Last Name - Dr. Rebecca Sharp Page 0,15

local and long-time businesses so our guests can really experience a lot of local flavor without getting sucked in by the big, touristy vendors.”

I shifted my weight as he just stared at me, tipping his head ever so slightly to acknowledge what I’d said.

“The guests really seem to appreciate it,” I added more quietly as a somewhat-subtle shameless plug for the purpose and value of my position, though I wouldn’t be staying in it for much longer.

He rested his hip on the windowsill, my eyes momentarily distracted by the way his suit shifted and tightened over his broad muscles. It was both a blessing and a curse that my memories from the very end of the night—the moments when I’d seen and felt all of those muscles, their bare and brute force setting my body on fire—were foggy at best.

“Carrie.”

The flush in my face intensified as the spark in his rich brown gaze indicated he knew what I was just thinking about—what thoughts were distracting me.

“Maybe you should just fire me now,” I told him, dragging my tongue over my lips.

He was too tempting.

He was my boss.

And until this situation was sorted out, he was my inconvenient husband.

“I’m not firing you.”

“I would prefer if you did,” I insisted.

He laughed, and I was hit with his smile again—a white weapon of mass destruction. “Are you really begging to be fired? I have to say, that’s a first for me.”

“Yes, well, being married—and married to my boss—is a first for me,” I deadpanned.

“I’m not firing you, Carrie.”

My lips firmed into a frustrated line. “Then I’ll just quit,” I replied. “And then we’ll get an annulment. And then everything will be back to square one.”

“You’re not quitting.”

I balked, surprised by the glint of steel in his voice. Why did he care? He was about to fire me anyway… right before he realized who I was.

And I wasn’t about to be the woman who kept her job because of an inter-office relationship.

“You can’t stop me from quitting,” I blurted out. “I’m not going to be the only person who walked into this office today to be fired and still walk out with a job. I won’t. I can’t.”

His eyes narrowed speculatively on me, analyzing the hint of desperation I’d let slip.

I was over my past. I was over the mistakes that had led me out here. I’d moved on from that part of my life.

But I wasn’t about to let history repeat itself either.

With one hand, he flicked open the button of his suit jacket, the material pulling to the side as he pushed one hand into his pocket. My mouth watered, and I fought to keep my attraction to a man I could no longer be attracted to under control.

“If you quit, I’ll have to think twice about agreeing to an annulment.”

What?

My head tipped in slow motion to the side, the uneven weight of disbelief making my head feel light, wondering if I’d heard him correctly.

Wondering if I’d just heard him threaten to stay married to me—a woman he’d just met.

There were several long seconds of silence because I had no idea how to respond… where to start… what the hell to say…

“I’m sorry,” I began. “Did you… did you just threaten to stay married to me?”

There was a flash of a grin—equal parts disbelief and devious that he’d suggested such a thing.

He let out a long sigh, but instead of answering my question, he responded with, “Look, Carrie. I’m not firing you—and I don’t want you to quit—because I need you to do something for me.”

My brow furrowed, awaiting explanation.

“My younger brother is getting married in two-and-a-half weeks,” he started, taking a few steps toward me. “He and his fiancée have a bunch of family and friends coming in over the next few days, and he asked me if I could plan and host some group activities until the wedding, to take some of the stress off of his future wife.”

My expression relaxed as my mind already traced the path this was going.

“Based on what you’ve told me about what you do, I think you’d be perfect to handle the task,” he went on. “So, I’m not firing you, and I’m asking you to please not quit in order to help me.”

My eyes searched his.

He wasn’t quite asking. I knew the repercussions if I said no.

“So, I’m going to do… what I normally do… just for your family,” I clarified.

He nodded. “I just bought this hotel, Carrie. I know about the numbers,