Playboy Boss, Live-In Mistress

‘No.’ There was no defending her emotional attachment to the old summer house set high on the cliffs of southern Cornwall. She didn’t even try. ‘Are we done with the commerce lecture yet?’

‘You are impossible to help,’ he said from between gritted teeth. ‘Why can’t you just tell me what you need like any normal person?’

‘I have!’ Sienna glanced over at him again, nothing more than a fleeting stab of desperation and pain, but it might as well have been a sword because it certainly made Lex bleed. ‘I need to learn how to be a good personal assistant and you’re going to teach me. That’s all I want from you. That’s all I need. Don’t value add.’

‘Dammit, Sienna!’ Didn’t she understand yet that that was what he did? ‘I’m asking you one simple question. How much money do you need?’

‘You don’t understand,’ she said quietly.

‘ThehellIdon’t!’ Lex turned to stare out the window at the passing suburbs, cursing Sienna’s long-dead mother for willing her a keepsake she couldn’t keep, cursing himself for not figuring it out sooner. He knew Sienna was touchy when it came to money, knew he shouldn’t have pushed her for answers she wasn’t prepared to give, but, dammit, why couldn’t she just confide in him the way she used to?

It wasn’t until the limousine pulled into the circular driveway and stopped at the entrance to his sprawling luxury mansion that Lex made a determined effort to shake his black mood and play the host. He didn’t bother pointing out again that it would be far cheaper for Sienna to live here with him than find somewhere else to stay. She knew that already.

The front door opened and Lex felt his lips curve ever so slightly as the dour and imposing Rudy stepped out. Rudy was doing his bodyguard-butler impersonation today—black trousers, a black T-shirt that strained across his massive torso, black wrap-around sunglasses, and an almighty scowl.

Sienna had seen him too. ‘Rudy the territorial?’ she queried with a glance that held equal parts wariness and apology.

‘Yes.’

‘You didn’t tell me he looked like Steven Seagal.’

‘That’s because he doesn’t.’

‘Does he talk like Steven Seagal too?’

‘Steven Seagal doesn’t talk,’ said Lex. ‘His skills lie elsewhere. Come to think of it, Rudy doesn’t talk either, unless he has to.’

‘I swear you make some of the strangest decisions when it comes to choosing hired help,’ she said.

‘So I’m noticing,’ he said and stifled a smile as her chin rose defiantly and those remarkable eyes narrowed in silent warning. ‘Come on, I’ll introduce you.’

Rudy nodded curtly in greeting as they got out of the car, then he headed for their luggage. Sienna followed.

‘Sienna, this is Rudy. Rudy, this is Sienna Raleigh, my new PA. Sienna’s a little different from my old PAs. She’s practically family.’

Rudy’s sunglasses zoned in on Sienna first and then Lex. What he thought was anyone’s guess. The limo driver began unloading bags from the boot and setting them on the steps. Rudy joined in. Sienna went to retrieve the smaller of her two suitcases only to have Rudy swipe it at the last minute and set it firmly behind him. ‘What’s she doing?’ he asked Lex gruffly.

‘Hard to say,’ said Lex. ‘Sometimes she goes looking for an argument.’

‘She picks up that suitcase and she’ll get one,’ muttered Rudy. ‘Inside. Now. There’s iced tea, chicken and cucumber sandwiches, and crème brûlée waiting for you in the west-wing drawing room.’ The sunglasses zeroed in on Sienna again. ‘You eat the crème brûlée last.’

‘I knew that,’ she said loftily.

‘Family, you said,’ said Rudy darkly.

‘I’ve known her since she was five,’ said Lex.

‘Six,’ said Sienna.

‘And you employed her.’

‘Believe me, point taken.’

Sienna stared from Lex to Rudy in indignation. ‘What is this? Some kind of boys’ own shorthand?’

‘Did I mention the handmade French chocolates?’ said Rudy pointedly.

