Her Billionaire Bosses: A Menage Romance Read online

  I look up and do a literal double take at what I see. Asher is wearing a pair of loose shorts and a soaking wet tank top. Seriously, it is like the start to a really good porn. The tank clings to his chest, outlining every hard muscle and sweat glistens on his exposed skin. His dark hair is slick and plastered to his skin.

  “Did you see my notes from last night?”

  My mouth goes dry, and I have to swallow a few times before I can form a response. I mean, seriously. It should be illegal for a man to look that hot after a workout.

  “Yes. I’m almost done with the receivables,” I say, finally finding my voice.

  “Good,” he says with a sexy smile that only distracts me more. “You finish up while I grab a shower. Then we can go over the reports.”

  “A shower… ”

  It’s all I can get out before he pulls his wet shirt over his head, exposing the most perfect set of abs I’ve ever seen close up. As Asher walks across the office to his private bathroom, he balls up the shirt and rubs it over his sweaty chest. That’s the money shot there. He turns, and no doubt sees my mouth hanging open like that Looney Tune Wolf, salivating at the sight of his Adonis body.

  He winks in my direction. “I promise, I’ll only be a sec,” he says and tosses the shirt onto his chair as he walks into the bathroom, closing the door behind him.

  I’m not sure how long I stare at the closed door, but as I hear the shower start, my concentration is wrecked. The only thing I can think about is my boss, Asher Knight, naked just a few feet away. I can almost see the water sliding down those toned muscles; his large hands sliding over the hard planes. I’m definitely filing that away in my fantasy stash for later use.

  I know his flirting isn’t a come-on to me. Asher is like the sun; he can’t exactly turn it off. Right now, the rays of his attention are shining down on me, and it’s hard not to bask in the warmth. But like Icarus, if I dare to fly too close, pretend that this is anything more than a simple flirtation, I’m going to get burned. With that sobering thought, I manage to pull my mind out of the gutter and get back to work.

  As he promised, Asher comes out of the bathroom a few minutes later drying off his shaggy brown hair. He is again fully dressed, this time in a tight fitting blue polo and a dark pair of slacks. Even dressed casually, Asher looks as though he walked straight off a runway.

  He’s not for me, I have to remind myself. I’d be all kinds of stupid to let myself believe he wants anything more than my international business experience. Besides, if the gossip columns are to be believed, his taste run more to models and tall blondes, not someone like me.

  “So, where are we on the audit? We have another conference call tonight, and I’d like to give the Takei brothers a timetable,” he says as he crosses the room. He leans over my shoulder to look at the papers I’d just printed out, casually cupping my shoulder.

  The scent of clean soap and the spicy notes of his cologne surround me, and I have to fight the urge to lean back against him and take a deeper whiff. The sooner we get done with this project, the sooner I can go back to my safe cubicle on the far end of the office.

  “I finished going through the receivables while you were…” Naked. While I was imagining what it would feel like to press up against that hard body. “While you took a shower,” I say, stumbling over the words. “I’m just putting together all my findings.” Nervously, I stack the loose papers that cover my small desk.

  Asher smiles and squeezes my shoulder again. “Fantastic,” he says, the warmth of his breath caressing my cheek. “If you can put together a valuation of the receivables along with the fixed assets, I’d like to go over that tonight with Leo.”

  I can’t help the shiver that runs down my spine. I don’t know if he notices, but his eyes go soft. His face is still inches away from mine. We stay like that for a heartbeat, and I think he’s going to kiss me. But, of course, he doesn’t. Instead, Asher stands up and checks his watch.

  “Think you’ll be ready by lunch?”

  “Yes,” I say, a lot more breathily than I intended.

  “Great. I’ve got a few things to take care of and then we’ll go over your report.”

  And just like that, he goes back to his desk. The sense of loss is almost palpable, and I take a deep breath to clear my head. Luckily, I am almost done with my part. Just a few more torturous weeks and this—whatever is happening here—will be over and I can go back to being invisible.

