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  “Jack,” Alex said, his hand now pressing on his shoulder. She looked at Alex, and he fumed, he had a look in his eye as if he was going to take him outside for a good beating.

  “Alex,” Jack, said startled by the firmness of his hand on his shoulder.

  “Can I have a quick word,” Alex said, gritting his teeth.

  “Excuse me,” Jack said, giving her a wink. She screwed her nose at him, but shook her head at Alex, for him not to do anything rash. He held her gaze for a moment, and catching the silent thank you in her eyes, he gave a nod and a smile. A flush of warmth spread through her at his protectiveness as he walked Jack away.

  Funny enough, ten minutes later Jack left, suddenly remembering he had an appointment and would not be able to stay for the weekend after all. She watched Alex, watching Jack as he left, and she knew he cared about her. The question was would he do anything about it or would they always remain boss and PA?

  “Can you come and meet, Tom?” he asked, when he saw her behind him.

  “Of course I will,” she said. She loved his family, they had been so welcoming, and to be quite honest, she did not feel like an employee, more of a close, family friend. They left the dining room, and headed into the snug.

  “Tom,” Alex, said, as they approached the young man. Tom looked up from his Playstation. He frowned, and lowered his head.

  “Sorry, Alex,” he said, and he continued with his game.

  “No, Tom, not to me. I want you to say sorry, to Jane,” Alex said. She grabbed his arm and shook her head.

  “No, Alex, it is fine,” she insisted.

  “Jane, please,” he insisted back. “Tom,” he said. Tom sighed and put his controller down. He stood.

  “Sorry, Jane,” he said, and as his eyes lifted to hers, she smiled. They were like Alex’s, gentle and kind.

  “That’s okay, Tom,” she said. “Can we be friends?” she asked. Tom smiled, and looked at Alex.

  “Can we, Alex?” he asked.

  “Sure,” Alex replied.

  “Is she your girlfriend?” he asked, looking at Alex. For a second Alex hesitated, and he replied.

  “No, Jane works for me.”

  “Do you two want to play?” he asked them.

  “Maybe later, Tom,” Alex said. “I am going to take Jane around the gardens.”

  “Okay, bye,” he said, picking up his controller, and continuing with his game.

  “He’s sweet,” she said, as they headed out to the gardens.

  “Yes, it is so sad, he was in a car crash, and he suffered brain damage. His mental age has stuck at around twelve,” Alex told her.

  “Oh, Alex, how awful,” she said, glancing at him.

  “My uncle was driving, and a car jumped the lights and hit the passenger side. My aunt Madeline died instantly and for a while it was touch and go with Tom. That was four years ago, he seems okay now. It took him a long time to recover though, even though the accident was not my Uncle’s fault he still blamed himself. Although I have to say Tom beats the crap out of me on the Playstation,” he said with a light chuckle. She smiled back at him.

  “What about you, do you have any brothers or sisters?” she asked. He shook his head.

  “No I am an only child,” he replied.

  “Me too,” she said. “Sometimes, I wish I had a sister or brother, someone I could have confided in. Sophie and Claire are my best friends, and they are almost like having sisters.”

  “I spent most of my childhood out here, I love these gardens,” Alex said, as they wandered passed an ornate fountain. “It was like having my own magical playground.”

  “It is wonderful. I take it you have a gardener?”

  “Or three,” he said, in reply. “There is a lot of work. Can I take you to my favourite place? It is not formal like here, it is where I used to go as a child, to read or just be by myself.”

  “I’d like that,” she said, walking beside him. She wanted so much to reach down and take hold of his hand, but she did not, he was her boss and she had to keep reminding herself that.

  They walked for about ten minutes, passing the swimming pool and tennis courts.

  “Erm, Alex, where are you taking me?” she asked, as he led her into a cave on the side of a bank and into darkness.

  “Wait and see,” he chuckled.

  “But I can’t see you,” she said. She felt his hand take hers.