‘Nice try,’ she said. ‘But I’m more of an ice-cream person. Now if you’d said you had handmade triple-cream French Vanilla ice cream waiting for me in the west-wing drawing room I’d be there already.’

‘There’s one in every family,’ muttered Rudy.

‘I know,’ said Sienna agreeably. ‘Annoying, isn’t it?’ She looked up at the house, her expression faintly wistful. ‘Thing is, Rudy, I’m not family and I may not be staying here so could you leave my bags by the door?’

Rudy ignored Sienna and looked to Lex. ‘She’s not staying?’ he queried ominously. ‘I’ve laid in provisions for two.’

‘Family spat,’ said Lex. ‘I’ll handle it.’

Rudy glanced towards Sienna, who’d abandoned the conversation in favour of making her way towards the front door. ‘Does she sail?’

‘Like a champion.’ Lex had seen to that part of her education himself.

‘Her bags will be in her room,’ said Rudy. ‘I hate clutter at the front door.’

‘Don’t mind me,’ called Sienna. ‘I’m moving through the front door and into the beyond. No clutter here. Come to mention it, there’s nothing here but space and sunshine. What happened to all the furniture? Where’s the umbrella stand? The sideboard and the vase full of flowers?’

‘It’s all right,’ said Lex reassuringly. ‘She’s not serious.’

‘You need sleep,’ muttered Rudy. ‘You’re becoming delusional.’

This was a distinct possibility. He’d packed too much work and far too much wanting of Sienna into this day already. It was time to set things back on track.

He caught up with Sienna in the atrium, just inside the doorway looking curious and tentative all at once. ‘What do you think of it?’ he asked her casually, trying hard to pretend that it didn’t matter what she thought. The house was a modern-day masterpiece, all sleek lines and open spaces. Lex hadn’t designed it, the previous owners had, but it suited him well and Rudy kept it immaculate. Sienna would like it, he knew she would. She just had to give it a chance.

‘It’s lovely. Very private. Bigger than I expected.’

‘I told you there was plenty of room. South wing’s yours,’ he said and, heading left, proceeded to show her the guest wing, complete with luxury spa, sitting room, breakfast nook, and four bedrooms. ‘Take your pick,’ he said. ‘It’s all guest accommodation.’

He led her downstairs next, to the pool area and gym, tennis court, boat shed, boat ramp, and dock.

‘Yours?’ she said, glancing towards the yacht moored at the end of the dock, and Lex nodded.

‘Sienna meet Mercy Jane. There’s also a speedboat called Angelina in the boat shed for getting places in a hurry,’ he told her. ‘Rudy maintains both boats and, when I say maintain, I mean he’s fanatical about their function and their finish.’

‘So…no getting to know the girls,’ she said.

‘Wrong. Befriend the girls by all means. Just cut your nails, take all your jewellery off first and don’t lead them astray. Should you want to go somewhere and should Rudy decide that you’re suitably attired, he’ll have the speedboat in the water before you can say wouldn’t it be easier to take the Porsche.’

‘How protective is Rudy of the Porsche?’

‘You can have a set of keys to the Porsche,’ he told her with a grin. ‘Rudy doesn’t give a fig about the Porsche.’

He took her back upstairs and showed her the middle section of the house next, otherwise known as the west wing. ‘Kitchen,’ he said, and opened the door onto a spotless stainless-steel wonder. ‘Library,’ he said next, and showed her a room containing dark leather lounges, the odd desk or four, and floor-to-ceiling bookcases covering three walls. ‘The billiards room,’ he said, opening another door and affording Sienna a brief glance of yet another manly entertainment area.

‘Is Rudy precious about his felt?’ she asked him sweetly.

