Her Millionaire Boss Read online

  Six years ago, when Nate had made it clear he had to go and refused to say why, Henry had sold him the overseas arm of the company for a pittance. Had insisted Nate take it. Nate had tried to be generous in return, but Henry had refused to accept any money from the business Nate had turned into a multi-million-dollar concern.

  Then, three years ago, Henry had asked Nate to come back. To share once more in the running of the business here. Henry had seemed almost desperate. Nate had told his grandfather he didn’t want to make that step backward. ‘You said he’d spoken—’

  ‘I’m sorry. No. I made that up to try to keep Margaret at bay. He’s disoriented.’ Her mouth pursed into a ferocious moue. ‘That’s temporary. He’ll be back to his normal self and tossing cryptic clues around the office again before we know it.’

  ‘Clues about what?’ He shook his head. It wasn’t important. The only things that mattered were Henry’s health, and keeping the company in good order. Those, Nate could work on. If Henry would trust him with them.

  ‘Never mind. Look, if my grandfather’s condition isn’t temporary—’

  ‘Of course your grandfather’s condition is temporary.’ She said it with such passion that his body hummed in response.

  Unnerved, he raised an eyebrow, feigning an indifference he didn’t feel. ‘Surely nobody can be sure of that at this stage?’

  ‘I don’t understand why you would say such things. Henry has to get better. Completely better. I refuse to contemplate any other option.’ On those heartfelt words, she opened the door of the hospital room, and entered.

  Nate followed. His grandfather looked awful. Tubes and monitors covered Henry. His long frame seemed defenceless beneath the hospital-issue linens. Henry appeared to have aged ten years since Nate had seen him, not six.

  This sick, vulnerable man would never run a company again. Henry was seventy years old, should have retired years before. It hit Nate hard that he should have seen that need when Henry asked him to come back. He would never have returned here, but he should have made Henry agree to retirement.

  ‘Gramps.’ The word caught in his throat. Hadn’t been used since Nate was a child and Henry had taken him in when his mother opted out.

  Nate reached out a hand to touch Henry’s where it lay against the covers. Without raising his gaze, he said in a low voice to Chrissy, ‘Sit down. You’re feeling the strain more than you realise.’

  ‘How did you know?’ She sat abruptly.

  How had Nate known? He had simply intuited her feelings, had felt connected closely enough to her even at opposite sides of a hospital bed that he just knew.

  ‘Surprised…you…came. No…need.’ His grandfather’s voice was slurred, his breath laboured, the words themselves full of the years of separation and hurt.

  Nate closed his eyes and tried to block the pain. ‘I had to come.’

  I had to come, but I don’t want to make things worse, so please don’t think I’ll stay past making sure you’ll be OK.

  Chrissy clutched Henry’s other hand in hers. ‘You’re speaking. I’ve been so concerned. I’ll look after everything at work. You don’t need to worry—’

  ‘I’ll do it.’ Nate spoke over her, over rash promises she couldn’t possibly keep. His gaze sought his grandfather’s. ‘I’ll make sure everything is taken care of.’

  ‘Don’t…need….’ Henry stopped to draw a breath.

  ‘You can trust me.’ A muscle worked in Nate’s jaw. ‘I’ll fix things so it’s all right.’

  Did his grandfather understand that he hadn’t wanted to hurt him six years ago, or three years ago? That he never wanted to hurt him?

  I can give you this much, Gramps. Help when you need it. It’s all I have.

  ‘I’m sure Nate’s welcome to stay for a short time.’ Chrissy’s tone said the opposite, although her expression was bland enough. ‘But I can manage in your absence. The important thing is that you be free of worry and stress. Your only focus should be to relax and get better.’

  ‘I agree.’ Nate kept his tone calm and even. ‘But I’m more qualified to take control than your PA.’

  ‘Run…own…blasted…business,’ Henry grumped. ‘Sign…out…today…if…wanted to.’

  Chrissy’s mouth trembled before she firmed it. At the sight, Nate’s frustration drained away.

  ‘You’ve had a stroke.’ Her voice trembled, too, just the tiniest bit. ‘If you don’t look after yourself, it could happen again and the next one could be much worse.’

