جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 10

CHAPTER ONEThe first thing Alexander Sterling noticed about Adrian Blake was his mouth.The second was the way he smiled at a woman carrying a box of Christmas decorations, as though she were the most important person in the room.The third was the utterly inconvenient realization that Alexander wanted to know what that mouth would feel like against his.He stopped halfway down the staircase.Below him, a stranger stood in the middle of his entrance hall, wearing a dark green sweater beneath an open black coat. His brown curls were slightly disheveled from the snow outside, and a few stubborn strands fell across his forehead. He had warm eyes, a straight nose, and a mouth that looked entirely too tempting for a man Alexander had never seen before.He was also laughing.Not the polite, carefully measured laughter Alexander heard at business dinners. This was genuine amusement, accompanied by a slight tilt of his head and a smile that transformed his entire face.Alexander forgot what

CHAPTER THREEBy nine the following morning, Alexander Sterling had accomplished absolutely nothing.His desk was covered with reports requiring his attention, his assistant had reminded him twice about an upcoming conference call, and a director in London had been waiting nearly fifteen minutes for his approval on a contract. Yet Alexander's thoughts kept returning to the same person.Adrian Blake.It was becoming embarrassing.Alexander had met attractive men before. He was wealthy, successful, and regularly attended events where handsome people made it their business to catch his attention. He knew how to recognize attraction, how to enjoy it without making promises, and how to walk away when things became inconvenient.But Adrian was different.Alexander couldn't explain why a man he'd known for barely a day had managed to occupy so much of his mind. He remembered Adrian's smile, his quick wit, and the way he challenged him without seeming intimidated by his money. He remembered t

CHAPTER FIVEAdrian checked his watch for the third time as he stood near the entrance of the Sterling estate.10:27 a.m.He was early, which was unusual for someone who had spent the morning rushing between his bedroom, bathroom, and wardrobe because he couldn't decide what to wear.It wasn't a date. At least, that was what he kept telling himself.He was going to the village to confirm arrangements with a few Christmas suppliers. Alexander had offered to accompany him, and Adrian had accepted because having the billionaire around might make certain negotiations easier.That was the professional explanation.The less professional one was that he wanted to spend time with him.A black SUV appeared at the end of the driveway. It approached slowly before stopping in front of him. The driver's door opened, and Alexander stepped out.Adrian's eyes briefly travelled over his appearance. Alexander wore a dark sweater beneath a charcoal coat, with fitted trousers and polished boots. Without

CHAPTER SEVENAdrian was halfway through his morning coffee when his phone rang.He glanced at the screen and answered immediately."Clara, good morning.""Good morning, Adrian. I'm sorry to call so early, but there's a small problem with the decoration order."Adrian straightened in his chair."What happened?""The gold ornaments you selected are available, but the supplier has informed us that the shipment won't arrive until next week. That would affect the installation schedule."Adrian closed his eyes briefly.Next week was too late. The decorations needed to be installed in stages, and the entrance arrangements were among the first things he wanted completed."Did they explain why the delivery was delayed?""They said there was an issue with transportation.""Can they deliver part of the order earlier?""I asked. They can't guarantee it."Adrian rubbed his forehead."All right. Don't cancel anything yet. Give me an hour to look at alternatives, and I'll call you back.""Of course

CHAPTER NINEAdrian woke up thinking about Alexander Sterling.It was becoming an irritating habit.He had spent the previous evening enjoying dinner with the billionaire, holding his hand across the table and discovering more about the man behind the expensive suits and controlled expressions. Nothing particularly dramatic had happened, yet Adrian had returned to his room with a smile he couldn't quite explain.The problem was that he was beginning to look forward to Alexander's company too much.And that was dangerous.He had come to the estate for a professional opportunity. He needed the contract, wanted his business to succeed, and had no intention of allowing an attractive billionaire to distract him from those goals.Unfortunately, Alexander was making that increasingly difficult.His phone vibrated on the bedside table.Alexander: Good morning. I hope you slept well.Adrian smiled before typing.Adrian: I did. Are you checking up on me already?Alexander: Is that a problem?Ad