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When thirtyenough So really anxious to use the bathroole She threw some water on her face and rubbed her eyes a few times Yep, she looked suitably wiped out As she walked down the hall back to her office, she wondered how long she could pull this off The chances of her not snapping Brant’s head off when he ive it at best the rest of the day, maybe two if he was out of the office a lot

When she walked back inside, she saw a Starbucks Frappuccino on her desk She found herself circling it like a bo Someone cleared his throat behind her, and she turned to find Brant standing there looking unusually nervous "II got your favorite"

It was on the tip of her tongue to ask hi the coffee, but she ed to rein it in at the last second Look pathetic Just ireat I’ out like that" Oh hell, there is no way I can carry this off all day, noa hand to rub her temple, she added, "I think it’s just this headache I’ve had all day Maybe I’" A few athered her purse and ushered her through the door, assuring her that things would be fine there until she felt better It was a--she probably could even push this fake illness to a couple of days if she wanted to because the guilt one home sick any other ti to an end Having an afternoon off with his blessing was a rare treat and one she intended to enjoy She would go horab her bikini, and spend the rest of the day at the beach Life was good

Chapter Two

Brant slaht to the liquor cabinet The afternoon had been chaos When Erateful He couldn’t handle the guilt ofthe office alone for the afternoon had seeht that the phone would be ringing every five minutes? Then he couldn’t find the contract he needed fro system His damn computer had somehow eaten his e-mails and wouldn’t spit them back out, no matter how many buttons he pushed He was completely wiped out First, the boenerous measure of whiskey and walked out onto his deck to enjoy the vieith his hard-earned drink He had just taken the last sip when soht his attention His house was next to a public-access area, so there was never a shortage of beach lovers co He wasn’t sure what made her stand out from any of the other dark-haired fe bikini bottoms When she finally turned fully toward hiht so about the woman on the beach looked familiar She sure didn’t look weepy or sick now He was off the deck and striding across the sand within moments

When he reached Emma, she had her pert little botto He cleared his throat at the sa across the sand in front of her She whirled, crouching into a defensive posture that impressed the hell out of hi "Well, well," he drawled, "it certainly looks like you’re feeling better"

Barely ht some sun would help"

Nodding, Brant said, "Yeah, the sun usually worksI would have done"

"My headache was better after taking soht the sun would war fast on her feet, but he still moved in for the kill He took a leisurely look down her barely covered body, s as he said, "Your case of the chillsI know anytiht to the beach practically naked and bake in the sun for hours Ahhh, does a body good, right?"

She gave hi down on the towel in front of her When she started rubbing her eyes like she was crying, he threw back his head and laughed He ain had it not been for that look she’d given hi on the orks

She looked up at hi, and deadpanned, "You’re a total asshole"

If anything, that just h harder He plopped down onto the sand beside her and nudged her shoulder "That was some performance today I admit, I fell for it hook, line and sinker"

Ereat and powerful Brant Stone, in the hallway pleading with his lowly assistant to come out of the bathroom You almost sounded hu? Updating your Facebook status?"

"Don’t flatter yourself I’d never give you airtime on my social media I don’t want any of h school reunion is co up and I don’t need that kind of eazine from cover to cover and slept for the last ten er but souess it was asking too o to another floor There’s no way I would have been that persistent about trying to get into a bathroom someone had been in for half an hour"

Beside her, Brant chuckled in agree the beach in this area"

E here? Why in the world would you be walking on the beach in your suit? That seeht even for you"

Brant pointed to his house "Unfortunately for you, I live over there It looks like fate brought you to my stretch of beach"

Emma snorted "Fate, huh? I could think of a feords to describe it, but that isn’t one of them" Then she seemed to notice that he looked completely wiped out "Bad day at the office, Mr Stone?"

His easy smile turned to a scowl "You have no idea It started off badly when my assistant played me and then went to hell in a handbasket when said assistant went home because she wassick Everyone in the world needed so in her co system"