  After that, we work in companionable silence. The time speeds by and the only thing that breaks my concentration is the ding of the elevator as it reaches our floor. I get up, not bothering to turn around, sure it is just someone coming in to catch up on some work, and hand my preliminary report to Asher. But instead of looking through the pages, he sets it back on the table.

  “Let’s talk about this after we eat,” he says. “I hope you don’t mind, but I ordered in. I’m starving.” He looks at me, his brown eyes hold some dark emotion I can’t identify, sending another shiver down my spine.

  I kind of hoped we’d push through and finish early, but the idea of sharing a meal with Asher is too tempting. I let out a sigh that sounds more wistful than intended.

  “Get comfortable while I pay for the food,” he says and nods towards the small sofa in the corner of the room. My cheeks warm at the thought of getting comfortable with him. Why do I keep acting like a love-sick school girl every time I’m in the same room as this man?

  Trying to save face, I cool my expression and shrug. “I guess I can eat.”

  This only incites a chuckle from him as he signs for the delivery. He carries both of the boxes over to the little sitting area and sits down on the sofa, patting the space next to him.

  “I hope you like sushi.”

  I’m pretty sure if I sit next to him, let my thighs brush up against his muscular ones, I’ll spontaneously combust. It’s been too long since I’ve been with a man. And Asher isn’t just some guy. So as a measure of self-preservation, I pick up one of the boxes and move to the club chair on the other side of the small coffee table.

  This also seems to amuse him.

  “You surprised me, Rose,” he says after taking a bite. “You’re nothing like I’d expected. I’m mean, expected you to be smart and competent, but you’re so much more. And you don’t put up with my shit. I respect that. You remind me a lot of myself.”

  I’m taken aback by his sudden compliment and feel my cheeks warm. Stupid blush reflex. He’s praised my work a couple times over the last couple weeks, but this is the first time his compliments have been personal. Earning his respect is more than I could ask for, and I’m not sure how to respond. I decide that a simple thank you is the only appropriate thing to say, but before I can, he goes on to ruin the compliment.

  “And you have really filthy taste in books,” he says, retrieving the copy of my forgotten novel stuffed between the cushions of the sofa.

  “Where did you get that?” I ask, a little shell-shocked at the sudden turn in the conversation.

  “It was in Leo’s office.” Asher flips through the pages and finds a bookmark. “He said you dropped it. You do realize this is completely unrealistic, but I have to say it’s a lot better than I expected.” He flips to a marked page and starts scanning, completely ignoring my mortified look, and continues. “There’s a lot of melodrama, and I had a hard time believing a virgin would go for a three-way right out of the starting gate. But the one thing the author does get right is the dynamic between the three of them; it’s pretty spot on. What did you think?”

  I’m sure my cheeks are now the color of a tomato. Was my boss actually asking me what I thought about the book or my opinion on the dynamics of three-ways? I swallow and shake my head, trying to wrap my head around this surreal conversation. “I’m not sure I’m comfortable with this topic.”

  “Really? It is your book, right?” Asher shrugs and puts the book down as if he couldn’t care one way or the other. “You shouldn’t be embarrassed. I read it
, and I’m not at all embarrassed to admit that I liked it. What was it that drew you to that particular story?”

  “What I read in my free time shouldn’t matter,” I say, sure he’s making fun of me. Yes, I did bring the book to work, but that doesn’t give him the right to pry. “Leo took my book without asking, and now you want to talk to me about like we’re in some kind of book club. Some things are private. I didn’t ask you about the rumors surrounding you and Leo.”

  “They’re mostly true,” he says without batting an eyelash. “Leo and I do like to share everything.” His eyes lower to the book and back up to mine. “Everything.”

  “Oh,” I say, a little stunned by his admission. “I wasn’t asking… I wouldn’t…” I feel like a stammering idiot and take a deep breath to calm my nerves. “You didn’t need to tell me that. I was just trying to make a point.”

  “I realize that,” he says, collecting his trash. “But you seemed curious, so I thought you’d like to know. You shouldn’t be embarrassed. I’m not.”