  “Come on, this way,” he said, pulling her. She laughed as they went deeper into the cave. Light glimmered in front of them and they emerged back into daylight.

  “Oh my god, this is amazing,” she said, in wonder. He let go of her hand and they wandered towards the large natural pool. They were inside a small gorge, surrounded by sheer cliffs, around thirty feet in height, and it felt so private. Her eyes took it in, and it was a little oasis of magic. A small waterfall cascaded out of a rock into the natural pool at the bottom, and there were flowers everywhere.

  “Do you like it?” he asked, settling himself onto a bench carved out of a fallen oak.

  “Like it, I love it, and this is where you came as a boy?” He nodded.

  “Yes, to read and to get away.”

  “Get away, why? Your mum is lovely,” she said. He glanced at her and smiled.

  “Yes she is,” he agreed. His eyes looked sad. “But you have not met my father.”

  “Oh, why, what’s wrong with him?” she asked, as she sat down next to him. She did not want to pry, but he was the one offering to open himself to her.

  “As a kid, I pretended he was an ogre, and that this was my castle, and he could not get me in here.”

  “Get you, Alex?” She did not understand what he meant by that.

  “Look, this is confidential, right. You are not to tell anyone at work?” he said. She frowned at him, so were they going back to boss and PA?

  “Alex,” she said his name in dismay.

  “Sorry, Jane, that was crap, I did not mean it like that. I do not have a habit of telling people about my family, but I find you so easy to talk too.” She smiled at him, her hand aching to touch his knee, but she did not.

  “Alex, I promise I would never say anything. Look I’ll make a deal, you tell me about your dad, and, I’ll tell you about Sam. That way we both have something we don’t want anyone else to know,” she said, and at once regretted it. Shit, she thought, she did not want to tell him about Sam.

  “No, I know you would not, and it is okay you do not have to tell me about Sam,” he said, lifting an eyebrow at her. “Dad was an utter bastard. I am still amazed that my mother stood by him so long.”

  “Are they divorced?” she asked, and he nodded.

  “Yes, it all came to a head when I was fifteen. The house is hers from her family line and the money. He got a good settlement, and went off and married another heiress. I have not seen him for must be at least fifteen years.”

  “I’m sorry,” she said, still trying to decide whether to take up his hand or not.

  “Hey, lots of people go through it. I mean, even you,” he said, glancing across at her She gave him a half-hearted smile back not sure if she wanted to tell him everything about Sam. After all, they still had to work together, and he was her boss.

  “You asked, why I never married, and I said it was because I had not met the right person.” She nodded.

  “Well, that is true, I had not, but mostly it is because of him. I felt his fist many times as a boy, and not just a quick backhand, I am talking a real whacking.”

  “God, Alex, I am so sorry,” she said, moving closer to him.

  “That is why I am an only child, as mum refused to have anymore. She tried to stop him, but he used to do it when she was not around. I did not know at the time, but when she confronted him, he took it out on her as well, a tennis ball had hit her in the eye, or she had tripped. I remember she even blamed it on the cork from a Champagne bottle once.” Jane’s stomach tightened, as Alex sounded like he talking about her life, with her husband.
/>   “On my fifteenth birthday, mum took me to the London Book Fair. We had an amazing day, but when we got home, my father had been drinking. He attacked mum in front of me for no other reason than he had a shitty day at work. So I went for him, and we fought, he broke my arm but I beat the shit out of him. Mum kicked him out that night and threatened to report him if he ever came near her or me again.

  Well, he never did and they divorced a year later. You know people used to think I had it all, money, a big house, parties, holidays, but I would have given it all up to have had a normal childhood with a father that cared.”

  She blinked a tear, and her heart wrenched for him.

  “So I came here, my sanctuary. I swam in the water, to relieve the pain from the bruising, and pretend I was in another world. That is when I made my mind up to get into publishing, I loved the magic of books, and I still do. He did not know about this place, mum did, but she would never have told him. That is why I never married, as I could not face the thought of it turning out like my mum and dads. I just threw all my energy into work and before I knew where I was twenty years had passed.”

