Babysitting The Boss

8. The Charming Alex Romano

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And yet, the next day, June found herself naked in her bed with Heath.

The horror movie had been a ploy. They had barely made it through the opening credits before he had her pinned against the couch, his lips on hers, his hands everywhere. The rest of the night had been a whirlwind of passion, leaving her feeling both satisfied and used.

Now, lying in his arms in the early morning light, she couldn't help but question her decision to sign the NDA. The coldness in his voice the day before had left her feeling like a mere plaything, a toy to be used at his whim. But here she was, wrapped in the warmth of his embrace, unable to ignore the comfort it brought her.

"Are you awake?" Heath's croaky voice reached her ears.

June nodded, her eyes still closed. "Mmhmm."

Heath's hand traced patterns on her bare back, his breath warm against her neck. "I know this is complicated," he whispered. "But I can't get enough of you."

June's eyes fluttered open, meeting his gaze. "Does this mean you're actually interested in me?"

Heath's expression softened, his eyes searching hers. "What do you think?"

June's heart pounded in her chest. She didn't know what to think. On one hand, she knew that mixing business with pleasure was a recipe for disaster. On the other, she couldn't deny the way her body responded to him, the way he made her feel alive.

"I don't know," she said softly, her voice filled with uncertainty. "You're my boss, and we're supposed to be keeping this professional."

Heath leaned in, his breath tickling her ear. "But we're not at work right now, are we?" He whispered, his hand sliding down to caress her hip.

June couldn't argue with that. She felt his arousal pressing against her, and she knew she wanted him again. The rational part of her mind was screaming at her to stop, but her body was already responding to his touch.

Heath's hand traveled further down, his fingers teasing the sensitive flesh between her legs. She gasped, her eyes flying open. "Heath..." she protested weakly.

He kissed her neck, his teeth grazing her skin. "Don't think about it, June," he murmured. "Just feel."

And she did. She gave in to the sensations, allowing Heath to sweep her up in a wave of passion that seemed to consume her entirely.

For the first time in her life, June was late to work.

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The meeting with Alex Romano was scheduled for later in the afternoon, and despite the conflicting events of the past few days, June managed to pull herself together. She had no idea what to expect from the notorious playboy, but she was determined to keep her cool.

As she walked into the luxurious office suite that Heath had reserved for their meeting, she found Alex lounging in a leather chair, his legs propped up on the desk. He was even more handsome in person, with dirty blond hair and piercing green eyes that seemed to see right through her.

"Miss Rivers," he drawled, standing up and extending a hand, ignoring Heath . "It's a pleasure to finally meet the woman who's been turning heads at Robbins Enterprises."

June took his hand, her own trembling slightly. "Thank you, Mr. Romano," she managed to say, her eyes darting to Heath, who was watching them with a scowl on his face.

Alex's grip was firm, his smile never leaving his lips. "Call me Alex," he said, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer than necessary.

June felt a blush creep up her neck, but she managed to keep her composure. "Of course," she said, pulling her hand away.

Alex's gaze never left hers as he took a seat across from her. He leaned back in his chair, his eyes traveling over her body with an appreciative smile. "So, Heath tells me you're the brains behind this new campaign," he said, his voice filled with charm. "Impressive."

Heath's jaw tightened as he noticed Alex's blatant flirting. He had invited the celebrity to discuss business, not to hit on his employee.

But June was a beautiful woman, and Heath knew all too well the effect she had on men.

"Thank you, Alex," June said, maintaining her professionalism despite the heat in the room. She had learned from Heath's touch that she could handle herself around powerful men, and she wasn't about to let Alex Romano throw her off her game.

Alex leaned in closer, his eyes twinkling mischievously. "So, tell me, June, what makes you tick?" His voice was like honey, dripping with charm and a hint of something more.

June felt the heat rise in her cheeks but remained composed. "It's all about strategy and understanding the market," she replied, her voice steady despite the racing of her heart. She could feel Heath's eyes on her, and she knew she had to keep her wits about her.

Alex leaned in even closer, his elbows resting on the armrests of his chair. "But what about outside of work?" he pressed, his gaze unwavering. "What makes June Rivers tick?"

June felt the tension in the room thicken, her eyes flicking to Heath. His expression was unreadable, but she knew he was watching her closely.

"Well, Alex," she began, her voice measured. "I enjoy a good challenge, whether it's in the office or..." She trailed off, leaving the rest to his imagination.

Alex's grin widened, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "I like that," he said, his voice low and seductive. "A woman who knows what she wants."

Heath cleared his throat. "If you both have had enough of personal talk, maybe we should dive into business?"

June shot him a grateful look and opened her presentation binder. The rest of the meeting went smoothly, with Alex seemingly impressed by her proposal. As they wrapped up, Heath's phone buzzed on the desk.

"I need to take this," he said, his tone curt as he stepped out of the room, leaving June and Alex alone.

"You are sleeping with him, aren't you?" Alex asked. He laughed at the look of pure horror on her face.

"What? No!" June's voice was high-pitched. "It's strictly professional!"

Alex leaned back in his chair, his grin widening. "Oh, come on, June. The tension between you two is thicker than the NDA you're probably signing."

June's eyes narrowed. "How do you know about that?"

"Gotcha!"

Alex's laugh was like a siren's call, pulling June out of her shock.

"You're good," she said, trying to play it cool.

Alex leaned back in his chair, his smile not faltering. "I have a knack for reading people."

June's heart was racing. "Look, Alex, I appreciate your interest, but I'm here to discuss the endorsement deal, not my personal life."

Alex leaned back in his chair, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Fair enough," he said, holding up his hands in surrender. "But let's not forget, I'm a man of the world. I know how these things go. And if you ever need a... distraction," he winked, "I'm just a phone call away."

"What did I miss?" It was evident from Heath's face that he had heard what Alex had said.

June's cheeks burned as she quickly gathered her papers. "Just wrapping up," she murmured, avoiding eye contact.

Heath's gaze was cold as he stepped back into the room, his eyes narrowed at Alex. "We'll talk about the details later," he said, his voice clipped.

Alex's smile never wavered. "Looking forward to it," he said, standing up and brushing past June, his hand grazing her arm as he left.

And of course, a seething somebody noticed that.

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