  I’m simultaneously turned on by the prospect that he is being so open about this private detail and disappointed. It basically confirms that even if Asher’s flirting meant he was interested in me, there isn’t a chance in hell it is ever going to happen because Leo isn’t.

  Outside of the incident in the hall, Leo has been polite, but distant. He definitely doesn’t flirt like Asher. It’s almost like he’s uncomfortable around me or hasn’t quite figured out how to handle me. When he has worked on the Takei account with us, he defers to Asher. He never stays for lunch or dinner when we’d get take out. It’s as if he’s waiting for something. I don’t know, but I’m positive he’s not interested in me outside of my number crunching abilities.

  Which should relieve me. But I can’t help but feel a little disappointed. As daydreams go, sharing a bed with those men would be Grade-A, top shelf fantasy. Not that I’d act on it. I’ve sowed enough wild oats to last me for a lifetime. I want normal. Boring. I glance over to the Adonis sitting across from me and mentally shake my head. Asher and his partner are a million miles from boring.

  Asher stands up, pulling me out of my wool-gathering, and walks over to his desk as if the bizarre conversation we’d been having never happened. I need to get my shit together. While he’s busy, I excuse myself and go to the bathroom to collect my thoughts. He’s my boss. With anyone else, I would go out there and tell him off. I’m tired of this game he’s playing because I don’t know the rules. But a little part of me, one that I thought I’d buried away, wants to play along.

  Fuck it. I’m just driving myself crazy. I’m tired of dealing with the constant back and forth. If Asher wants to flirt and play games, I can handle it and maybe give a little back too.

  Besides, we’re almost done with my audits. Then I’ll be back in my quiet corner of the office, and I probably won’t see him for another year.

  I open the bathroom door, determined to stop stuttering and blushing. And I probably could have pulled it off, except, when I come back into the room, Leo is standing at Asher’s desk. Having to deal with Asher’s smoldering sensuality is bad enough when you add Leo’s charm and chivalry, a girl doesn’t have a chance.

  “Next time you schedule one of those corporate team building things, you’re going. They had a motivational speaker,” Leo says with a visible shudder. “I’m just glad I got out before the trust falls. I’m pretty sure after the dressing down Jensen got last week, he would have let my ass fall on the floor.”

  I sneak over to my corner of the room, trying not to interrupt their conversation, but Leo catches me.

  “Rose,” he says with a smile. “We missed you this morning.”

  “Missed me?” I say, confused. “Was I supposed to be somewhere?”

  “The whole office is at a retreat this weekend,” Leo explains. “But your asshole boss insisted he needed you. But honestly, who can blame him, if I had you working with me, I’d want to keep you to myself.”

  “Don’t listen to him, Bambi,” Asher whispers loudly in my ear. I almost jump out of my skin because I’d been so focused on Leo, I didn’t realize Asher had been standing behind me. “I saved you from a fate worse than death.”

  Leo laughs and shakes his head in agreement. “He’s right. Let’s never book one of those again.”

  Asher steps away but lingers around my desk. “While you were off being motivated, we worked our asses off. Rose has finished the audit of the receivables and worked up a value estimate.”

  “You’re done, already?” Leo says, unable to keep the shocked tone out of his voice. “I thought you said it would take at least three weeks?”

  “Our girl is good at her job,” Asher says, shooting me a wink.

  Our girl. My mind plays the words on repeat like a stuck LP. I’m so taken aback by Asher’s casual endearment that I don’t even notice that Leo is now on my other side, effectively sandwiching me between the two men.

  “Are you ready to share?” Leo asks.

  A hot flush runs down my whole body. I know he means the report, but with both of them standing so close, my filthy mind goes right to sex. Pull it together.

  “Rose?” Leo prompts again, putting a hand on my shoulder.

  That certainly doesn’t help me focus. His hands are big and warm—scorchingly so. I want to pull away and lean in all at the same time. “I...I still have to write up my final report, but I’m sending an outline of my preliminary findings to the printer right now.”

  Leo squeezes my arm before letting go, and my heartbeat triples. I step out from between them and use the report as an excuse to escape the office that suddenly feels cramped. I thought working alone with Asher was hard, but now that they are together, I can’t stop thinking about our conversation over lunch.

