In Love With The Boss

In Love With The Boss
Doreen Roberts

THE NINE-TO-FIVE WIFESadie Milligan wasn't the type to get involved with a sexy, arrogant man. But then, the prim-and-proper secretary had never worked for anyone like gorgeous Jordan Trent. Suddenly she found herself putting in some very wifely overtime around the house–and hoping he'd give her some very husbandly kisses in return….Jordan knew his innocent new employee had no idea of the effect she had on him. And he knew even the best boss wouldn't be able to resist breaking all the rules and romancing pretty Sadie. But if the confirmed bachelor didn't watch out, Sadie would be doing the delegating, starting with "Do you take this bride…!

It appeared that Mr. Trent had not dressed for the day... (#u37c8a7ae-0357-5ebe-addd-867f61ddd86f)Letter to Reader (#u5c102927-d9e9-5f24-b402-9fa66130d442)Title Page (#ud2d3037a-b660-5b6f-b3e9-2ff1f8f61f0c)Dedication (#u8e54a3b1-8e66-5ca6-90a6-08766d637c32)DOREEN ROBERTS (#u3b57d821-cdc5-55da-a87b-0f7ae9015298)Chapter One (#ue0f3613c-5f34-5bd6-86f0-f8ba38b16bfa)Chapter Two (#u4310e162-74c6-53ad-a7e3-ff509808ef31)Chapter Three (#u80b2d636-d4a4-5428-bc63-bb7ed0a3e4ad)Chapter Four (#litres_trial_promo)Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

It appeared that Mr. Trent had not dressed for the day...

judging from the amount of bare chest Sadie could see behind the gaping folds of his robe. Looking directly into her eyes, he said, “You know, you’re a damn good-looking woman.”

Sadie blushed at the compliment. She didn’t get that many. Even if she’d been able to ignore her brothers’ teasing about being the ugly duckling of the family, her mirror revealed the inescapable truth.

Sadie was plain.

“Thank you,” she murmured, doing her best to avoid looking at his chest.

“Am I dreaming, or did someone arrange for an angel of mercy to visit me?”

Her cheeks burned. “I’m Sadie Milligan. The secretary you hired.”

She stood in awkward silence while Jordan Trent studied her with his ice-blue eyes.

“I guess I’m not dreaming,” he said at last, as a very male grin lit his handsome face.

Dear Reader,

To ring in 1998—Romance-styte!—we’ve got some new voices and some exciting new love stories from the authors you love.

Valerie Parv is best known for her Harlequin Romance and Presents novels, but The Billionaire’s Baby Chase, this month’s compelling FABULOUS FATHERS title, marks her commanding return to Silhouette! This billionaire daddy is pure alpha male...and no one—not even the heroine!—will keep him from his long-lost daughter....

Doreen Roberts’s sparkling new title, In Love with the Boss, features the classic boss/secretary theme. Discover how a no-nonsense temp catches the eye—and heart—of her wealthy brooding boss. If you want to laugh out loud, don’t miss Terry Essig’s What the Nursery Needs... In this charming story, what the heroine needs is the right man to make a baby! Hmm...

A disillusioned rancher finds himself thinking, Say You’ll Stay and Marry Me, when he falls for the beautiful wanderer who is stranded on his ranch in this emotional tale by Patti Standard. And, believe me, if you think The Bride, the Trucker and the Great Escape sounds fun, just wait till you read this engaging romantic adventure by Suzanne McMinn. And in The Sheriff with the Wyoming-Size Heart by Kathy Jacobson, emotions run high as a small-town lawman and a woman with secrets try to give romance a chance....

And there’s much more to come in 1998! I hope you enjoy our selections this month—and every month.

Happy New Year!

Joan Marlow Golan

Senior Editor

Silhouette Books

Please address questions and book requests to:

Silhouette Reader Service

U.S.: 3010 Walden Ave., P.O. Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269

Canadian: P.O. Box 609, Fort Erie, Ont. L2A 5X3

In Love With The Boss

Doreen Roberts

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

To Bill, for changing my life and fulfilling my dreams

DOREEN ROBERTS

lives with her husband, who is also her manager and her biggest fan, in the heart of Oregon’s Wine Valley. She believes that everyone should have a little adventure now and again to add interest to their lives. She believes in taking risks and has been known to embark on an adventure or two of her own. She is happiest, however, when she is creating stories about the biggest adventure of all—falling in love and learning to live happily ever after.

Chapter One

If there was one thing Jordan Trent hated, it was being cooped up in the rain. It rained a lot in the Northwest. It was raining now—slanting sideways across the muddy Columbia river and almost obliterating the houses tucked between the fir trees on the hills. Normally, on a day like this, Jordan would either be at the office or taking off somewhere in his red Porsche. There was always somewhere better to be than the river on a wet day. Only this wasn’t a normal day. In fact, it was probably one of the worst days Jordan could remember in his thirty-nine years.

He shifted carefully on the couch and reached for the phone. The call had to be made and he wasn’t looking forward to making it. There was just no point in putting it off any longer. Scowling, he punched out the number, then jammed the receiver to his ear.

Across town the phone rang in the plush office of Gallagher Enterprises. The line clicked open, and the low, vibrant voice of his secretary answered.

Amber Richards had the kind of looks that belonged on the cover of a girlie magazine. She had rich, auburn hair, green eyes and a body that could turn a man’s head one hundred and eighty degrees. She was also happily married to a stockbroker and her dependability, common sense and intelligence far surpassed any of Jordan’s former secretaries.

He not only relied on Amber, he genuinely liked her. He felt safe with her, secure in the knowledge that she had no designs on his money or his body. The same couldn’t be said of his former secretaries.

He’d fired more women than he cared to count because of their determined efforts to seduce him. Being single and a successful architect, he’d discovered, instantly translated into highly desirable.

Women, it appeared, did not recognize the existence of a confirmed bachelor. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to know that as far as most of the women he met were concerned, his healthy bank account mattered more than his buns.

“It’s me,” he muttered in answer to Amber’s polite query. “I’m on the houseboat.”

“Is something wrong?”

“Yes, something is wrong.” Her concern was somewhat comforting. She was probably the only person in the world who genuinely cared what happened to him. He liked to think it wasn’t solely because of her considerable paycheck.

“You had a bad weekend?”

“You could say that.”

“I thought you were going skiing.”

“I did. That’s what’s wrong.”

He heard the little catch in her throat. “Jordan, you didn’t hurt yourself, did you?”

“Just a little.” He stared grimly at the padding of white plaster encasing his right foot. “Enough to put me out of action for a little while.”

This time the pause was more prolonged. “How long?”