In Bed With Her Boss (Kimani Romance) (5 page)

“Okay,” she said rolling her window down. She couldn’t help but stare at him for a moment. It seemed his gaze was focused on her lips. Heat flowed through her at the thought, and she quickly diverted her gaze from his and started her car.

She glanced back at him to say, “Good night.”

“Good night.” He stepped back as she put her car in gear and pulled away. She couldn’t help looking into her rearview mirror. He was still standing there, staring at her drive off.

O
pal released a sigh of gratitude as she sat at her desk. Ever since Tuesday night D’marcus had kept his word and tried to be a more reasonable boss. He actually used words like
please
and
thank you
a lot more often than ever before, and a couple of times he had actually smiled while talking to her. But, then, he had reason to smile. They had gotten word yesterday that two additional stores would be opening in California.

That meant they’d been extremely busy with various conference calls and contracts that had to be readied and faxed out. She and D’marcus spent most of the time either together or with his lawyers. She enjoyed watching how he handled business. He was a self-made millionaire and his sports franchise was growing by leaps and bounds, making him even richer.

“Ms. Lockhart, could you step into my office, please?”

Opal smiled. The courtesy words were beginning to come more naturally for him. At first they’d sounded clipped and forced. “Yes, sir, I’m on my way,” she said, grabbing her notepad.

She walked into his office to find files spread out on his desk, which was becoming a norm. Thank God for her organizational skills or he would never be able to find anything. In fact, a few days ago, he had complimented her on them when he’d looked for a file while she’d been at lunch. Her unique filing system made things a lot easier to find, especially for him.

“Yes, Mr. Armstrong?”

He glanced up and met her gaze, and, as always, she felt a tingling sensation in the pit of her stomach. She wished for once he would come to the office looking any way but desirable. Let his hair grow longer, go unshaven, ac-quire a scar or two, get a broken nose. But she had a feeling, even with those imperfections, he would still be handsome.

“I have to be in San Francisco next week,” he was saying. “With four stores opening in the next couple of months I need to be closer to the action.”

She nodded, understanding completely since all four new stores would be opening in California. She also knew he had satellite offices in several states. “So you won’t need me working overtime for you next week,” she said, stating the obvious and thinking that was the reason he had summoned her to his office.

“Yes, that’s right. However, I will need you to go to California with me.”

She blinked, certain she hadn’t heard him correctly. “You want me to go to California with you?” she asked.

“Yes, San Francisco, California.”

She tried to keep the nervous sigh from escaping her lips. She knew of administrative assistants who traveled with their bosses all the time and loved it and considered it as one of the perks of the job. Even Ruby traveled with her boss occasionally and considered it an opportunity to shine. But Opal had never given any consideration to the thought that Mr. Armstrong would want to take her anyplace with him.

“Will there be a problem, Ms. Lockhart?”

He recaptured her attention and she met his gaze. She’d never tell him the “problem.” “No, there won’t be a problem, sir.”

He nodded. “Good. I plan to fly out first thing Monday morning. You can probably return on Friday. I might stay for a few more days visiting relatives.”

“I’ll be ready to fly out Monday morning.” She told herself it wouldn’t be that bad. They’d be on a crowded plane, then in busy meetings.

He turned back to his files, then looked up as she was about to exit. “Oh, Ms. Lockhart, I forgot to tell you. We’ll be taking my private jet.”

What was wrong?

When he had mentioned her accompanying him on that business trip, although she hadn’t protested or declined, Opal had seemed surprised and even nervous. In fact, when she’d left his office, she had appeared downright rattled. He smiled. And here he’d thought that nothing could ruffle Opal Lockhart…except his tyrannical, demanding behavior.

He chuckled when he remembered what she’d said to him. She had been deadly serious in explaining her feelings. He had seen it in her eyes, the depth of her honesty. That had been one of the rare times he’d conversed with her and hadn’t been studying her lips. There was just something about the shape of her mouth that always tempted him.

She had a way of putting every male hormone he possessed on full alert whenever she entered his office. God knows he had tried to ignore it, avoid it, find ways to become immune to it, but so far nothing worked. Even without trying, she had a sensuality about her that he found totally irresistible. And what he found so astounding was that she was unaware of the depth of her appeal.

