A Mistletoe Kiss with the Boss

Confused, she picked it up and cautiously said, “Hello?”

“It’s Dean. I’m in the hotel dining room. I’ve ordered coffee. Come down when you’re ready.”

The sound of his voice made her heart light, but she squelched the silly feeling that had started the night before by reminding herself that she’d fallen desperately in love with Brad, a man who had also used her. She’d ended up hurt and disillusioned. Just because Dean was coming right out and telling her he was using her, it only made him marginally better than Brad. Or maybe not better. More like honest. Especially since the way he’d pulled away from her on the dance floor had all but proven she was safe with him. A man who didn’t want to touch her didn’t want to get involved with her.

And she shouldn’t want to get involved with anybody, either. Especially not such a difficult man. She was about to embark on the journey of a lifetime. Beginning an international charity, something with the potential to change the world, would be all-consuming. She didn’t have time for a romance until her schools were off the ground.

She took the elevator to the lobby, found the restaurant and walked to the table where Dean sat. He rose and her stomach fell to the floor.

Wearing jeans and a comfortable olive green sweater, he barely resembled the angry man she’d met the morning before in Paris. He looked young, approachable. And if the smile on his face was any indicator, he was very happy to see her.

The joyful feeling bubbled up in her again, the sense that there was nowhere she’d rather be than with him. Because it was true. He was so handsome in that sweater and jeans. And he looked happy...

How was she supposed to resist that?

He pulled out her chair. “I hope you slept well.”

“Since I’d napped all yesterday afternoon, I was glad to have had a few glasses of champagne to make me drowsy.”

A waiter walked over and poured Kristen a cup of coffee from the carafe already on the table.

Dean said, “I’ll have the bacon and eggs breakfast.” He faced her with another smile. “Kristen?”

She could barely say, “I’ll have the same.” Her heart did a crazy dance in her chest every time he smiled at her. She tried reminding herself of Brad, but it didn’t help. With Dean’s face a study in happiness and her attraction to him tapping on her shoulder, the giddy feeling rolling through her wouldn’t let anything negative in.

As the waiter walked away, happy Dean faced her again. “I realized last night that your attending another event with me warrants another agreement.” He pulled a document from beside his plate. “This is a second agreement that takes the place of the one we signed yesterday. Instead of a hundred thousand dollars’ worth of computers, it’s now two hundred thousand.”

Her eyes bulged. “Two hundred thousand dollars’ worth of computers?”

As she took the agreement from his hands, she realized this was why he was so happy. He wasn’t smiling because of her. He wasn’t happy to see her. He was happy that their deal wasn’t lopsided. By giving her more computers, he was no longer accepting a favor. They were even.

All the crazy feelings rumbling around inside her stopped instantly.

She glanced up at him. “You don’t like owing people, do you?”

His head tilted. “Because I’m continuing our arrangement?”

“Because you won’t let me do you a favor.”

He shrugged. “This relates more to the ‘don’t mix business with pleasure’ rule.”

“Nope. I think we’ve entered new rule territory. You don’t like anyone doing anything for you.”

He fiddled with his linen napkin. “Good business people keep things balanced. The revised agreement is simply a way to do that.”

“Sure it is.” She paused for a moment as the waiter brought their bacon and eggs, then said, “And what about the clothes you’re buying me?” She caught his gaze. “And the bracelet you didn’t take back last night. If you want everything even and balanced, then I’m going to have to pay you for the clothes. And God only knows what I’ll owe you for the bracelet.”