Last Name - Dr. Rebecca Sharp Page 0,16

the financial analysis, the staffing, the overhead, the property… but I don’t really know anything about Lake Tahoe. And with the purchase just going through, I have a lot on my plate,” he explained. “But you… this is what you do… and having you coordinate and run all of this is going to make it much better and more memorable for them than if I try.”

My fingers rubbed into the back of my arms. I wanted to be affronted and angry, knowing he was dangling my freedom in front of me with a price attached to it. But how important this was to him—making his brother’s wedding events the best they could be—was just as crystal clear on his face as his expression of determined concern had been the moment I met him in Vegas when he saved me from that jerk at the table.

James Arden was the kind of man who would toe the line of a wrong thing if it meant doing right for someone.

Just like when he rescued me in Vegas, practically provoking a fight with the man who grabbed me in order to do so. Now, he was practically threatening me to keep my job in order for everything to be perfect for his brother.

“And while I do that, you’ll start the annulment process?” I drawled warily.

His eyes flashed, as though they disagreed with his reply, “Yes.”

I stood for a moment, processing everything.

I didn’t have to stay. I could quit and walk away right now and try to figure out the annulment on my own, fight for it if necessary.

But was that really worth it? Just to avoid a few weeks working for a man I’d slept with… and married…

No, I was being ridiculous.

I pulled a long, steadying breath into my lungs. Quitting right now would be rash and unreasonable.

Yes, I’d slept with him.

Yes, he was my boss.

But neither of those things meant it had to happen again—or even be spoken of.

“Fine,” I breathed out, adding, “I have one condition though.”

His eyes widened in intrigue. “That I fire you once it’s done?”

A small, unexpected laugh escaped me. “No,” I replied. “We’ll figure that out at the end.”

A tingle coursed down my spine, the kind you get right before you did something you knew you were going to regret.

It must’ve been because of the alcohol that I never had that sensation in Vegas when I agreed to spend time with him. Kiss him. Marry him…

The words tasted bitter as they rolled around on my tongue—like a medicine that wasn’t going to cure my ailment though I was determined to take it anyway.

“My condition is that what happened in Vegas… doesn’t happen again.”

For a moment, I thought he was going to disagree. I could even see the fight raging in his eyes, like a bull eager to charge into the ring and go after what it really wanted. But he held it back behind that shield of chivalry I’d met in Vegas—the one that made me feel safe with him, knowing he’d never take more than I was willing to give.

The real problem was preventing myself from giving it.

“Fine,” he bit out with a nod. “I’ll be in touch by the end of the day with more details and when you can meet with Lars’ fiancée, Suzanne.”

We stared at each other for a long moment, the attraction we’d felt before still existed, only now it was chained and locked behind the walls of reality.

My chin dipped and I headed for the door, each step a monument to the irony of the situation.

I’d sworn to never get involved with my boss again.

Now, not only had I slept with him, I was married to him.

And the one man who was now mine, a man I wanted with something I’d never felt before, was the only man I couldn’t have.

This couldn’t be right.

My fist rose and I knocked on the honey-colored wood door to the massive lake house by Zephyr Cove. Immediately, I drew back and folded my arms over my chest.

He never said it was at a house.

I flinched as the door opened, the smile that did magical and physically-frustrating things to my body spread over James’ face.

“Hi.”

“Carrie,” he greeted me warmly. Too warmly. “Thanks for coming.”

This was the first time I’d seen him in anything other than suit pants and a dress shirt. Even in Vegas, he’d been dressed impressively. But tonight, he was wearing a pale blue polo with worn, dark blue jeans—both articles of clothing fit him