Handsome Boss: Handsome Devils Book 2 Read online

  Nathan started them walking toward the ice cream store again. “The abridged version is I’m thirty-three with a master’s in computer science from UT. I’ve never been married. My favorite food is lobster, but don’t tell anyone around here because it should be steak since this is Texas. My favorite movie is Die Hard.” At Emma’s smug look, he admitted, “I know. What a male stereotype, but I like it. My favorite book is—”

  Emma held up one hand. “Let me guess, Catcher in the Rye.”

  “And yours is probably Jane Eyre.”

  “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

  “Ah. I stand corrected. And your favorite movie is probably Pretty Woman.”

  She wrinkled her nose and ran one hand through her hair. “No.”

  “Sleepless in Seattle?”

  “No. It’s—”

  “Let me guess.” Determined to figure this out, Nathan scanned his brain for all the romantic movies he knew. Landing on one more, he asked, “While You Were Sleeping?”

  She beamed. “Yes. Were you going to guess every chick flick you could think of until you got it right?”

  He chuckled. He really liked talking to Emma. She was smart and interesting. “Of course. There was a principle at stake.”

  “What principle would that be?”

  “The principle that says I’m never wrong,” he told her.

  She laughed again, and Nathan felt the simmering attraction between them heat up a couple more degrees.

  “Okay, what else do you want to know?” she asked.

  He thought for a moment, then asked, “Tell me about your first crush.”

  She seemed surprised, but she didn’t hesitate. “Donald Freed, when I was ten. I thought he was wonderful.”

  “Did you ever tell him?”

  “No. And it was a good thing since I’d gotten over the crush by the time I was ten and a quarter. How about you? Who was your first crush on?”

  “Sally Jean Myerson, fourth grade.” He couldn’t start a smile from crossing his face at the memory.

  “Did you ever confess your love?”

  “Nah, she liked another boy in class, and I didn’t want to ruin their budding relationship.”

  “How noble.”

  Honesty forced him to admit, “Well, her boyfriend was the size of two semis. He would have beat the stuffing out of me, so I decided to find someone else to like.”

  “Noble and wise. Good combination.”

  “So, this Donald Freed, was he good-looking?” Nathan asked.

  “He was cute, but what I really liked was that he was predictable. Not into a lot of drama. I found that appealing. At least for one quarter of a year.”

  “I take it you like quiet, boring men, then?”

  Again, she ran one hand through her hair, and Nathan’s gaze followed the gesture. He really did like the shade of her hair. The fading sun seemed to make it gleam.

  “What can I tell you? I’ve got low standards,” Emma said.

  “I’m pretty boring,” Nathan found himself saying, then immediately wished he hadn’t. He shouldn’t be flirting with this woman. She was only in town for the summer. Plus, she was going to work for him.

  And most importantly, whether she knew it or not, she was being used by Leigh as bait. He knew it just like he knew the sun would rise in the east tomorrow—Leigh was up to something.

  Fortunately, Emma didn’t seem to read anything into his comment. She shook her head and said, “I seriously doubt you’re boring, so I’m afraid it won’t work.”

  He snapped his fingers, still keeping the tone light and teasing. “Dang it. Okay, so tell me about your family.”

  “Well, my mom raised me.”

  “By herself?”

  Emma nodded. “Yes. She was a lot of fun. Big on adventures. She loved to pack up and move someplace new at a moment’s notice just to see what life was like in a different sort of place. One day we’d live in the mountains, then we’d go live by the ocean for a few months. It was never boring around my mom.” A soft smile lit her face. “She passed away a little over two years ago. I really miss her.”

  “She sounds like a great lady. What about your father?”

  “He teaches at Wyneheart College, just west of Boston. I didn’t get to spend a lot of time with him when I was growing up, but he always sent money and called frequently.”

  “He’s the only family you have left?”

  “Yes.” She stopped to look in one of the store windows, then added, “But I’m finally going to get to spend time with him. He’s arranged an adjunct teaching position for me at the college after I get my doctorate.”

  Happiness radiated off her. Nathan could tell how much this meant to her.