  She took a deliberate deep breath, then leaned forward to whisper, ‘Who’d test cryptic crossword clues on me then? Or take me out for lattes on Thursdays or argue with me about the different football teams?’

  ‘I…like…the…footy.’ Henry’s mouth turned down.

  Her voice softened to warm affection. ‘We’ll be watching the footy matches on your big-screen TV again before you know it.’

  How close were his grandfather and his PA? Before Nate could consider the question, Henry turned his gaze toward him.

  The tired eyes searched his for a long time, then softened, the anger replaced by at least a tenuous acceptance. ‘You…can…run things…until I’m better.’

  That was all Nate needed to hear. He ignored the hint of further expectation in his grandfather’s eyes. ‘I’ll make sure everything’s all right. Meanwhile, you get some rest.’

  On those words, he unfolded his long legs from the chair and stood. Chrissy’s gaze followed his movements, tracked over his charcoal suit and matching shirt.

  Not once since he had entered the room and sat by his grandfather had he managed to completely banish her from his consciousness. Now his body tightened in awareness of her.

  A nurse glanced in at the door. ‘How are we doing?’

  ‘Henry’s making sense.’ A tiny dimple flirted with Chrissy’s right cheek. ‘He woke up and we had a talk. His speech was slow but lucid.’

  ‘Brilliant.’ The nurse’s smile was bright, winsome. It didn’t do a thing for Nate. ‘I’ll let his doctor know.’

  ‘Get well, Henry.’ Chrissy kissed his resting form, then stepped back.

  Henry stirred slightly.

  Nate squeezed the old man’s hand. ‘I’ll speak to your doctor about having you shifted out of here. The security’s not tight enough for my liking.’

  Chrissy opened her mouth as though to question him. He gave a slight shake of his head, put his hand to the small of her back and eased her out the door.

  ‘Not here.’ He growled the words into her ear.

  She shivered, and a reaction, warm and pleasurable, flowed through him.

  A moment later, she stalked from the room. When they were far enough along the corridor that Henry couldn’t possibly hear them, she turned toward him, her eyes the liquid hue of mercury. ‘There’s absolutely no need for you to be here for more than a day or two. I can handle things, like I said.

  ‘And just where do you think you’re going to move my boss, anyway?’

  CHAPTER TWO

  ‘HENRY will go into Acebrook Hospital. It’s a small private hospital outside the city.’ Nate spoke decisively from behind Chrissy.

  She reached the end of the hospital corridor and opted for the flight of stairs instead of the lift. ‘Just like that, you have the whole thing organised? What makes you so sure Acebrook is the right place for Henry?’

  What gives you the right to make the decisions for him? You’ve been away for six years without appearing to give a damn.

  Her reaction wasn’t entirely rational. Nate seemed concerned with Henry’s best interests now. But this man made her want him on the one hand, while she disapproved of him thoroughly on the other.

  Was it any wonder her feelings were divided about his care of Henry, too? ‘And if you had Acebrook in mind, why didn’t you mention it to Henry? Surely he deserved a say in his own care?’

  ‘My grandfather had exhausted himself.’ Assurance blazed on his face. ‘I saw no reason to burden him with som
ething I could take care of myself.’

  Grudgingly, she said, ‘I’ve heard of Acebrook.’

  ‘Then you’ll know it caters to a lot of celebrities. Their security measures go beyond the norm. Wife or not, Margaret won’t be allowed to upset him there.’

  Henry could get better faster somewhere like that, and that was all that mattered in the end. ‘Margaret will demand to see him, no matter where he is.’

  ‘I’ll take care of that.’ Again, just simple fact. ‘A group of specialists will examine Henry to confirm his lucidity. Then my team of lawyers will inform Margaret’s that my grandfather has deputised me to operate the company in his absence. Margaret will realise she has no power to do anything other than wish her husband a speedy recovery.’

  ‘Henry only verbally said you could—’

  ‘Actually, the authority was arranged years ago. Just in case of an emergency.’ His words brushed, almost physically, across the back of her neck.

  ‘Oh.’