‘You have no idea.’ He ushered her through to the formal dining area with its floor-to-ceiling windows and multimillion dollar view of the harbour, the bridge, and the skyscrapers of the city proper. Adjacent to that was the west-wing drawing room where Rudy had set out the food. This room had been furnished with comfort in mind rather than to impress, even though it boasted floor-to-ceiling windows and that panoramic harbour view. There was more in it, for starters. Deep, comfortable chairs, a settee for lounging on, footrests and reading lamps, table and chairs for two, a couple of sideboards…

‘Nice,’ said Sienna, wistfully eyeing the food. ‘Where’s the business hub?’

‘Third floor. The staircase to the left of the atrium just inside the front door will take you straight there.’

Sienna nodded. Inched her way a little closer to the food. ‘Where do you sleep?’

‘Same floor as this, north wing.’ Lex beat her to the food, poured two glasses of iced tea and handed her one. He picked up a chicken and cucumber sandwich triangle—no crusts—and ate it in a couple of bites before washing it down with tea. He had another, then another, then reached for a chocolate with a pistachio nestling on top of it. Would she stay? Would he be able to keep their relationship platonic if she did stay?

He didn’t know.

He still wanted to protect her. Some things never changed. He wanted her to confide in him so that he could fix whatever financial difficulty she was in. She shouldn’t have to give up the curator’s position she loved for an all-hours job where she’d be constantly at someone’s beck and call, even if the pay was better. He couldn’t stand the thought of it.

The only person whose beck and call he wanted her to be at, he realised grimly, was his.

‘Rudy will ask you what you thought of the chocolate, you know,’ he murmured. ‘Try one.’

‘You’re trying to win me over with food,’ she said.

‘Not at all,’ he replied, selecting a dark chocolate truffle and letting the taste of it explode in his mouth. ‘These are good.’

He’d keep.

Sienna ignored the chocolate and reached for a sandwich instead. There was something very virtuous about selecting a chicken and cucumber sandwich in the face of crème brûlée and handmade chocolates. Besides, if she was going to stay here she needed to start building her resistance to items of extreme temptation. Like tempting truffles and ruthless rogues in sexy suits. She needed to start building it now.

‘Rudy knows I’m not much of one for chocolate,’ she said. ‘He won’t mind if I don’t have any. I think it’s good to come to an early understanding about such things, don’t you?’

‘Only if you’re bent on declaring war.’ Lex smiled in a way she was fast coming to learn was his ruthless pirate’s smile. ‘Rule number two for all successful personal assistants is to try and get on with the rest of the staff.’

‘I’ll do my best,’ she murmured. ‘What’s rule number one?’

‘Don’t annoy the boss.’

Ah. Rule number one was the kicker. ‘I’ll work on that too. Speaking of which, when do you want to start work?’

‘That depends on whether you still want to find alternative accommodation. If you do, then we’d better sort something out today.’ He looked at her, his expression watchful, more old Lex than new. It didn’t change her awareness of him one little bit, though. Her awareness was here to stay. All the appearance of the old Lex did was increase her confusion and add mightily to the overall appeal of the new. ‘It’s up to you, Sienna,’ he said quietly. ‘Nothing you don’t want.’

Why-oh-why did he have to play the man of honour now? Why couldn’t he have stayed the raider of hearts and made her decision on whether or not to stay here an easy one? Sienna looked at the food on tap and that glorious view. She thought of that fifty metre commute to work and the money she’d save by not having to pay rent. She thought of how blissfully easy life would be for the next month if only she and Lex could stick to work and friendship and forget all about the sexual curiosity kicking around between them. They’d managed friendship well enough for the past twenty years, hadn’t they? They’d managed it without any romantic inclinations whatsoever, for the most part.

Nothing you don’t want.

Well, she didn’t want to become his latest conquest and that was that. Lex would honour her wishes in that regard; she knew he would. He was honouring them now.

‘I’m prepared to give this place a chance,’ she said awkwardly, and immediately wished she didn’t sound quite so ungrateful. Lex was helping her out by taking her on as his PA. He didn’t have to. He could afford to employ the best, but instead he’d agreed to train her, and he was paying her triple her old wage for the inconvenience. She tried again. ‘You have a beautiful house, Lex, with an amazing guest wing and I appreciate the convenience. I’d like to stay.’