  “Alex,” she mumbled in empathy, and without thinking, she reached out and covered his hand with hers as his rested it on the bark of the tree. His eyes lifted to hers, and as he gazed at her, he turned his hand around so they were palm to palm, and he laced his fingers through hers. Her heart stopped, as warm tingles of pulsating energy shot up her arm, and through her entire body.

  Alex gazed at her, not saying anything, just watching her. He wanted so much to kiss her, to tell her he loved her.

  She smiled, she should have pulled her hand away, but she could not move a muscle. As his fingers tightened on hers, a wave of desire flooded her and she titled her head, and looked up at him. His face inches from hers, and she breathed in his scent. Inhaling past the aroma of aftershave, she inhaled something musky, more sensual his own manly scent and it was intoxicating.

  Alex’s heart began to override his common sense and his head began a slow decent towards hers. Jane leaned in, but before their lips met, he halted and pulled back. He could not do this, she was his employee, and it was against company rules - his damned rules.

  “We should head back,” he said, and he pulled his hand from hers, and stood.

  “Of course,” she said, standing up as well. He looked uncomfortable.

  “So,” she said, trying to ignore her racing heart at what had happened. “What’s next on the agenda?” He smiled, relieved.

  “How do you fancy a swim?” he asked.

  “Love too,” she said, with a grin. She sure needed to cool off. She followed him as he headed back to the entrance of the cave, where he stopped and held out his hand. She took it, and let him lead her into the darkness. They walked back through the gardens, into the house and up the stairs.

  “I will meet you at the pool,” he said, looking at his watch, “in say, twenty minutes?”

  “Okay,” she agreed, and they separated at the upper corridor. She entered her guest quarters, walked to the bed, and lay down for a few minutes. Alex was having such an effect on her, that it scared her. She was sure she had loved Sam at some point in their relationship, maybe at the beginning when she fell with the boys. She sighed, but had it been love, or had it been something else, infatuation maybe? After all, she fell pregnant with the boys because he had forced himself on her one night when she had drunk to much wine. She had been sixteen and from that day on, he had ruled her life.

  Jane knew she was close to breaking her rule, of not falling in love, and having a great time being free, and single. It was wrong because he was her boss, but that did not lessen the emotions that raced through her, and make her heart beat out of her chest every time he came near her.

  She changed into her bikini; it would do her good to cool off in the pool. Of course, she had not thought in order for Alex to swim he would have to be wearing swim-shorts.

  She lowered her sunglasses down her nose as he approached - holy hell, if she had been a man her cock would have been solid. She swallowed, as he stood in front of her.

  “Sorry, I got caught up with a phone call,” he apologised, giving her a huge grin.

  “That’s – okay,” she stuttered, as she stared at his tribal tattoo. It covered his shoulder, part of his chest, and went down to above short sleeve length. Her eyes settled on his abs, and followed the V of his hipbones and rested on his…

  “Are you alright?” he asked. She glanced up and looked at his face, and she could feel the flush of embarrassment creep up her neck and cover her face. She looked to his mother, but she was reading a book.

  “I don’t remember you having a tattoo,” she whispered.

  “I did not,” he replied. “Have one, I mean, when we, erm, first met.”

  “So when?” she asked, as he sat on the lounger next to her

  “Three weeks ago, you know mid-life crisis and that.” She laughed.

  “Well, it looks great,” she complemented. He ran a hand across it.

  “Thank you, it hurt like hell,” he said and she laughed as she looked at the pain that crossed his face for a moment.

  “So is that crisis adverted, or do you have something else up your sleeve?” she asked.

  “Maybe, we will see,” he said, coyly. “Swim?” he asked, as he stood back up.

  “Sure,” she replied. She tied her hair back with a scrunchie, and watched him as he dived into the water, and a smile tickled her lips. Feeling eyes on her, she glanced to her right and his mother stared at her, she smiled, Jane smiled back, and dived in after him.