  ‘As for Margaret…’ His lip curled. ‘Provided her visits are in a controlled environment, she can go right ahead and play the loving wife.’

  ‘I’d like to see that.’ The back of Chrissy’s neck still tingled. For once she wished she had her hair down, to protect the vulnerable skin at her nape. Since she didn’t, she took the coward’s way out and increased her pace to put some distance between them.

  Nate cleared his throat, then launched into further speech. ‘I realise you must be exhausted. I’d like to let you go home to sleep, but I could use your help today at the office. Can you manage?’

  His thoughtfulness took her unawares. He wasn’t supposed to be nice, not even some of the time. She had been so certain he wouldn’t be.

  ‘My sisters sat with Henry earlier while I went home to shower and change. I can manage my work day.’

  ‘Thanks.’ His gaze roamed her face. The secrets in the depths of his eyes made her skin heat and her heart flutter. Had he just visualised her in that shower?

  Why would a man of the world like Nate Barrett harbour more than a momentary interest in her?

  He blinked, and whatever she had seen disappeared behind a wall of determined resolve. ‘I’d like to address a couple of issues before we arrive at work.’

  See? Banished from his thoughts just like that. Why couldn’t she do likewise about him?

  Then she noted the aggressive tone of his voice. Her instincts prickled and she unconsciously straightened her spine. ‘What issues?’

  ‘If you’re a power tripper,’ he growled, ‘if you intend to be difficult while I’m in charge of things—’

  ‘I am certainly not a power tripper.’ Had he really thought that? Put the shoe on your own foot, bozo! If anyone gave off the attitude of demanding to be in control, it was Nate.

  She, on the other hand, aside from the tiny problem of not being able to ignore his effect on her, was at peace with herself. She didn’t need to prove anything. To him or to anyone else. Her personal dragons had been slain, thank you very much.

  Dragon-slaying aside, you don’t want this man to hang around for weeks, getting underfoot and disturbing your peace. That doesn’t make you controlling. It just makes you smart.

  ‘I simply see no need for you to take over the running of the business when I can handle things myself while Henry gets better.’

  ‘What experience do you have? What are your credentials? What training do you have in high-level management?’ He fired the questions at her with the accuracy of a paint-ball champion. They hit and spread as quickly, undermining her shaky resolve. ‘What if Henry’s recovery takes months? What if it never happens?’

  ‘He will get better. Totally better.’ Henry was talking already. Surely that boded well for the future? ‘As for the rest, I’ve worked closely enough with Henry that I know—’

  ‘Watching isn’t the same as doing.’ His expression hardened, demanded that she accept his words. ‘It’s not enough. Not in the longer term.’

  ‘For a week or two—’

  ‘It’ll be longer. You saw how he looked.’

  She wanted to argue, but he was right, darn him. Still, accepting that fact didn’t come easily. ‘OK, so suppose you’re right and his complete recovery takes longer. What happens?’

  ‘I take care of things. It’s what I told him back there, and I meant it.’ His words brushed off her concerns like unwanted lint on his pristine suit. ‘You’ll co-operate with me? While I straighten things out here?’

  ‘I’m surprised you’re willing to stay indefinitely, but, provided your actions are in the best interests of the company, I’ll do my best to support you.’

  Who knew, she thought madly, maybe Nate would find a way to breathe new life into the company? Lately, she had begun to wonder if everything was OK. It was just a feeling, but—

  ‘I didn’t say I would be…’ He left the thought unfinished. ‘You said in your message that you were with Henry when the stroke happened. Do you usually work weekends?’

  ‘It was a social outing.’ She still felt guilty that her boss had been rambling through the treasure trove of Melbourne’s retail side-streets with her when the stroke happened.

  A pause. Then a rapped-out, ‘Doing what?’

  ‘Examining aged silk.’ She could have explained about her sister Bella’s fetish for clothing design, but she doubted this man would be interested. ‘Henry knows about stuff like that. I took him to look at a piece of fabric that I found in a back-street shop.’

  When he didn’t speak, she paused on the stairs, her gaze locked straight ahead. ‘Do you have any more questions, or is the interrogation over?’