‘Good.’ Lex loaded up a plate with sandwiches, and topped up his tea. ‘Get unpacked. Settle in. Go for a walk. Take a look around the bay. I want you in my office, ready to work, at two o’clock.’

‘Yessir!’

Lex shot her a dark glance.

‘Yessir, Mr Wentworth?’

‘God give me strength,’ he muttered.

‘Well, what do your PAs usually call you?’ she asked him.

‘Lex.’

‘I’ll be there,’ she said. ‘Two o’clock sharp. Ready and willing to learn. You’ll see.’

Sienna went straight to the south wing after Lex headed north with his plate of bounty in hand. She found her luggage in the largest bedroom and, mindful of rule number two, figured she might as well stay there. Rudy didn’t do the full maid-service unpack of feminine fripperies—he’d simply placed the bags by the bed. Sienna made fast work of unpacking, considering her clothes as she went. None of the items she’d brought along were outlandish, but none of them could be classified as elegant professional secretary garb either. If clothes made the man—or at least reminded him what he was supposed to be doing—she needed to go shopping.

She found Rudy in the drawing room, clearing away the remains of the refreshments. ‘You do good sandwiches,’ she said by way of greeting.

‘What about the chocolate?’ he said.

‘That was good too.’

His eyes narrowed. ‘You didn’t have any. No one mentions my sandwiches once they’ve eaten my chocolate.’

‘Good point. Rudy, I have a problem. I need to shop.’

‘For what?’ he said gruffly.

‘A business suit. Dark-rimmed glasses. Possibly sensible shoes, although I may not have the fortitude to carry through on that particular notion.’

He looked at the shoes she was wearing. ‘It’s a wonder you can walk at all.’

‘The shoes are good,’ she said. ‘The shoes are fine. I’ve changed my mind about the shoes. But I still need a suit. Trousers maybe. No-nonsense shirts. Corporate body armour. Do you know of any shops nearby that sell that type of clothing?’

‘Do I look like I frequent women’s clothing stores to you?’

‘No, but you might have a sister who’d know. Or a female friend who walks past a shop just like that every day on her way to work. You won’t know until you ask.’ Sienna smiled winningly and got a glower in reply.

‘Don’t you have other clothes you could wear?’

‘Not if I want a constant visual and tactile reminder of the new corporate PA me—which I do. Today,’ she added when Rudy grunted and headed for the door with plates and jug in hand. She scooped up the mugs, shoved a chocolate in her mouth and followed him to the kitchen. ‘The chocolate is divine,’ she said around a mouthful of it.

‘Try chewing it next time.’

‘I chewed it this time. C’mon, Rudy. I need some local knowledge. Are you sure you don’t know anyone who dresses like Wonder Woman when she’s not out saving the day?’

‘Who?’ he said.

‘What about one who dresses like Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter, before he morphs into Superman?’

He shook his head as if baffled.

‘I need something to remind me that I’m working for Lex now and that I should just do the job he’s paying me to do and not deliberately set out to annoy him,’ she snapped. ‘I want Lex to look at me and see an efficient personal assistant and not his old family friend Sienna. I need a suit! A no-nonsense, focus-on-the-job, don’t-look-at-me-like-that suit.’

‘Have you always been bonkers?’ muttered Rudy. ‘Or is this a recent development?’

Sienna smiled tightly. ‘It’s new.’

‘I’ll make one call,’ he said. ‘If that doesn’t work you’re on your own.’

The call did work, and within two minutes he’d arranged for some woman called Gracie Mae to collect her from the house in ten minutes’ time and take her shopping.

‘That’s Grace to you,’ he said curtly. ‘She’s the publicity officer for the Point Clarence Yacht Club, and mind you show her some respect.’

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