sister, Helena, whom I’ve endeavored to put through the best college thanks to—once again—my hard work. She’s in her second semester at Stanford and she and I are both very proud of that.
My parents have always believed that hard workers aren’t born that way, they are made. They’ve given Helena and me very little financial help since we finished high school. They think it’s formative. But I think that Helena, who is smart as a whip and hopes for a career in technology, deserves the best college education, too.
That’s why this job is so important to me. Accomplishing my own dreams is helping me give my sister the same opportunity with hers.
A man like Kit would never know a thing about sacrificing for someone else. A boy, who’s clearly enjoyed the good life and all the pleasures to be had before work even came into the picture. Babysitting him sounds complicated and that’s not what I studied so hard for. I just don’t like this idea at all.
I don’t have time for lazy boys!
Unless my job depends on it, of course.
“Well, what do you want me to do?” I ask Alastair in an effort to grant his last request.
“Just be a guide to him. Once he trusts you, he might see how hard you work and want to follow in your footsteps. Watch him, teach him and...report to me.”
“What is it that you want me to report?”
“How he’s doing. His inheritance will hang in the balance. I want to be sure my boy is deserving of it. And I’m hoping, to be honest, that with you as inspiration he will be even more adept at this than I am.”
I clasp my fingers together tightly in my lap to contain my feeling of dread. I’d hate bearing the burden of being his son’s new judge, but I love Cupid’s Arrow too much to let it fall into the wrong hands, too. “And if my report is not...what you hoped it would be?” I ask.
“Then you help him change that. For the good of the company.” After dropping that bomb on my lap, Alastair stands. “Let me call him in.”
“Alastair, wait—” The idea of seeing Kit Walker again while I’m still getting my bearings doesn’t sit too well with me yet.
Alastair is already at the door, summoning his playboy son through his assistant. “John, call my son in, will you?”
I’m on my feet and within two minutes, there’s a triple rap on the door. It’s light and casual—and Kit doesn’t even wait for Alastair to invite him in. The door swings open—and yes.
Alastair’s youngest son is still the hottest man I’ve ever seen.
Alastair is back behind his desk. “Come in, Kit. Alex and I were just discussing you and Thailand.”
Kit leans his shoulder against the doorframe and slides his gaze to me. “Of course you were,” he croons in that soft British accent.
What’s that supposed to mean?
“So, Alex,” he says as he moves farther into the office and heads around his father’s desk, “you ever been out of Chicago?”
“I go by Alexandra. Or Ms. Croft,” I say all of a sudden, tipping my chin back haughtily.
Alastair laughs, and Kit raises his brows. “Ah well. Miss Croft,” he murmurs, a playful twinkle in his eye. “Any other instructions for me before I take charge here behind this...very...desk?” He raps his knuckles on it and inspects it, pretending to be impressed as if he had never seen one before.
Is he making fun of me? Did he overhear us, or is it simply that he’s smarter than he looks and knows what his father was up to from the beginning?
I bristle a little. Almost wanting to warn him. Yes. Watch your back! This place is for people who value work and don’t throw time away like you do your girls! But I don’t say that.
Still, emboldened by what Alastair has just requested of me, I say, “Only that your father has always trusted me to do what’s best for my team—I expect the same courtesy from you, Mr. Walker.”
“Oh. I go by Kit.” His lips begin to curve upward. “And I’ll do my best to grant you as much freedom as my father does, Miss Croft.” He smiles completely now; a drop-dead gorgeous smile perfectly suited to that drop-dead gorgeous face.
I know he’s playing with me. And I start to suspect there is more to this boy than just a pretty face—like Alastair said, he has intelligence, pride and obviously a keen sixth sense. And I can’t help but feel my reaction to Kit’s smile deep in my gut.
God help me. It’s going to be a long day. A long month. Worse...a long year, if the bastard stays. I smile tightly in return and nod my head. “Well then, I’ll be ready. Now, am I excused? Some of us need to get back to work.” I try to say that playfully, though Alastair knows I’m a workaholic and rarely make room for chitchat at work. He nods and I head out. Back straight, shoulders rigid, as if I’m not acutely aware of Kit Walker’s eyes on me as I leave.
“Is he not the most gorgeous—” Angela, one of the most boisterous members of my design team, purrs the moment I reach my floor.
“Get back to work,” I snap. Everyone looks up from what they’re doing.
I head to my private office in the back and exhale, wondering why that sexy, coddled playboy pushed buttons I was never really aware of before. Until now.
It’s been a week since Alastair told me he was retiring, and now I’m sitting at my dresser, preparing for his retirement party. He’s hired out a posh hotel on Michigan Avenue where over three hundred employees will gather to celebrate his time at Cupid’s Arrow.
“I still can’t believe how gorgeous Alastair’s youngest is,” Ellie says. “I can’t believe Alastair asked you to help teach him the ropes.”
I start brushing my hair and smirk at her. “Good genetics. Alastair is very good-looking, too. He has two sons from different marriages and a string of affairs to attest to how those Walker men are candy to the ladies.”
I twist my hair back into a bun as quickly as possible so that I can finish my makeup. I may be a designer, but styling hair has never been my strong point. I continue with my makeup, ensuring that it enhances my blue-green eyes and light skin tone.
Why am I so nervous about tonight?
Is it because Alastair is leaving...or because Kit is taking over?
“I’m sort of dreading this whole thing, Ellie. I mean... Why does Alastair think I have the ability to change some playboy into a model boss and entrepreneur? It’s ludicrous, really.”
“But you did notice the way you two sort of lit up the whole room when you saw each other?” Ellie, not one to miss anything, asks.
A little tingle races down my spine at the thought of seeing Kit again.
I try to push the memory of our initial meeting