  His silence lasted long enough that she gave in to curiosity and glanced over her shoulder. She had thought he might be holding his fire until they were face to face.

  What she hadn’t expected was to discover his gaze roving over her with undiluted interest. Even now, it lingered on her butt. Before she could tell him to stop looking at her most hated, far-too-large-in-her-opinion feature, he looked up, raw awareness in his eyes.

  Any distance she had managed since they met disintegrated instantly. Forget his accusations, she decided frantically. They could wait until later. ‘I think we should move right along to discussing how to manage the office while Henry is recovering!’

  Surely that would be a safe topic. One that couldn’t distract her into a molten mass of awareness of him. She turned her head frontward so fast she almost gave herself whiplash, then prayed he was no longer watching The Barging of the Behemoth Bum as she hurried down the rest of the stairs and pushed desperately at the exit door.

  Fresh air. Thank God. She welcomed the sharp bite of the wind against her cheeks as she tried to reason out her reactions to him. ‘Well? Don’t you have anything to say about how we should tackle things in Henry’s absence?’

  ‘I have rather a lot to say about the way we should tackle things, actually.’ His growled words brought her no comfort. The look in his eyes hinted that he wasn’t thinking simply of the working relationship they would have to endure.

  She stepped aside as a harried-looking woman passed them to enter the building. ‘Good. About work, then.’

  So what if that hadn’t been all he meant? ‘There are always crises at the company. We’ll need to keep Henry informed, or he’ll worry, but we’ll make sure he understands that we’re coping.’

  After a pause, Nate nodded. ‘There are things you don’t understand, but, for now, one last question.’

  ‘What is it?’

  He leaned forward to touch a corkscrew curl that had escaped from her clump of braids.

  Where was her ongoing antagonism toward him now? Her feet were frozen to the spot. She wanted very much to know what it would be like if he closed the distance between them and…Her breath hitched as he wrapped the curl around his fingertip, then let it spring free.

  ‘Your glasses are fogging up,’ he observed. ‘Maybe you should take them off.’

  The
glasses were her shield. ‘Oh, but my eyes—’

  ‘Are a very lovely shade of grey. I can’t help but wonder why you hide them.’

  What big eyes you have, said the Wolf.

  Wasn’t that supposed to be Red Riding Hood’s line?

  ‘Uh.’ They stood almost nose to nose. Nate’s large body shielded her from the worst of the wind, and she liked the feeling that engendered. Liked his closeness and the size and strength of him.

  Good grief. I don’t want the Wolf to kiss me, do I?

  Of course she didn’t.

  Of course I do!

  Nate leaned even closer. ‘Uh?’

  She tried to clear her head, but couldn’t. Could only look at him now that the mistiness had left her glasses. ‘Was that your question? To ask me to take my glasses off so you could see my—?’

  ‘Big grey eyes?’ He shifted the tiniest bit closer. Blurred the lines between shelter and dangerous promise a little more. That was the trouble with attractive, wolfish men. They could get a girl confused without even trying. ‘I guess that depends.’

  ‘Depends on what?’ Despite all her reservations, despite resentment and suspicion and not being willing to trust his motives for being here for Henry right now, she leaned forward.

  She wanted to feel the scratchiness of his day-old beard beneath her fingertips. Wanted to run her hands through his hair, and gauge the muscles hidden beneath that dangerous suit he wore.

  Why did she want these things? This was Nate Barrett. She shouldn’t want these things from him. All he had done was kiss her forehead, and the side of her mouth. She shouldn’t have let him do that much. How could it leave her aching for more?

  ‘I’ve always admired black,’ she murmured. She wanted to run her hands over his midnight shirt, then wrap them around the strong column of his tanned, luscious-looking neck, bring his head down to hers, and…

  It didn’t help that he watched her with all the focused interest of one very predatorial male.

  ‘You like black?’ He raised an eyebrow. A black eyebrow. ‘That’s not my final question, by the way.’

  ‘I meant I like the colour black. For clothing.’ Did she even own any black clothes? ‘I thought I might buy myself a, uh, a bowler hat. In, um, black.’