  “Congratulations on the job and on getting to connect with your dad,” he said. “I’ve heard of Wyneheart. It’s a good college.”

  Emma nodded. “It’s wonderful. And I’ll get to focus on American Literature, which is my specialty.” After a slight pause, she added, “I haven’t told a soul this. Not even Leigh. But I’m really looking forward to living in the town of Wyneheart. It’s wonderful. Small, but seeped in history. Very cozy.”

  Nathan completely understood the appeal. “Kind of like Honey.”

  Emma blinked and frowned at him. Slowly she looked around Main Street, then finally said, “Um. I guess.”

  He couldn’t help laughing at her dumbfounded expression. “Okay. I know this may not look like Wyneheart, which was probably built by the Pilgrims, but Honey has a lot of history. True Wild West history.”

  Her expression was openly dubious, but she still asked, “Such as?”

  “Such as rumor has it that Wyatt Earp once ate at the local diner.”

  “Is that true?”

  “Everyone says it is, and Wyatt’s not around to argue, so we accept it as fact.”

  She laughed, which made him smile. He loved the sound of her laughter.

  “What else?” she asked.

  He thought for a second. “Bonnie and Clyde drove through town one time.”

  “Really?”

  He had to bite back a smile. “Well, the car was moving very fast, but everyone was almost positive it was them.”

  She laughed. “Seems like the history of this town is a little shaky.”

  “Okay, here’s a certifiable fact. For five years in the 1880s, Honey housed more establishments for the entertainment of gentlemen than any other city in Texas, including the big cities.”

  It took only a fraction of a second for her to get his meaning. Then she laughed again. “You’re kidding me, right?”

  He solemnly shook his head. “Nope. It’s true. We didn’t just get the name ‘honey’ because of the number of bees around here.”

  “Honey had that many bordellos?”

  “Yes, ma’am. It was called Heaven on Earth. But then settlers moved in and chased off the no-goods.”

  She rolled her eyes. “What a place.”

  “It suits me.”

  “So, it seems. Tell me about Barrett Software.”

  Now that was his favorite subject. “We’re doing well. Better than I’d hoped and growing each year. That accounting program I told you about should really put us on the map. That is, if we can get the bugs out in time to unveil it at the BizExpo, the Dallas computer show later this summer.”

  “The program is that good?”

  “Got all the bells and whistles. It’s easy to use, works on all platforms, and is voice-controlled.”

  “That’s what I’ll be helping with?”

  “Yes. That’s what everyone is working on. Mostly though, you’ll be handling me.”

  She tipped her head. “Want to try that again?”

  He chuckled, although just the thought of her touching him was enough to get his blood pressure climbing.

  “Since you’ll be my assistant, you’ll have to keep my schedule straight,” he explained, trying to keep his wayward mind on track. “It gets crazy sometimes. Devi, my assistant who’s out on mate
rnity leave, says it’s a spider’s web. Just when you get it straight and looking nice, you realize there’s a big old spider sitting in the middle that you overlooked.”

  She laughed again. “Don’t worry. I’m very organized. I’ll keep the spider away from you.”

  They had reached Honey Ice Cream Parlor, so Nathan didn’t ask for clarification on the last part of her statement. Instead, he held the door open for her. As Emma passed, her sweet scent taunted him again.

  “Well, if it isn’t Nathan Barrett,” Caitlin Estes, owner of the shop, said when she saw him. “It’s about time you stopped by. You’re harder to find than a mouse at a cat wedding.”

  “Hi, Caitlin.” He nodded toward Emma. “This is Emma Montgomery. She’s a friend of Leigh’s who’s going to work at Barrett Software for the summer.”

  The look Caitlin gave Emma wasn’t exactly cold, but Nathan wasn’t obtuse enough to think the two women would become friends. Not that he was surprised. Caitlin had made it clear since she’d been head cheerleader in high school that she wanted to be a lot more than merely an acquaintance of his. It wasn’t a sentiment he reciprocated.

