Expecting the Boss’s Baby by Christine Rimmer Read Free Book Online Page A

happen.”
    She sat up even straighter. “Fine. All right. I want you to wait to do the Spotlight on San Cristóbal until you’re ready to take me along as your assistant, instead of one of the associates. That’s what I want, okay? I want to go.”
    He rested his elbows on the chair arms and steepled his fingers. Yeah, he was playing this, stringing it along to enjoy her honest excitement, her clear desire to be directly involved in the feature she had just proposed. Most of the time, she was careful around him, she guarded that light in her eyes from him. She tried to keep things all business.
    And he respected that, he really did. Still, it was gratifying for him, to listen to her speak with heat, with passion. To see her eagerness, her enthusiasm, her willingness to push for what she wanted, to try to get him to give her a chance, to let her take the next step.
    She glared at him. “Just tell me. Just give me an answer. Will you wait for a few months to do my Spotlight?”
    â€œNo.”
    Her sweet, soft mouth trembled as she pressed her lips together to keep herself from calling him a thoroughly inappropriate name. He liked that about her, too. She had passion, but she also kept herself in hand. She took care not to step over the line.
    â€œWell.” A slow, deep breath. A toss of that flame-colored hair. “Fine, then. You were right, I needed toask. At least I’ll never kick myself because I didn’t even try.”
    â€œI don’t think you’ll kick yourself at all.”
    She blinked. And then she gasped. She got what he was hinting at. “You’re serious?”
    â€œYes. It’s early, I know. But you learn fast. I think you’re ready. You’ll get to prove yourself.”
    â€œI’m going with you?” Breathless, heartbreakingly hopeful.
    â€œYes, Zoe. I’m doing your Chiapas trip instead of the one to Mykonos. I’m leaving Monday, August second. And you are going with me.”

Chapter Four
    â€œH ave you made the reservations for Mexico yet?” Dax asked the next morning as he stepped out of the elevator.
    Of course she had. She’d worked late the day before, getting everything set up. She handed him his coffee. “Yes. Mexicana Airlines. One stopover in Mexico City and then on to the international airport at Tuxtla Gutiérrez, the capital city of the state of Chiapas. We can get a taxi from there to…” She let the words trail off as she saw that he was shaking his head. “Is there a problem?”
    He took the lid off his coffee, sniffed it the way he always did and then enjoyed a careful sip. “Cancel the flight.”
    She blinked. “Excuse me?”
    â€œHow are you in small planes?”
    â€œWith enough Dramamine, anything is possible, but—”
    â€œGood. I’m going to fly us.”
    Not in her plan. Not in the least. “Dax…”
    â€œDon’t argue. Just do it.”
    â€œIf I could only make one little point…”
    â€œYou’re boring me, Zoe.”
    â€œToo bad. I intend to make my point and my point is that readers like to know how you got there—on a commercial flight, just the way that they will. Especially since this is supposed to be a budget destination.”
    His smile was annoyingly smug. “Now you know more than I do about what readers want in a Spotlight?”
    â€œI didn’t say that.”
    â€œBut you sure as hell are thinking it. Cancel the reservation. We’re going to have some fun.”
    The way he said that kind of scared her. “I, um, didn’t know you were a pilot.”
    He gave her a look of endless patience. “I may be in magazine publishing now, but I spent years adventuring in the wilds, from Borneo to the South Pole.”
    As if she didn’t know that. “Yes, but—”
    â€œI’ve been flying small planes since I was too young to drive a car. Cancel the