Her Bossy Billionaire (Love in London 1)

He blinked. “You’re preparing the what for him?”

“Muesli.”

“Muesli?” he repeated.

“Yes,” she answered loftily, pleased she’d thrown him. “I make the muesli he likes.”

Jack Barnes threw back his head and laughed. Watching him, Libby’s pulse zipped to a punishing pace. What with the shock of being frightened by a stranger, followed by the surprise of him being so completely stunning, it was a wonder her heart hadn’t stopped all together. Weak hearts were in the family—both literally and emotionally—but Libby was determined to take care of hers. She mentally counted backward from ten and told herself he really wasn’t that gorgeous and she wasn’t going to pay any attention to the gleam in his eyes and the infectiousness of that low, rumbling laugh. She heard another mangled repeat of “muesli” in that offensive, disbelieving tone. Rolling her eyes, she waited for him to get over it.

“Are you the team dietician?” He finally sobered enough to speak, but he still wore half a grin.

If only he’d stayed all cynical ice-man. Him smiling made it hard for her brain to retain operational status. She shook her head.

“Didn’t think so.” Now his smile vanished. “What’s your name?”

“Libby Harris.” She pulled it together and answered firmly. “And yours?” She wasn’t going to give him an ego trip by admitting she already knew who he was.

“Jack Barnes. I’m Tom’s older brother and this is my apartment.”

Of course it was. She so should’ve figured that. Libby shrank inside, hopelessly fighting the heat invading her face. She must look like a cherry tomato. “But Tom lives here.”

“When he’s in town, yes.” His answer was shorn of any lingering amusement.

Why hadn’t Tom explained it was his big, bad brother’s apartment he was sending her to? And why had she so cheekily looked around?

But it was too late now, all she could do was get the job done and leave. And okay maybe she ought to apologize for snooping. But she really didn’t want to—the guy seemed to feel superior enough already. “Well, if you don’t mind, I need to get back to what I was doing.”

Head held high, she walked across the floor—carefully leaving a four-foot firebreak between them. He turned and walked behind her. Now she felt so self-conscious it was a wonder she didn’t fall over her own feet. It was too unfair of him to be that hot in his faded jeans and white T-shirt. And did he have to watch her so super close all the time—like she was some world-threatening virus on a microscope slide?

“Actually, Libby Harris,” he murmured with toe-curling, intimate softness. “I’m afraid I do mind.”

Two

Jack Barnes slowly followed his unwanted guest into the kitchen, reluctant amusement fighting bitter disappointment. Her glossy, dark hair hung in a long ponytail and her figure would be girlishly slim if it weren’t for the glorious curves rounding out her T-shirt. He could see exactly why Tom had invited her over to “make muesli.”

Unbelievable.

“Sorry Mr. Barnes, but your brother asked me to do something for him and I’m not leaving here until I’ve done it.”

Also unbelievable was the cuteness of her defiant smile as she took up position behind the countertop, already working that ridiculously small knife on the chopping board.

He cursed under his breath. His brother had always been impetuous and frankly, obsessive. He couldn’t blame him in this case though. Jack absolutely understood the attraction. For the first time in their adult lives, he was hot for the woman his brother wanted.

Too bad for both of them. Because Jack wasn’t going to stand by and watch Tom derail again—not this month, not when he had an epic series of events to perform in. Jack had to get rid of her. But she had bags scattered over the bench between them—rolled oats, hazelnuts, a tall bottle of maple syrup… Yeah, her whole healthy eating act was cute and she was so luscious, Tom would probably eat cardboard and crushed bricks to earn her favor.

Nowadays Jack no longer noticed what Tom ate. The guy was healthy and fit and had been in training so long he knew exactly what he could and couldn’t have. He was on some superstrict plan and Jack trusted his brother to manage that on his own. He trusted him on other things less—like women.

His brows lifted as he read the price sticker on the back of the bottle of maple syrup. In the early days their food bills had been astronomical and it had been a huge struggle to make all the payments. Fortunately, the scrimp-and-save days were lo

ng gone, though despite his financial success Jack was still sensible—old habits were hard to shake. To this day he had a fund going to ensure his younger brother and sister would never ever know what it was to worry about how the next grocery bill was going to be paid.

“What’s so special about your muesli?” Apart from the outrageous price of that syrup.

She deftly sliced through three of the dark dried apricots. “Maybe you need to ask Tom.”

Damn good idea. He’d be asking Tom a few other pertinent questions as well. Right on time his phone chimed—Tom.

“Jack, I’ve got a woman coming.” Tom said the second Jack answered. “Don’t let her leave.”

“Libby Harris,” Jack confirmed. Pretty name, even prettier face. As for her cocoa-colored eyes and her stop-the-traffic curves…

“She’s there already? Brilliant.” Tom spoke quickly, clearly distracted. “She’s absolutely amazing.”

Jack’s temper spiked—it was exactly as he’d suspected.

“Don’t let her leave before I get back,” Tom said—practically breathless.

Actually now Jack would make doubly sure she was gone before Tom returned. His kid brother had gotten back from a training camp only this morning—what the hell was he thinking?

“It’s really, really important Jack. Understand?”

He understood all right. Tom had the bit between his teeth—the raging lust. And Jack couldn’t blame him. She was beautiful. Not Tom’s usual bikini-babe, party diva type—maybe his kid brother had finally grown up some. But it still wasn’t the right time. Couldn’t he wait ‘til this last regatta of the season was done?