Waking Up with the Boss Read Online Free PDF Page B

play.”
    She flushed accordingly. “Thank you. But I’m not trying to tempt anyone, and you’re always ready to play with some pretty young thing.”
    Not the way he wanted to play with her. “Don’t worry. Tonight I’m going to be good.”
    Her gaze roamed over him. “Then I guess it’s all right to tell you that you look rather hot yourself?”
    Hell, yes, it was all right. He liked being in her sights, even if nothing was going to happen between them. “Millie brought a bunch of stuff to my house, too, and this is what I picked.” Suddenly he realized his shirt was the same minty green color as Carol’s eyes. He hadn’t chosen it for that reason, at least not deliberately. But who knew what tricks his attraction to her was playing on his subconscious?
    â€œAre you ready?” he asked.
    â€œAs ready as I’m ever going to be.”
    Was she still worried about fitting in with his crowd?
    â€œJust hold on tight and have a good time.”
    â€œHold on to what?”
    â€œMe.” He took her hand. “It’s a couples-only theme, remember?”
    She threaded her fingers through his. “I still can’t believe I agreed to come here with you.”
    â€œIt’s too late to back out.” He squeezed her hand. For now she was his plus-one, and he wasn’t letting her go.
    They took the staircase to the main ballroom on the first floor. Already, they could hear the thumping base of music from a DJ’s turntable.
    The white-pillared ballroom exploded with color and flair. The couples-only theme was expressed in enormous paintings and life-size statues that had been commissioned specifically for the party, with depictions of legendary lovers, throughout the ages, entwined in a variety of emotional embraces.
    A huge flat-screen monitor projected images that complemented the music, and scattered throughout the marble dance floor were gilded cages big enough for two, where couples could go inside and dance with each other. Jake thought it was intriguing. He didn’t know if Carol would agree to do that with him, but it wouldn’t hurt to ask when the moment felt right. It was just a bit of fun, after all. They were supposed to enjoy the festivities, and those cages were part of it.
    The birthday girl wasn’t there yet. Clearly, Lena wasn’t quite ready to splash onto the scene and make her debut. Most of the guests had arrived and were partaking of food, drink and dance. A gourmet buffet offered lavish hors d’oeuvres and frothy desserts. Although Jake was still full from dinner, the pastries sure looked good.
    â€œGood grief,” Carol said. “This is something else.”
    Jake continued to hold her hand, giving her time to settle into the environment. A three-tiered fountain filled with ice was large enough to bathe in, with pink lemonade spilling from the spigots. Champagne was being served as well, delivered by waitstaff garbed in French Colonial attire to match the mansion. There was a huge aquarium bar, too, stocked with angelfish and tended by bikini-clad bartenders wearing blue wigs and fluffy white wings. Indoor and outdoor tables were available, with figurine candles shaped into historic couples as the centerpieces. The party was an eclectic mix of whatever appealed to Lena’s imagination.
    After Jake and Carol took the champagne that was offered to them, she said, “I don’t know where to begin.”
    â€œAnywhere you want.”
    She sipped her drink. “I think I’d like a pastry to go with this.”
    â€œThat sounds good to me.” He escorted her to the buffet and grabbed a treat for himself, too.
    She wanted to eat outside, so they went onto the courtyard and sat with a few other couples who’d also decided to start their evening off outdoors. Jake introduced Carol to them. He knew most of the people in attendance.
    While Carol chatted with Lena’s