CEO's Expectant Secretary by Leanne Banks Read Free Book Online Page B

he turned to Elle. “To my wife—may our love grow, our commitment deepen and our joy overflow.”
    “I can only hope,” Elle whispered under her breath, lifting her glass of sparkling water. The passion she glimpsed in his laser-blue eyes reminded her why she’d fallen for Brock. His passion for work, for life and, in the dark of night in his office apartment, for her.
    Her mother and Brock’s brother and sister-in-law clapped in approval.
    “Honeymoon plans?” Flynn asked.
    In one heartbeat, Brock’s eyes turned to ice. He looked away. “Later,” he said. “I have to dig the company out of its current crisis.”
    Elle felt her stomach sink to her knees and was glad she was sitting down. She knew she was the reason for the “current crisis.”
    An hour later, after their guests had departed, Elle left the cottage in Brock’s limo. It was so silent she could barely breathe.
    “You look beautiful,” Brock said, but didn’t meet her gaze.
    She tried without success to take a deep breath. This was a huge mistake, she thought. Was there any way she could go back? Was an annulment possible? “Thankyou,” she said in a quiet voice. “The flowers and harp were very nice.”
    He nodded. “Every woman deserves something special at her wedding.”
    “Who told you that?”
    He paused. “Renee.”
    “That was generous of her.”
    “I thought so,” he said.
    She bit her lip. “I don’t blame everyone for being angry with me, and I don’t blame you for resenting me—”
    “I don’t,” he cut in. “Your loyalty was with your grand father. Now it’s with me.”
    It was so much more complicated than that, she thought. As the limo pulled up in front of Brock’s grand home, he got out of the car and escorted Elle through the front door. His combination of good manners and primal strength had captivated her from the beginning. He could appear so smooth and civilized, but if necessary, he had the instincts of a street fighter and would go for the jugular to protect what was his.
    She wondered how far his possessiveness toward her extended. Was it just for the baby?
    The housekeeper approached them with a beaming smile. “Congratulations, both of you. I’m so happy for you. And you just look lovely, Miss Linton.” She covered her mouth. “Oh, I should have said Mrs. Maddox.”
    Elle’s heart skipped at the sound of her new name. Pushing aside her conflicting feelings, she took the woman’s hands in hers. “Thank you, Anna. You’re very kind.”
    “Please have Roger move Elle’s things into my suite,” Brock said.
    “Right away. We’ll have it done in no time,” the housekeeper said and walked down the hallway.
    Elle struggled with a surge of panic. “Your suite,” she echoed, meeting his gaze.
    “My suite has two bedrooms, two baths, a study, den and small exercise room. At some point my mother will return here, hopefully for a brief period,” he said in a dry voice. “The less she knows about my private life, the better—she’s been known to cause trouble. There won’t be as many questions if you’re living in my suite. Now, I need to go back to the office, but I’ll be home later tonight. Roger will be on hand for you to move the rest of your things here during the next few days, but I don’t want you to overdo it. You’ve had a busy day.”
    He looked deep into her eyes and she saw a glimpse of the passion they’d shared. But just as quickly, the fire was gone. “I’ll see you later,” he said, leaving her alone on their wedding night.
     
    Most of Maddox’s employees had left by the time Brock invited Logan Emerson into his office after hours. He’d hired the private investigator a short while back when it had become clear that someone was leaking company secrets. Brock’s gut sank again as he remembered the exact moment he’d learned Elle had been the one. Elle, his uncorrupted island, had been twisting the knife at the same time she’d made love to him.
    Logan sat across