The other day, while sipping his soup at lunch, he had found himself glancing across the desk at her, and a part of him had imagined sipping on her instead. He definitely had one hell of a sexual ache and he hoped his date this weekend was what he needed to cure him.

He tossed aside the paper he’d been trying to read. Taking Opal to San Francisco with him wasn’t a smart idea given his attraction to her—an attraction he just couldn’t kick. But he did need her there. In this stage of his business negotiations, he needed someone he could depend on and he’d discovered since she had come to work for him that he could definitely depend on her. Not only was she well versed in the handling of business affairs, she had a good grasp of marketing and advertising, customer service and public relations, as well. She was a natural when it came to people skills. She got along with everyone at the office, and, more than once, he’d received compliments on her behalf from clients and business associates whom she had treated well.

Somehow, he would get through a week of spending the majority of his time in her presence. Hadn’t he done so this week? Still, there was something about being away from the office that seemed to put a whole new light on things…But he refused to let it. Opal was his employee and nothing more. And, once he had his date this weekend with Priscilla Tucker, his need for sexual release would be taken care of and he would be fine.

The last thing he needed to think about or consider was sleeping with his administrative assistant. That was something that could not and would not happen. He had to make sure of it.

“Give me one good reason why you don’t want to go out of town with D’marcus Armstrong, Opal,” Colleen was asking her. Opal had called her cousin and invited her to lunch after D’marcus had told her he would be out of the office at a meeting.

Opal pursed her lips thinking. “Because I really need to stay here. I’ll be moving in a couple of weeks and I need to start packing things up.”

“And, from what you’ve told me, you’ll be back in time to do that. When you took this job didn’t the person in Human Resources tell you there might be traveling involved?”

“Yes, but after meeting D’marcus and seeing what kind of attitude he had, I figured I’d be the last person he would take anyplace.”

“And why not? You’re efficient and good at what you do. You’ve become very valuable to him. From what I see, the man is definitely wheeling and dealing and his business is growing like wildfire. He would want someone familiar and dependable to assist him during this time.”

Opal nodded, knowing everything Colleen was saying was true. But…

“Be honest with me, Opal. What has you so rattled? Why are you so bothered by the thought of spending a week in California, sharing a hotel with D’marcus Armstrong? And note I said hotel and not hotel room,” she interjected when Opal arched a brow. “I’ve traveled with my boss before.”

Opal rolled her eyes upward. “Yes, but he’s married.”

Colleen chuckled. “Yes, and, at times, I hear they can be the worst ones, although Mr. Math-erson has never gotten out of line with me. But just because D’marcus is single shouldn’t make a difference. Unless…”

Opal glanced across the table and asked, “Unless what?”

“Unless you do have a crush on him like your sisters think.”

“Wrong. Like I told you before, I find the man attractive, but that’s as far as it goes.”

Colleen leaned closer over the table and looked her in the eyes. “You sure?”

Opal broke eye contact and took a sip of her hot tea. “I’m positive.”

“Okay, so when do you leave?” Colleen asked, leaning back in her chair.

“Monday morning.”

Colleen nodded. “That means you’ll have to do all your shopping for the trip this weekend.”

“Shopping?” Opal said, now getting really rattled. She hated going shopping. She usually shopped seriously at Christmas and purchased enough outfits to last for the coming year, unable to understand why women would constantly go to malls as if it was an addiction. Her three sisters shopped enough for her, thank you.

“Yes, shopping. Surely you don’t plan to take your regular clothes.”

Opal frowned. “And what’s wrong with my regular clothes?”

Colleen grinned. “Your wool suits are fine for this climate but I think they’ll be too warm in sunny California.”

“Fine, I have some summer suits.”

Colleen nodded slowly. “Yes, and I’ve seen them.”

Opal’s frown deepened. “And?”

“And do me a favor and get some new things. Come on, Opal, a couple of new outfits won’t hurt. Remember, in this business, it’s the entire package that has to impress. Not only does D’marcus Armstrong want an efficient secretary, I’m sure he wants one who dresses the part.”

Opal lifted her chin. “I dress professionally.”

“Of course you do, but I want you to spruce up your outfits a little more. What can it hurt?”

