Waking Up with the Boss Read Online Free PDF

bracelet back? They’re just part of the mix.”
    She studied each piece again. “They really are amazing.”
    â€œDon’t be too impressed. I had Millie tell me what to get. I’m not good at giving women gifts.”
    That was true. Sometimes he even relied on Carol to decide on what type of flowers to send to his lovers. But she shouldn’t have used that as a comparison, not with the way he was making her feel.
    Had she made a mistake, coming on this trip with him? It was certainly the most impetuous thing she’d ever done.
    She closed the box and held it against her chest, where her heart was thumping much too madly. She liked being in his company, far more than she should.
    â€œSo it’s settled then?” he asked. “You’re keeping the jewelry?”
    â€œYes, thank you. I’ll accept it.” What good would it do to argue the point, when she was already losing ground?
    â€œI should go unpack now,” she said.
    He gestured to the pool. “Maybe I’ll go for a quick swim before the food gets here.”
    She didn’t want to think about him diving into the water in nothing but a bathing suit, but her imagination went haywire just the same. No doubt his naturally bronzed body would be a sight to behold.
    Attempting to make a graceful exit, she said, “I’ll see you when it’s time for the party.”
    â€œI’ll see you, too.”
    He didn’t turn away and neither did she. They just stood there, immersed in each other. So much for a graceful exit.
    Finally, she ended the connection and headed to her room, closing and locking the door on her side that separated their living quarters. She heard him close the door on his side, too, and turn the bolt.
    Carol breathed a heavy sigh of relief, then glanced around at the glamorous antique furnishings and four-poster bed. Jake’s room more or less mimicked hers, which didn’t make it any easier, knowing he was on the other end of those adjoining doors.
    She warned herself to stay away from her veranda in case he did go for a swim. Fantasizing about him was bad enough. She didn’t need to watch him and become a voyeur, too.
    * * *
    As the evening progressed, Jake was more than ready to blow off some steam. After his swim, he’d eaten dinner. Then he’d fallen asleep, rumpled and naked. From there, he’d dragged his ass out of bed and taken a long, hot shower.
    And now he was standing in front of the mirror in a designer suit, his hair styled in its usual way.
    If he knew Carol, she’d probably been ready for hours. His assistant was an early bird, whereas Jake waited right up to the end to dash off to wherever he was going.
    As if on cue, his phone beeped with a text. No doubt it was Carol, telling him it was time to leave. She always sent him reminders for everything.
    He checked. Sure enough it was her. They agreed to meet in the hallway, outside their rooms.
    She got there first, and as soon as Jake saw her, he marveled at her beauty. Her dress was wrapped in a stylish yet sultry way, complementing her voluptuous figure. It wouldn’t take much to untie the sarong, either. A pull here, a tug there. The body veil that went with it was incorporated into the design, flowing softly, making her ensemble even sexier.
    Her makeup was light and elegant, and her shoulder-length, blunt-cut hair was straight and shiny. The starfish earrings twinkled next to her face, and the bracelet shone at her wrist. Her skin had just the slightest hint of shimmer, too, especially around the swell of her cleavage. Or maybe that was where he noticed it most. He assumed it was from some sort of glittery lotion. Her strappy evening bag was small and delicate—the kind women carried when they danced.
    â€œYou look hot,” he said. He stepped back to take another admiring glance. “Seriously, you could be a siren who roams the island, tempting guys like me to come out to