  “It’s nice to meet you,” Emma said. Then she must have figured the ice cream was warmer than Caitlin because she moved away and studied the flavors on display in the cases.

  “Since you almost never come to see me, I’m going to have to find a way to visit you at your office,” Caitlin said, flashing him a flirty smile.

  Nathan was very careful to keep his expression neutral. He knew how easily looks could be misinterpreted. “I appreciate the idea, Caitlin, but we’re really busy right now.”

  Caitlin ran one finger under the thin strap of her T-shirt and winked. Now that was about as subtle as a smack to the head. “Not too busy for a little fun, I hope. I think we should spend some time together.”

  He didn’t agree, but he also didn’t want to hurt her feelings. “Normally I like having friends stop by the office, but I doubt if I’d have time to see you. Thanks anyway.”

  Caitlin pouted. “I’m not giving up that easily, Nathan Barrett. I guess I’ll have to get creative.”

  Her down mood didn’t last long, because before she’d formed a really impressive pout, she brightened and asked, “Hey, did you hear that Leigh’s out with Jared Kendrick? Did you know about that?”

  “Yes, I know.” Glancing toward Emma, he found her watching him closely. Before he could say anything else to Caitlin, a crowd of young boys came in and snagged her attention. Relieved, Nathan moved over to join Emma. She stood looking into one of the large display cases that contained a dazzling array of ice creams.

  “Have you decided?” he asked.

  She glanced up at him. “I’d like a single scoop of vanilla.”

  He laughed and nodded toward the ice cream case. “That’s it? All these amazing choices and you want vanilla?”

  Emma shrugged. “Some of us know a good thing when we find it, and once our decision is made, we stick to it. I’m a vanilla purist.”

  She waved her hand at the multitude of flavors. “Let me guess. You want something wild like—” She glanced in the ice cream case again and said, “Loopy, Luscious Lemon? Or maybe Crazy, Cookey Coconut?”

  Nathan smiled. “Not exactly.”

  Behind him, he heard Caitlin laugh. “Are you kidding? This guy is loyal to the end. It’s vanilla all the way for him.”

  Nathan leaned against the display case and smiled at Emma. “I guess that makes two of us who stick with a good thing once we find it.”

  “The fax works better if you give it a good whack,” Leigh said from the doorway to Emma’s office the next morning. “Here, let me show you.”

  Emma had been carefully reading the instruction manual, but now she looked at Leigh and moved the fax out of the younger woman’s reach. “Don’t you dare hit it.”

  Leigh stopped midstride and grinned. “You’re just like Nathan—sentimental. It’s a machine, not a person. He should have gotten rid of that piece of junk years ago, but he keeps getting it fixed.”

  Emma shifted the fax even farther from Leigh’s grasp, then leaned back in her chair. “I’m positive the fax can be fixed. It just sticks a little.”

  With a laugh, Leigh dropped into the chair facing Emma’s desk. “I can’t believe you’re defending a fax machine.” She glanced around the office. “Any other equipment you’ve grown attached to already?”

  Emma relaxed for the first time this morning. She was really glad Leigh had dropped by. Her new job made her tense. Everyone at Barrett Software seemed tense. If the accounting program, Simplify, wasn’t error-free by the Dallas computer show, Barrett Software would miss a wonderful opportunity to introduce the product to the public. Building up a market would be so much more difficult without the added exposure.

  For her part, Emma wanted to do well, and so far this morning, she’d eaten four antacids. Leigh was exactly what she needed to calm down.

  “I’m rather fond of the computer and the printer, now that you ask,” Emma said.

  Leigh’s expression turned downright mischievous. “How about my hunky brother? Gotten attached to him yet?”

  Okay, so much for calming down. Just the mention of Nathan was enough to get her pulse racing. “He’s very nice.”

  “Nice? So that’s why you went with him for ice cream last night? Because he’s nice?”

  Emma wasn’t the least surprised that Leigh knew about their walk through town. Emma figured that she’d met most of the population of Honey during the stroll home. People had seemed to pop out from every direction, and Nathan had been charming to everyone they’d met. By the end of the evening, Emma had to admit she’d been more than a little charmed herself. She wanted to believe it was the night and the companionship of an attractive man that had made her reluctant to see the evening end, but that was bunk.

