Her Secret Passion in the City of Lights

“I figured I didn’t have to look like a corporate drone anymore,” she said, shrugging slightly. “It’s pink.” “Only the tips.” He finally dragged his horrified gaze from her hair down the rest of her body. “Did I disturb your sleep?” he asked, looking truly confused. “I didn’t see the need to get dressed when…

“I wanted to make it perfectly clear that this is all there will ever be between us, just a financial agreement benefitting the child should it happen to be mine.” “Got it,” she murmured. As if she needed that obvious fact spelled out to her. “And I wanted to add that perhaps I was a…

He allowed her that small, defiant move and stood back and watched while she splashed water on her face-soaking the front of her robe in the process-and gargled some mouthwash. She pretended he wasn’t there and exited the bathroom to return to the living room with her spine straight and her chin up. “Maybe you…

She looked around her flat and sighed. She’d been cooped up in here for too long. She hadn’t ventured out much due to a lack of funds and a lack of desire to do anything remotely social. But she was unaccustomed to going so long without any form of exercise, and it was starting to…

“Called security and had me escorted out of the building,” she confirmed, and his jaw dropped. “Seriously?” “Yes. I felt so . . .” The tears overflowed again as she remembered the mortifying moment she was marched out of his office and back to her own desk. “Humiliated.” “That guy needs his ass kicked! Tell…

But first she would have to think about how she would go about this. She had to make it perfectly clear that his responsibility began and ended with the baby. She wanted what was best for her baby, and what was best was for the father to provide some kind of financial support. She wasn’t…

Her knees shook so badly they were practically knocking together, and her teeth were rattling in her head as shock caused her to quiver. “You can’t fire me,” she whispered. “That’s completely unethical.” “Not as unethical as what you’re trying to do right now. Don’t bother to work out a month’s notice either. We’ll pay…

“You and I will have words later about the type of riffraff you allow into my office, Mrs. Clarke,” he snapped, and the woman paled in response to his words. He was too furious to take even the mildest satisfaction in that reaction. Two hours didn’t do much to calm his temper. He found himself…

“Cal, he’s a baby,” Cleo hissed impatiently. She was getting a little fed up with her friend’s casual hookups. “When are you going to stop messing around with these little toy boys and find a decent-age-appropriate-guy?” “Age-appropriate guys aren’t fun and lack stamina,” he whispered smugly. “What Greg lacks in experience, he makes up for…

“Shut up. You’re shitting me, right?” He always got so American teen when he was surprised by something. It was equal parts endearing and exasperating. “Oh my God. No wonder you’ve been such a bitch lately.” “Wow, thanks,” she said with a grin. She couldn’t help it; his irreverence and honesty always made her smile.…