So the sight of a mind-numbingly sexy man with a partial erection offering me anything is much more appealing than weeks of loneliness. I am actually salivating. Still, I hesitate.
“You’d have your own room with a working lock.” He raises his hands, palms out, shoulder-height. “If I do anything to annoy you, you’ll still have access to the private jacuzzi on the terrace, the chef’s kitchen and the in-apartment gym.”
“Well, that beats my little nest,” I mumble. “But I have a personal project to work on over the next few weeks. I’ll need time to focus.”
“You’ll have it,” Harden agrees, too easily. Why does he want me there so badly? Sure, apparently he likes my tits, but I could be a raging bitch for all he knows. Anyone who wants to be quarantined with a complete stranger in a pandemic is asking for trouble.
So why am I considering this?
Sensing my hesitation, Harden adds, “I don’t like to be alone. I need to have people to talk to. Not over screens. Of course, if you wanted more…” He grins. My breath catches.
I’ve seen a lot of charismatic and handsome men in my acting career but no one like Sam Harden, who gestures almost apologetically in the general direction of his crotch. “We could always Netflix and chill.”
I feel an answering smile stretch my mouth upward at the corners. I don’t want it to, but there’s nothing keeping me at my home. No pets, no roommates, not even a houseplant to water. “Okay.”
I suck in air, my lungs tight. He stills.
“Really?”
“Yeah. Unless you’re taking back your offer?” I fix him with a meaningful stare.
“No, not at all. I’m just surprised you’d accept.” He relaxes visibly. “And grateful. I, uh, should tell you that there’s someone else who’ll be with us.”
“Someone else?” I ask skeptically, mentally preparing to renege on this agreement.
“Hugh. My bodyguard. I’ve had a little trouble over a business deal gone wrong in Moscow.” Sam grimaces, but before I can protest his hand presses lightly against the small of my back. “We’re both safe. I don’t like to take up test kits in these circumstances, but because we had traveled recently we took tests yesterday afternoon. The results were clear this morning. We’re not infected.”
“I’ve been taking every precaution possible,” I say, which is true. Mashed in between those floor plans in my purse are boxes of disposable masks and gloves. They’re as precious as gold.
Besides, if Hugh is the bodyguard who has haunted my fantasies for months, then I am definitely down to Netflix and chill for a few weeks.
“Come on, then. My car is in the garage,” says Sam.
“Mine is, too. I’ll follow you.”
“No.” Harden’s reaction is forceful and commanding. I stiffen. I don’t like being deprived of my independence—in this case, my twelve-year-old secondhand Lexus. It’s my baby. Part of my carefully crafted image, which is upscale and discreet. No one needs to know I’m as poor as a church mouse.
“You’ll ride with me,” he declares. “Your car will be safe here.”
And like that, it’s decided. I want to protest but I know I shouldn’t. I let Harden swipe his pass on the elevator control panel. Notably, his is still working. We can’t maintain six feet of distance, but that precaution is moot anyway. He’s already touched me. Been close enough to kiss. I click my car open and pop the back door.
“I said, we’re taking my car,” Harden says behind me. I feel his gaze burning through the fabric of my skirt as I shimmy into the back seat. I drag out my gym bag. It’s nothing fancy, but it has a change of clothes I’m going to need. I wiggle out and hold it upright with one hand .
Relief smooths his brow. He’s older than me. I’m guessing thirty-five. I am twenty-six. Getting old to make my acting break, frankly. I push the thought aside and hand my gym bag to him.
“Lead the way,” I say.
Available FREE wherever eBooks are sold
Coming Soon
Confined with the CEO and the Bodyguard: Caitlyn
3/17/2021 Release
Caitlyn: I can't believe this is happening to me. First, the stalker. I close my eyes as a shudder wracks me. Helpless fury scorches through me.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Everett. You want me to do what?"
My boss' order shocks me to my core. How is this my life?
Everett: Caitlyn Falk is my obsession, for good reason. She's tough, gorgeous, and knows football as well as any professional coach. But I'm not the only one who thinks Cait is the perfect woman. Now she's in danger. I'm going to keep her safe no matter how much she hates it. After all, Cait is our sports news channel's biggest investment. But that's all she is to me...for now.
Xavier: My job is to keep Ms. Falk safe until this pandemic is under control and the trial is set to start. I didn't factor in her boss, the CEO of Full Contact, a racy sports commentary TV network. He's clearly here to do more than keep her safe - if she'll let him. But I'm the one she watches...I'm the one she wants.
This security assignment is dangerous in ways I can only begin to anticipate…
Preorder to get special release-week pricing - just .99 wherever eBooks are sold.
Confined with the CEO and the Bodyguard: Naomi
4/19/2021 Release
Naomi: Honestly, the thought of being locked down with my boss and his billionaire best friend isn't exactly unappealing. All I have to do is keep my video game habit a secret for a few weeks, and keep my snarky sense of humor under control. Not talking for a few weeks ought to be easy. With Cash's incessant teasing, thought, it's impossible to stay silent. Now my boss has seen a side of me that I'd rather keep hidden...
Zane: Spending weeks alone with my funny, nerdy employee, Naomi, and my best friend, Cash, would be perfect under any other circumstances.