  The reason she’d hated for last night to end was that she’d had a terrific time with Nathan Barrett. But she’d rather dye her hair purple with pink stripes than admit that to Leigh.

  So to be on the safe side, all Emma was willing to admit was, “Nathan was very nice to take me for ice cream. He thought I might be bored.”

  Leigh laughed. “Yeah, good old Nathan. He’s a real sport to entertain a lonely lady.”

  “I appreciated it. I enjoyed finding out about Honey.” Deciding it was past time to turn this conversation around, Emma said, “I heard you had a fun date last night.”

  Rather than looking contrite, Leigh’s smile only grew. “That I did, as everyone in Honey knows. Nothing like having your every move telegraphed around town.”

  “A lot of people did seem to know about your date.”

  Leigh shrugged. “Typical Honey. Information capital of the world. If you sneeze, people two miles away say bless you.”

  Yesterday, Emma would have thought Leigh was exaggerating, but after the walk last night, she knew better. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  Leigh glanced around the office. “So other than the fax machine, are you getting settled in? I feel terrible for not getting up early this morning and coming into the office with you. Sorry I overslept.”

  “Leigh, Honey only has four major streets. It wasn’t like negotiating New York City.”

  “Well, there is that tricky bit on Pine Street where Rufus will bark frantically at your car if you’re not quick.”

  Emma had to laugh at that one. “I met Rufus last night. All he did when I drove by this morning was woof once at me. He didn’t bark frantically at my car.”

  Leigh tapped her temple. “In his head he did. Rufus is more cerebral than physical, but we don’t like to tell him that. We all pretend he scares us. Makes him feel he’s important around here.”

  Emma shook her head. “This place is insane.”

  “That’s called charm,” Nathan said.

  Emma glanced up to find him standing in the doorway to her office. He smiled at her then at his sister. “Hello, ladies.”

 
Nathan had a twinkle in his eyes when he looked at Emma. He was so amazingly handsome in his dark-blue suit, her breath caught in her throat. She smiled when she noticed he wore cowboy boots with his suit.

  “Nice boots,” she said.

  He grinned. A lopsided grin that was downright sexy. “This is Texas after all.”

  For several long seconds, he held Emma’s gaze. With effort, she pulled her attention away and cleared her throat. “Your ten o’clock appointment is here. Caitlin Estes is in your office.”

  Nathan frowned. “Caitlin’s here. Why?”

  “She said she’s from the Honey Ladies’ Society.” A feeling of dread settled in Emma’s stomach. His expression made it pretty clear he hadn’t been expecting Caitlin. “Is something wrong?”

  Leigh made a snorting noise. “Caitlin wants to be the head of Nathan’s fan club.”

  Emma looked at her friend. “What?”

  “Don’t worry about it,” Nathan told her. Then he turned to his sister. “Speaking of people who shouldn’t be here, Leigh, what brings you here?”

  “I stopped by to see Emma.” Leigh looked at Emma, then back at her brother. “Wanted to make certain that ice cream she had last night settled okay.”

  “Sure you didn’t stop by to talk about the movie you saw last night?”

  Leigh laughed. “As if. I’m not telling you about my personal life, Nathan, so forget it.”

  “Just as well. My heart probably couldn’t stand the details.” He looked at Emma and asked, “Are you getting settled?”

  “Yes, thanks.” And so far, with the exception of Caitlin, everything else had gone fine. A young woman from personnel had gotten her started, and the morning had flown by. With the exception of the temperamental fax machine, she’d had no problem figuring out the equipment. She’d even taken some time to organize a few of Nathan’s files. Plus, she’d printed out his schedule. Despite her jittery nerves, everything was happening like clockwork. “No problems.”

  “Good.” His gaze met hers again, and sure enough, her heart did a little thumpity-thump. What was it about this man that got to her so? She wasn’t the type to let hormones cloud her judgment, but boy did they ever when he was around.