Wild Nights with her Wicked Boss. Nicola Marsh

close in the bar, her doe-eyed stare all soft and encouraging, and he’d nearly blurted out the truth of why being back here stung.

      It had been a close call and he couldn’t afford to let the princess playing pauper creep under his guard.

      At least he’d learned her reason for being here. It had less to do with her urge to study biology and more to do with some idiot who’d cheated on her.

      She was running away from her old life, dabbling for a while, before she’d head back to her gowns and baubles.

      It should annoy him, the fact she was using a job most people would give their eye teeth for as an escape, but he understood. Boy, did he understand the driving need to run when the going got tough.

      As for that kiss…His initial plan to shock her into forgetting the awkwardness following his blurted admission had vanished the moment he’d touched her.

      It had been an impulse, something guaranteed to shock her. Ironic, he’d been the one shocked with how close he’d come to losing control when she’d stared at him with those big brown eyes, her sensual mouth an inch away…

      For that split second between going through with a callous kiss that meant nothing, a calculated kiss meant to distract, and sensibly pulling back, he’d ached to hold her, to touch her, to bury his face in her sleek chocolate-brown hair.

      Thankfully, he hadn’t gone through with it and she’d handled his idiocy with aplomb, demonstrating what he already knew. Jade Beacham had class and then some.

      He’d moved in the same social circles many moons ago, had met girls like her as a teenager. Pampered, pretty princesses with high expectations and endless credit via Daddy’s gold card. If it sounded like a princess and acted like a princess, it expected to be treated like one.

      He’d escaped early enough to never get involved with one and had determinedly avoided that type of woman since. Playing lackey to a high-maintenance woman just wasn’t his style.

      Uh-uh, when he’d finally opened his heart to a woman, it had been someone the absolute antithesis of a pampered princess.

      And look what had happened as a result.

      Cursing soundly, he headed towards the hotel. This wasn’t the time for another lapse in judgement. It was hard enough just being back in this town.

      With Jade’s curvy image imprinted on his brain, and the answering spark he’d glimpsed in her beautiful brown eyes, he had a feeling things were about to get a lot harder.

      Chapter Six

      JADE rolled out of bed and stumbled to the bathroom as the pale dawn light filtered through the curtains. She glanced in the mirror, not surprised to see dark rings under her eyes. After a sleepless night, what did she expect?

      Stepping under the shower, she tilted her head back, allowing the warm water to sluice over her face. She shampooed her hair, soaped her body and shaved her legs, focusing on the mundane tasks in a futile attempt to block out the memory of last night—and the cringe-worthy fact she’d almost kissed her boss.

      She’d lain awake half the night replaying every tension-fraught moment since she’d met Rhys Cartwright. After that bizarre interview and her original initiation into the company, she should’ve known things would go downhill.

      Though for a brief moment in the bar last night, she’d felt a connection, a genuine sharing of information that led to bonding.

      Before she’d botched it all big time and made a mess of everything.

      She’d lied to him. She’d told him the kiss was forgotten when in reality it was all she could think about. She couldn’t forget the feel of his strong hands stroking her arms, his intoxicating outdoorsy-woody smell, those blue eyes heavy with passion, the sight of his lips descending towards hers…

      With one last icy blast she turned off the taps and stepped out of the shower. The rush of cold air raised goose bumps over her damp skin; or was her physiological reaction a result of imagining Rhys’s kiss?

      Her hands shook as she dried off, the nerves she’d managed to subdue in the shower taking flight again. How on earth was she going to face him today?

      No matter how efficiently they’d brushed it off last night, pretended it never happened, she’d have to show up to her first day on the job all perky and bouncy and enthusiastic when inside she’d be a quivering mess.

      Shrugging into her robe, her gaze landed on her toiletry bag propped on the bathroom counter.

      There lay her answer.

      Whenever she’d had to attend a big event in the past, whether afternoon tea with royalty or polo with a prince, she’d ensure she looked her best. Perfect make-up, styled hair, killer outfit. Looking good gave her confidence and if ever there was a time she needed a boost, this was it.

      She donned stretch black pants, a sapphire jumper and the latest design in hiking boots, then concentrated on the onerous task of applying make-up. Keeping the colours neutral, she applied a light foundation and translucent powder, outlined her eyes with blue kohl, smudged a bronzed eyeshadow over her lids, whisked the mascara wand over her eyelashes and finished off with a smidgeon of pale pink lip gloss.

      Not bad. The make-up provided an excellent confidence mask, though it was difficult to disguise the doubt in her eyes. Her windows to the soul definitely needed some new blinds.

      She snacked on a bagel to quell her rolling tummy as she quickly repacked and ten minutes later joined the guys down at the wharf awaiting their JetCat transport. After handing over her backpack to the transport staff, she took a deep breath and headed down the wooden planks.

      A long, low wolf whistle heralded her arrival. ‘Look at you.’ Jack gave her a thumbs up, his grin appreciative.