Midnight Under the Mistletoe Read Free

office about how appealing he was, but not
from anyone who had actually worked for him. She had talked to one secretary who
had spent two days with him and thought he was a monster, piling on work until
it was impossible to get done what he demanded. Another secretary had complained
about him being silent and abrupt during the day.
    When she saw it was time to go back to meet with him, she
smoothed her hair into a loose bun and left her room. Trying to familiarize
herself with the mansion, she walked to the study where she had met Zach.
    He sat behind a desk and stood the minute she appeared in the
doorway. Once again, she tried to avoid staring. He looked muscled and fit
except for his foot that was wrapped in a bandage and in an oversize health
shoe. The unruly curls were a tangle around his face, softening his rugged
features.
    “Let’s go to the office,” he said, and she walked beside him
down a wide hall filled with paintings, plants, side tables and chairs.
    As they entered a large room, she drew a deep breath. It was a
dream office with two large desks at opposite ends of the room. Shelves lined
three walls and the remaining wall was glass with a view of a small pond and
well tended grounds up to a white fence. Beyond the fence were stables, a corral
and pasture. Through spacious windows, daylight spilled into the room. Fax
machines, shredders, computers and electronic equipment filled each end of the
office.
    “That’s my desk,” he said, pointing to the larger one that was
polished, ornately carved dark wood. Forming an L-shape with the desk, a table
stood at one end. The table held two computers, one of which had dual oversize
monitors. Another computer was centered on his desk. Two laptops and an iPad lay
on the table.
    The other desk was glass, looking far newer. File cabinets were
built into one wall and not noticeable at first glance.
    He sat behind his desk, motioning toward a leather chair facing
him. She sat, crossing her legs, catching him looking at her legs when she
glanced up. She inhaled sharply. She experienced an undercurrent of intense
awareness and suspected he did as well. It was unexpected, definitely unwanted.
Any hot attraction between them could put her job in jeopardy and this job was
important to her. She was saving to go back to college and, ultimately, become
qualified to teach. This was a temporary increase in pay she could use to
achieve her dream.
    “Since you and I and my staff are the only people here, you can
dress casually. Jeans are fine.”
    She nodded. “Great.”
    “The glass desk will be yours. You’ll find a stack of papers
I’ve signed that need to be copied and put into the mail.” He leaned back and
stretched out his long legs.
    She realized she was going to have a difficult time for a few
days, focusing on what he was saying because she got lost looking at him.
    “Hopefully you’ll be able to read my handwriting. I have a
document there for you to type for me to sign. Another stack holds filing.
There’s an in-box on the corner of my desk. When you finish anything, if it
doesn’t go in the mail or the file, place it in my in-box. If you have any
questions, always feel free to ask. Take a break when you want and feel free to
get what you want in the kitchen. Did Nigel show you where the kitchen is?”
    “Yes, he showed me around briefly.”
    “Did you meet my very good cook?”
    “Yes, I met Rosie.”
    “Good. You can start work each day at 8:00, quit at 4:00 or
start at 9:00 and quit at 5:00. You’re stuck here for lunch so we’ll not add
that to the time.”
    “I prefer 8:00,” she said and he nodded.
    “Any questions now?” he asked, giving her a direct look that
made her pulse jump another notch.
    “One—where do I take the mail?”
    “There’s a box on a shelf near your desk that is marked Mail
and you put everything in there. One of the hands who works on the ranch will
get the mail to take it down to the road to be picked up.”
    She