His Secretary: BBW Romance (Her Second Chance Book 1) by Harmony Raines Page A

jacket back up, she flicked through the meagre wardrobe she had brought with her, and settled for the only summer dress she had packed. Max had suggested it, and now Helen was glad she had taken her advice. Taking it out she held it up, wondering if it might give him the wrong idea, about her intentions. Was it right to look so feminine and pretty when they were here for business?
    Helen hung it back up in the closet, and wrapped herself up in a robe, taking her cool drink to the balcony for some air. She took in the magical view, the scent of the ocean, and closed her eyes, imagining Oliver coming to meet her for dinner. He would smile, her heart would skip a beat as his dark eyes softened in his handsome face. She would go to him, stroke her fingers over the rough stubble on his chin, and then find his full lips, soft and receptive to her mouth as she reached up to kiss him.
    Damn it. Take a risk. She turned abruptly away from the serene scene below her, and headed for the bedroom. The pretty dress stared at her, and she stared back at it. “Put it on,” she ordered herself.
    Mechanically she forced herself to take it off the hanger, and she slip into it, feeling the soft fabric fall around her. It was perfect. And now bitten by the desire to attract him, she sat down and combed her long blonde hair. She and Dan shared similar colouring, but her blue eyes were never as piercing as his, it always left her feeling bland and boring. She was pale, such a contrast to Oliver, the light and the shade. Would they ever be compatible?
    He knocked on the door. Because of her indecision, she wasn’t ready, and was still battling with her necklace when she opened the door for him.
    “Sorry. I’ll be one minute.” She stepped back, allowing him to enter her room, but he stood stock still. Glancing up at him, she stopped, and then looked down at her dress. “Too informal? I can go and change if you want me to.”
    He slowly shook his head. “No. You look beautiful.”
    She laughed. “It’s OK. You don’t have to flatter me. It was this or a business suit.”
    He moved forward into the room. “I’m glad you went with this. You look stunning.” She turned to look at him, and wanted to believe the look in his eyes. “Really,” he confirmed.
    “Thank you.” Her heart rate had increased, the thumping in her chest so loud he must have been able to hear it.
    “Shall I do that for you?”
    His took the small necklace out of her hands, and she let him, her brain had switched off. All she could do was close her eyes while his warm fingers trailed over her neck, brushing her hair out of the way so he could do the clasp up. Shivers of delight ran down her spine, and set off a chain reaction of tremors through her body. This evening was going to be a lesson in self control. She could easily embarrass herself by letting on how much she wanted him to kiss her, to touch her, and more than anything, make love to her.
    “How did it go with your uncle?” she asked him, when she felt capable of speech.
    “Alright, he’s going ahead with the meeting tomorrow, he thanked me for what I’ve done. What we’ve done,” he corrected. “But says, quite fairly, that he can’t cancel the deal because of my hunch.”
    “Did you expect him to?”
    “No. I certainly wouldn’t have. If there’s no real proof it could be damaging for the bank to back out. We’re out of time.”
    “Couldn’t he blame his ill health and put it off?”
    “He wouldn’t do that. He’s too proud.”
    “That runs in the family too?”
    “Probably. Anyway, the good thing is he’s happy to let me sit in on the meeting anyway. So if the CEO is hiding something, I might be able to figure it out. Without needing to participate in the meeting, I can sit back and watch him.”
    “Intimidation. I like it. You might be able to make him crack with just your presence in the room.”
    “I doubt it,” he said, still managing to laugh. “Come on. Enough business for