“My bank account.”

Colleen laughed. “Hey, with all that extra money you’re making from the overtime, you can afford to put a dent in it.”

As soon as Colleen went back to her office she got Opal’s sisters, all three of them, on the phone via conference call. “I need the three of you to help.” She then explained the situation.

“Opal’s going to San Francisco?” Amber said excitedly. “That’s really cool. Wish it was me.”

“Me, too,” Pearl said. “There are several recording studios and well-known restaurants I’d love dining at.”

“I would concentrate on hitting the stores and then take a ride across the Golden Gate Bridge over to Sausalito,” Ruby said thoughtfully.

“Well, I’m sure all of us have ideas of what we would like to do in San Francisco, but my major concern is Opal. You guys might be right. Although she denied it, I think she might have a crush on her boss.”

“And you sound like that’s good news,” Ruby said tersely. “The man is a tyrant.”

“Maybe,” Colleen said. “And, given time, if anyone can change him, Opal can.”

Everyone agreed with that.

“Okay, what do you need us to do?” Amber asked.

“I want you to help me coax Opal into going shopping for more clothes. I mentioned it, and she was against the idea.”

“And, while we’re at it,” Pearl was saying, “what about persuading her to do a complete makeover? It’s time she stopped wearing that friggin’ bun on her head. She has beautiful hair. I’ll schedule her an appointment at my hair salon.”

“Umm, and a manicure and pedicure wouldn’t be so bad, either,” Ruby was saying out loud.

“Okay, then, we’ll all make this a group effort and, no matter how much she tries to fight us on this, we will remain a united force, right?” Colleen asked.

“Right,” the sisters said simultaneously.

“Good. This will be Operation Opal. When D’marcus Armstrong sees her on Monday morning he won’t believe his eyes.”

“When Opal sees herself on Saturday evening, she won’t believe her own eyes,” Amber said giggling. “I can’t wait.”

And neither could the others.

On Friday Opal received a call from Amber at work telling her she needed to talk to her about something important. Since it was the one day D’marcus had decided they wouldn’t be working late this week, she immediately arranged to meet with her sister at a café in town. When she arrived, she not only found Amber waiting for her, but her other two sisters and her cousins, Colleen and Paige, as well.

She lifted a brow. “What’s going on?” She immediately thought the worst. Was Amber going to break the news that she was pregnant? And, if that wasn’t it, she thought, was someone sick?

Ruby evidently saw the look of panic on her face and quickly said, “Nothing is wrong, Opal. We just want to talk to you about something.”

“About what?” Opal asked, taking a seat.

“About your trip to California,” Pearl said.

“What about it?” Opal asked, crossing her arms over her chest. If her sisters were going to try and talk her out of going, they’d better think again. She’d figured out how much she would be making on the trip, and that car she wanted to purchase at the first of the year would be a dream she’d make into a reality, after all.

“We’re happy you got the opportunity,” Ruby was saying. “And we want to send you in style.”

Opal lifted a brow. “In style?”

“Yes,” Amber said excitedly. “You’ll be representing all of us and we want you to look good.”

Opal glanced around the table at everyone. “Meaning?”

It was Ruby who answered. “Meaning, in the morning, we will be picking you up for a day of beauty.”

Opal frowned. “A day of beauty?”

“Yes,” Paige said smiling. “You’re getting the works.”

Opal narrowed her eyes. “Define
the works.
”

Ruby waved her hand. “You know, everything. New clothes, a new do, nails, pedicure, the works.”

Opal leaned back in her chair. “And what if I don’t want the works?”

Colleen chuckled. “Sorry, babe, you’re outnumbered. The six of us will enjoy a wonderful dinner together tonight and tomorrow we split up and take turns making sure you have the works, starting with me and Ruby tomorrow morning. We’re taking you shopping. Then at noon we’ll turn you over to Pearl and Amber. You have an appointment with a hair stylist. And then Paige will get you to the spa for a manicure and pedicure.”

Opal glanced around the table at everyone. She had known her sisters and cousins long enough to know that, when they got together and made up their minds about something, there wasn’t any changing them. “Okay, fine, but just as long as you know I’m not going to like it,” she grumbled. “I’m going to be miserable.”