Bombshell for the Boss

She’s in love with her boss.

For her own sake, she has to quit.

But life has other plans. Because just as Sadie Matthews is giving notice, Ethan Hart, CEO of his family’s chocolate business, receives surprise guardianship of a baby girl. Now he needs his trusted assistant more than ever. Sadie can’t leave Ethan in the lurch. But sharing close quarters means the hidden spark between them just might ignite!

“Why are you doing this?” Sadie asked, and could have kicked herself.

Did it really matter why? Having his mouth just a breath from hers, having his gaze locked on her, was something she’d thought about for years, and now that it was happening she questioned it? What was wrong with her?

“Am I making you nervous?” Ethan asked in response.

“If you were?”

“Then I’d stop.”

“Then I’m not nervous.”

“Glad to hear it.” Suddenly any trace of humor was gone from his eyes. His features were taut as he stared at her as if seeing her for the first time.

* * *

Bombshell for the Boss by Maureen Child

is part of Harlequin Desire’s #1 bestselling series, Billionaires and Babies: Powerful men...wrapped around their babies’ little fingers.

Dear Reader,

Chocolate. Oh, yes. What could be better than a rich, sexy hero who owns a chocolate empire? A dream come true, right?

In Bombshell for the Boss, you’ll meet Ethan Hart, CEO of Heart Chocolate. He’s got it all and his life is in perfect order, just the way he likes it. And then...the bombshell.

A decades-old promise to a friend comes back to haunt him when he becomes the legal guardian to a six-month-old girl.

Sadie Matthews is Ethan’s executive assistant. She’s been in love with him for five years and knows it’s going nowhere. She decides to quit and find a new life, but changes her mind when Ethan offers her a small fortune to stay and help him with that baby.

Meanwhile, Ethan’s brother, Gabriel, is causing trouble and his girlfriend, Pam, is egging him on. Suddenly the Hart family is in turmoil and Ethan finds that the only stable thing in his life is Sadie, the woman who wants to leave him.

Together, they have to build something new—if they can.

I hope you enjoy Ethan and Sadie’s story. I had a good time with them. Please visit me on Facebook and let me know what you think!

Until next time, happy reading!

Maureen

One

“We already talked about this.” Ethan Hart leaned back and stared across the desk at his younger brother. Elbows propped on the arms of his chair, Ethan steepled his fingers and narrowed his gaze. Irritation simmered inside him. How often did they have to go through this? Not for the first time, Ethan wondered if having his little brother on the board was a good idea.

Gabriel Hart pushed up from the visitor’s chair and shoved both hands into his slacks pockets. “No, Ethan. We didn’t discuss anything. You commanded.”

One eyebrow winged up as Ethan lifted his gaze to meet Gabe’s. “Since you remember our last conversation so well, I wonder why you’re here trying to go over it all again.”

“Because even as stubborn as you are, Ethan, I keep hoping that I’ll manage to get through to you.”

“I’m stubborn?” Ethan laughed and shook his head. “That’s funny, coming from you.”

“Damn it, I’m trying to do something important,” Gabe argued. “Not just for me, but for the company.”

And he believed that, Ethan knew. Gabriel had always been the one to try new things, to push envelopes. Well, that was no problem for himself. But for this company? Trying something new wasn’t worth risking a reputation it had taken generations to build.

This was an old argument, getting older by the second. Ever since Gabe had taken his place in the Hart family chocolate company, the brothers had been doing battle. Ethan regretted that, because he and his younger brother had always been close. But the bottom line was Ethan was in charge and it was Ethan who would make the final call about the direction their company would take. And Gabriel was just going to have to find a way to live with that.

Standing up, he faced his brother. “Reality is, Gabe, we sold thirty-one million pounds of chocolate last year. The company is doing fine. We don’t need to take risks.”