being said. She never missed a thing, which was what made her so good at her job. He was used to mixing with women who continually monitored their appearance and the effect they were having on the men around them. Emma did neither. If she was even aware of how she looked, she gave no sign of it.

He, however, was all too aware of it.

Never before had he had trouble forgetting a woman but he was finding it impossible to forget his one night with her. And it wasn’t just the physical, he thought. It was so much more than that. The fact that she’d stayed when she could have left. The fact that she’d refused to leave him even though she had responsibilities elsewhere. The way she’d tidied up all the evidence of the party so that he wouldn’t be upset. The way she’d covered him with a blanket.

He wasn’t used to being on the receiving end of anyone’s warmth or compassion. He’d made his own way in the world, nurtured himself and provided his own comfort.

And now...

Just one night, he thought savagely. It had been just one night and he hadn’t been able to concentrate since. His body was in an almost permanent state of sexual arousal and as for his mind...

‘We’ll do a site appraisal,’ he said, realising that his friend was waiting for a response, ‘and then come back to you with an outline design that incorporates the features you just described.’ It had been a mistake to bring her to Zubran. He’d thought he would be able to continue as if nothing had happened, but that was proving more of a challenge than he’d anticipated.

Across the table, Cristiano raised an eyebrow in expectation. ‘Any initial ideas? Concepts? Normally, you’re already sketching by this point in our discussions.’

Normally, his brain wasn’t full of inappropriate thoughts. ‘You want me to build in the shadow of the largest active volcano in Europe. We’ll have to analyse the soil and consider the possible effects of volcanic activity. It isn’t an ordinary project by any means. Naturally we’ll address the usual issues of sustainability but air quality might have a negative impact on photovoltaic systems so we’ll need to be creative in our design.’ They talked at length about the Ferrara vision for the hotel while Emma continued to make notes.

Lucas knew that whatever emails needed to be sent would already be winging their way through cyberspace. She was as ruthlessly efficient as he was. Nothing went undone. Nothing was forgotten.

‘Fly over soon.’ Cristiano’s tone was conversational. ‘Why not spend a few days with us? Mix business with pleasure. I’ll take you to see the site and you can get a better feel for the area.’

Mix business with pleasure.

He’d already done that, Lucas thought, with devastating consequences. He’d thought it would be easy to put that one night behind him, the way he’d put other nights behind him in the past. But this time was different.

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