  As she broke the surface, she could not see him.

  “Alex?” she called, thinking he may have got out. He came up behind her, grabbed her head, and dunked her under the water. Her hands flew up as she resurfaced, gasping for air.

  “Alex, you …” she refrained herself, thinking it would not be a good idea to swear at her boss.

  “Shit,” he finished for her. She laughed and nodded, as she wiped the water from her eyes. He swam up to her

  “Jane, this weekend, let us be friends, okay. Forget that I am your boss,” he requested. Her eyes froze on his, and her heart thumped - be his friend. Holy shit, he had to be kidding, the only way she could control herself around him was by reminding herself that he is her boss!

  “Sure,” she said, forcing herself to bite back her feelings. She tilted her head to one side, and smiled, and launching herself at him, she grabbed his shoulders and pulled him into the water. As he resurfaced, she tried to swim away but he dived at her, grabbed her around her waist, and pulled her back into his chest. His body against hers sent a shock wave right through her entire being. She squealed as he lifted her and threw her out of the water, she went under and as she resurfaced, he was laughing his head off. Jane wiped the water from her face, and eyed him. She had never seen him laugh like that, they had laughed at work, as he continually joked around, but this was a full belly laugh. She could not help herself, and in seconds, he had her in hysterics.

  He swam over to her, still laughing.

  “You okay?” he asked, wiping the water from his eyes and skimming his hands back through is dark hair.

  No, she thought, she was not okay, not at all. She had fallen, madly deeply in love with him and denying hurt.

  “Yeah, I’m good,” she replied, and she skimmed her hands across the water splashing him in the face. He retaliated, and before she knew what was happening they were having a full on water fight, and squealing like a pair of teenagers.

  “Alex, stop!” she begged, holding her hands to her eyes in surrender, as his attack far stronger than hers she was getting a right face full.

  He dived under the water and came up right in front of her, his chest almost touching her breasts.

  “Do you surrender?” he asked, playfully. She drew her hands from her face, to see his deep green eyes gazing at her. She could not speak.

  “Well, do you surrender?” he asked again
, grinning at her.

  “Yes, I surrender to you, Alex,” she whispered back, feeling a little dance in her heart. Alex’s eyes widened at her words, they darted over her face, and his hands grasped at her waist of their own accord, his thumbs gently rubbing her belly. A wave of desire shot straight to her inner thighs.

  “Good,” he said, his mouth desperately wanting to kiss her warm lips again, his body yearning to push against hers in the water.

  Kiss me kiss me, she begged in her mind, but he did not, instead he lifted her out of the water and threw her backwards again.

  “Drinks, Sir,” Richard said, from the side of the pool. Alex glanced over to him.

  “Oh great, thank you, Richard,” he said. “Come on, Jane,” he called as he made his way to the steps. He needed to get away from her, as he did not think his self-control would hold out much longer. As she swam over to the other side she watched him as he climbed out and grabbed a towel, her eyes caught his mother and she was observing her. She lowered her eyes embarrassed and climbed out of the pool. Alex threw her a towel.

  “Thanks,” she said, and she wrapped it around her waist.

  “Drink?” he asked.

  “Yes, please what is it?” she asked, as he passed her a glass.

  “Champagne cocktail, I remember you like that, right?” he said. She held the drink, but he had not released it.

  “Yes, I do, thank you for remembering,” she replied.

  “Oh, I remember that night very well,” he said, and his gaze was intense.

  He confused her. Did he want more out of this weekend by reminding her of their first time together, or were they just going to be ‘friends’? He let go, and sat back on the lounger, drinking a glass himself.

  They basked in the sun for half an hour, chatting with his mother. She was a lovely woman, and she could see how alike Alex was to her, as they both had a fun, kind nature.

  “Fancy a quick stint in the Jacuzzi?” he asked.

  “Okay, where is it?” she asked. He double raised his eyebrows at her.