Waking Up with the Boss by Sheri Whitefeather Read Free Book Online

thought. Yikes. It actually involved a cage. And blindfolds and all sorts of unexpected things. Trust Lena, he thought, to toss something kinky into the lovey-dovey mix.
    â€œLet’s go,” he said.
    Carol avoided the video, looking straight at him instead. “Where to?”
    â€œAnywhere but here.” He pushed open the gate, and they dashed out of their shiny gold confinement. They kept moving until they were outside breathing the cool night air.
    But once they were in the courtyard, they both just stood there, trapped within their own private hell.
    â€œNow what do we do?” she asked.
    â€œI don’t know.” He paused to think about it. “Maybe we could go for a walk on the beach. I could really use some time away from the party.”
    â€œSo could I.”
    He got another idea. “How about this? We can grab some food and drinks to take with us.”
    â€œThat sounds nice. But how are we going to haul everything out to the beach?”
    â€œI’ll tip a waiter to pack it up for us. I’ll ask him to supply a blanket or some towels or something, too.” He flashed a silly grin. “Then again, maybe we can just use your dress.”
    She smacked his shoulder, and they both burst out laughing. It felt good to laugh. It felt good to be preparing for a picnic, too. Even if it was at night. On a tropical island.
    With no one else around.
    * * *
    Carol walked along the beach, carrying her shoes and enjoying the sand between her toes. She looked over at Jake. His pant legs were rolled up, and he was carrying his shoes and a big square basket, filled to the brim. The waiter had even tossed in a candle from one of the tables.
    â€œHow far out are we going to go?” she asked.
    â€œHow about here?” Jake chose a spot on the other side of the estate, close enough to provide light from the mansion, but still far enough away so that the party didn’t interfere.
    â€œIt’s perfect.” Being around so many other people, with all of that sexy activity, had been taking its toll. She was grateful for the reprieve.
    Jake spread out a big fluffy beach towel and placed the basket beside it. He removed the candle, stuck it in the sand and lit the wick.
    Carol sat on the towel. He joined her and handed her a champagne glass. He uncorked the Dom Pérignon and poured it.
    â€œTo peace and quiet,” he said.
    â€œThe solitude is wonderful.” She sipped her drink and glanced at the wax figurines. “Who was that candle fashioned after?”
    â€œI don’t know, but it smells like vanilla.”
    â€œYes, I noticed that, too.” It was a nice, pleasant aroma, mixed with the sea.
    â€œLet’s find out who they are.” He lifted it up and squinted at the names across the bottom of it. “Oh, here we go. It’s Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Browning. I don’t know much about them, do you?”
    â€œNot really. Other than he was a playwright and they were both poets. Oh, and that they were married. I think they met through letters they exchanged.”
    â€œThat’s more than I knew.”
    â€œI took an English literature class in college, and I guess some of it stuck with me.” Carol had a business degree from a state college that she’d funded with student loans. “It was weird, being a foster kid and trying to figure out my education. As soon as I turned eighteen, I didn’t even have a place to live. But thank goodness the laws are changing now and some kids are able to stay in their foster homes until they’re twenty-one.”
    â€œThat’s definitely a change that needed to happen. But it only involves a handful of states. Lots of foster youth are still homeless at eighteen. But I was lucky in that I was able to crash on Garrett’s couch. He was back with his mom by then.”
    Carol nodded. Garrett wasn’t orphaned like her and Jake. He’d bounced in and out of foster