Christmas with the Boss by Annie Seaton Read Free Book Online

professional in her dealings with him, he’d often
heard her laughter coming from the morning tea room as she’d chatted to the
other staff. But she’d always kept a barrier up between them and it had
rankled, even though avoiding office romances was a policy he’d stuck to
religiously as he’d climbed the corporate pole. Too many issues in the business
world were generated by office relationships after a fling. Friday night staff
drinks were notorious for beginning relationships between staff that were
committed elsewhere.
     And it always happened at this time of the year; another reason to
avoid the Christmas drinks that seemed to be on every night from the first of
December until the big office party when there was inevitably a tale of woe.
Staff turnover from the Christmas party fallout was a given every year.
    But not for him.
    “Earth to Dominic.” Jilly’s familiar voice washed over him. He
ignored the little jolt that headed for his groin, but was thankful that he was
wearing board shorts over his budgie smugglers. The budgie had already given a
little chirp when Jilly’s hand had touched his arm a moment ago.
    “Sorry. You had me back in the office for a while there. And yes, I
do know how hard you work.” He wasn’t going to mention someone being in in her
cottage—if she was prepared to put it down to a memory lapse, he wasn’t going
to discourage it. But he was going to do his damnedest to make sure it didn’t
happen again.
    If I had a fucking clue how to, that is.
    “So seeing your boss is such a hard taskmaster, he needs to make
sure you have a great holiday. How would you like to come for a surf with me in
the morning?” Dominic couldn’t take his eyes off Jilly when her face broke into
a wide smile. She was drop dead gorgeous . And if he kept his eyes on her
face, his gaze wasn’t tempted to stray to the luscious curves packaged in that
white bikini.
    “Oh, yes please! That’d be awesome. Do you have a spare board?”
    “I do, but I’m pretty sure we’ll find a smaller one to suit you in
the shed at the back of your cottage. It shouldn’t be locked. I’ll come down
and have a look this afternoon if that’s okay?” He waited for her nod. After
last night’s antics, he wasn’t going to go near the place and give her any
reason to doubt him. As far as he knew all his and Derro’s boards had been
there for years. He was the only one of all the cousins who ever came back to
the coast. Except for his cousin Margaret; she’d never moved away. The rest of
them were scattered far and wide over the world in a variety of careers. One
thing he could say about the Smythe-Phillips; they were high achievers.
    Except for Derro, but maybe he’d known what his life was going to
hold for him.
    Dominic gazed out over the ocean; Derro had never had a career goal.
Surfing had been his life and it had caused his death before he was twenty. His
ashes had been scattered to the wind on this very beach ten years ago. Guilt
ran through him; he hadn’t caught up with Margaret for years. She’d been the
older, crazy cousin as they’d grown up and run wild at their grandparents’
beach cottages and Derro’s death had tipped her into eccentricity. When he’d
last seen her, he’d been shocked at how she’d aged.
    Despite the sadness that came with being here, Dominic had looked
forward to coming home. This was the place he could be himself and not the
corporate suit that he’d become. He had planned to use this week as a time to
reconsider his future. His life was not what he wanted for himself, even if he
was making a success of it. Maybe it was time for a change; a sea change. Even
after two nights away from Sydney peace was stealing through his bones. But he
certainly didn’t need the complication of anyone in that cottage and the
problems it could bring. That person was now staring up at him with a strange
expression on her face.
    Jilly reached out again and touched his arm gently.