  What would it be like to be with them? Both of men are handsome on their own, but together they take my breath away; Leo with his fair Norse looks and Asher with his dark hair and brooding eyes—like Yin and Yang. I wonder if they are equally polar in bed. Rough and soft. Sweet and dirty. I can understand why so many women say yes to those men.

  Would I?

  5

  Asher

  “If you don’t have plans tonight, I’d like you to sit in on our conference call,” I say when Rose comes back into the office. “We’re speaking with the Takei board at nine.”

  She’s already put in a good sixty hours this week, and I hate asking her, but Rose has been so involved, I want her feedback when the board presents their counteroffer. Besides, Leo hasn’t shut up about her since I brought her in on this project. He’s been wrapped up with other projects the last few weeks, but I get the impression he’d like to be more involved with our work. Actually, I get the impression he’d like to be more involved with Rose. Not that I can blame him. There’s something enticing about the woman. At first blush, I’d assume she was some innocent Midwest co-ed, but the more I talk to her, more I get to know the real Primrose Morningstar, the more I realize there’s a darkness in her I’d like to explore.

  Rose looks up from the stack of papers she’s carrying and wrinkles her brow. “I’m happy to stay, but I’m not sure why you need me?”

  “I might need you to explain something,” Leo says as he takes the papers out of her hands. “Financials were never my strong suit.”

  Rose shoots him a disbelieving look. She’s smart and isn’t buying his stupid act. I’m not sure what’s been going on with him lately. Usually, he’s more direct and doesn’t play games. There’s something about Rose that has him changing all his normal plays.

  “Ignore him. I’d like your input. You’ve got a better handle on the markets in China,” I add.

  That cute crease between her eyes deepens as that incredulous gaze turns to me, and I have a sudden urge to go over and kiss it away. She doesn’t say a lot, but those big doe eyes are so expressive.

  “They want to discuss a counteroffer, and I need you to tell me if it’s fair,” I say, trying to talk her into s
taying. “I need you to talk us through the exchange issues and make sure you fill Leo in about the bribe issue you were telling me about.”

  “That’s way above my pay grade. I’m just a clerk.”

  “That’s a cop out. You more than qualified. Besides, the brothers like to discuss things in Chinese. I’d like to know what they’re saying when they don’t think we understand. Now, sit down,” I say, making it a demand rather than a request.

  Regardless of whether or not she wanted to stay, Rose sits back down and licks her lips. Her compliance is so automatic, I can’t help but wonder if she’s into that kind of thing. Would she fall obediently to her knees and take my cock in her mouth if I commanded it? I’m not sure where that thought came from, but now I can’t get it out of my head. And naturally, my dick takes notice.

  As if reading my thoughts, Rose blushes and crosses her arms over her chest. Ah, prim and proper is back. I really like that, too. See, it’s that naughty and nice thing.

  “Great,” Leo says, looking up from the report. “I’ll text Marc at La Rossa and have dinner sent up for all of us. How about six?”

  I look at the clock. That would give us three hours before the conference call. More than enough time to for us to eat, but not enough to time for much else. It’s been a long fucking day, and I wouldn’t mind relaxing a bit before we start the negotiations. A long dinner, one shared with my new favorite assistant, is just what I need; especially, after the cozy lunch, we shared. The longer I spend time with her, the more I’m drawn in. Rose is a puzzle I’m dying to solve.

  “Make it five,” I say. “Or we can always go out. I need some time to decompress, and we can show Rose our appreciation for all the hard work she’s put in.”

  Not exactly how I would like to show her my appreciation, but it will have to do.

  Rose frowns and shakes her head. “You don’t have to do that. I’m just doing my job.”

  She has gone above and beyond her job and she knows it, but then again, maybe spending a Saturday evening with her boss isn’t high on her list of fun activities. I know there are a dozen other things I’d rather be doing. Most of them involve her bent over the arm of that chair with a lot fewer clothes. Like the asshole that I am, I can’t help but push a little harder to see her reaction.