Boss Likes Curves: A Curvy Girl's Billionaire Read online

  Boss Likes Curves: A Curvy Girl’s Billionaire

  by Kristabel Reed

  Copyright © 2014 by Kristabel Reed

  Smashwords Edition

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  A Wicked ePub® Original Publication

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  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher, except by reviewers who may quote brief excerpts in connection with a review.

  This book is a work of fiction, and any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

  Formatted by: CyberWitch Press

  Chapter One

  “Oh, God, I just don’t care.”

  Sabrina McKenna rolled her eyes and ignored the lovely pink gum clinging to the bottom of her new Jimmy Choos. She stepped into the elevator, unbelievably happy that no one else was inside. With her free hand, she reached back and undid the button on her skirt. Damn, this thing was looser on me last week. Annoyed, she stabbed the elevator button for her floor.

  As the doors began to close, she sipped from her travel mug and grimaced. They’d run out of half-and-half this morning, so she’d added extra sugar. Now she wished she hadn’t. Her coffee tasted like one of those complicated concoctions from a corner coffee conglomerate.

  And was there another C-word she could add to that sentiment?

  “This better not be my day.”

  Her morning already felt as if she were swimming upstream. It had to get better from here.

  Gideon Marquez slipped through the closing doors before anyone else could sneak in. He shot her a sly glance and quick grin before he tapped the already-lit button for their floor. Why is it people have to tap buttons that are already lit? She asked herself the random question in a vain effort to distract herself from Gideon’s attire.

  Sabrina glanced up at him, and her heart most definitely did not flip at the sight of her handsome boss or his muscular legs dressed in board shorts. Or the way that formfitting T-shirt clung in all the right places to his equally muscled chest. Nope. And the sight of him sweaty and grinning down at her did not cause her breathing to speed up or her mouth to go completely dry.

  Not at all.

  Hastily bringing her coffee mug to her lips, Sabrina took a large gulp and tried not to grimace at the overly sweet drink. Still, it did offer her a moment to collect her thoughts as the elevator made its way to the floor that housed Gideon Hotels International.

  “New undress code, Gideon?” she asked, more pleased than she could admit even to herself that her tone was coolly amused. Not one hitch in my voice, go me! Look at that, she could come up with snappy lines. Her day was getting better.

  “These are the extremes I go to to get your attention, Sabrina.” When he said that, his dark brown eyes looked directly at her. His gaze flicked over her body but then almost instantly returned to her face.

  She purposely rolled her eyes and tried to ignore how her stomach fluttered at his words. And his look. The elevator stopped, but Gideon turned his head just enough to glare at whomever waited to board the car before punching the door closed button.

  “Rude.” She smirked and raised an eyebrow at his unrepentant look. Sabrina shook her head and took another sip of her too-sweet and too-dark coffee. Really, she should’ve just waited until she got to the office.

  Gideon turned to look at her again, and despite how she felt about him when he dressed for work—in a tailored suit she wouldn’t mind tugging off him—she had to admit, sweaty Gideon did something to her.

  Something she shouldn’t feel for her boss, something she’d fought for years—since she’d been hired. Something that made her reckless and made her say things she should probably keep to herself. But it was all flirty fun, and there was nothing wrong with flirty fun.

  Especially since she knew it’d go nowhere.

  “You don’t have to go to such extremes, Gideon,” Sabrina said sensuously.

  His already dark gaze turned nearly black, and he stepped closer. His hands hung loosely at his sides, but Sabrina had the feeling that he wanted to touch her. She shook away such unlikely thoughts.

  “All you have to do is tell me you made the call last night and the Macau deal is a go,” she added, enjoying teasing him.

  His reaction did surprise her. For a heartbeat he looked as if he wanted to shake her, and that dark, hungry look in his eyes flashed brighter. Then he stepped back and relaxed, crossed his arms over his chest, and offered her a smile. It was his slow, knowing grin.

  “How excited will you get?” he asked, his voice pitched low. While he made no move to step closer, suddenly the elevator seemed tiny and she felt as if she stood entirely too close to him.

  Swallowing to ease her dry throat, Sabrina pulled back. “Gideon, just tell me.”

  He remained silent for a moment, his gaze still steady on hers. Her breath caught as the elevator once more slowed. She tried to tear her gaze from his, just to see if this was their floor—something to look at other than him.

  “Yes,” he finally said, but she couldn’t remember what they’d been talking about. “We got the deal. I’ll be over to your office later today to discuss it.”

  Oh. Right. Macau. Yes, good, that was great. Without looking at him, she nodded as she stepped out of the elevator and onto their floor. She breathed deeply, desperate to fill her lungs with air. That elevator had shrunk while she and Gideon had ridden in it. Sabrina was positive it had.

  Focusing on something, anything, other than Gideon, his sexy state of undress and his closeness, she looked around the office. This early, only a handful of employees had arrived, and several of them worked odd hours to keep Gideon Hotels’ overseas properties running smoothly.

  No one looked up at them as she and Gideon walked through. She looked over her shoulder when he followed her.

  “Something else?” she asked, slowing her pace and hoping her rapid heartbeat slowed, too.

  “I have this thing tonight,” he said and held the door to her office open. “A charity cocktail before the opera.”

  Cynthia, her administrative assistant, choked behind them. Sabrina frowned and peered around Gideon to the other woman. “All right?” she asked, concerned.

  Her face red, Cynthia nodded. “Oh yes.” She waved at them, her eyes bright. “Wrong pipe.” She pointed at her mug and returned to her computer, a small smile playing around her lips.

  Sabrina shrugged and nodded, and entered her office, Gideon hot on her heels. She really did try not to think about how close he was but, as usual, failed miserably. The door closed behind him with a decisive click, but instead of leaning against it as he normally did, Gideon stalked toward her desk. Yes, stalked.

  It unnerved her as much as it aroused her, and Sabrina forced her legs to move smoothly and calmly around her desk to keep that object between them.

  She didn’t know what was going on with Gideon this morning. Their flirty fun had taken a turn she didn’t understand.

  “I need a date.”

  Sabrina almost dropped her coffee mug at that rather bold statement, but sighed in exasperation instead. “Don’t tell me you want me to set you up with one of the interns.” She set her travel mug down. “I’m not doing that,” she s
aid flatly. “I’m not crossing that line. You can take advantage of the new girls all by yourself.”

  A ghost of a smile crossed his face, his full lower lips catching her attention. She tore her gaze away from his mouth and tried not to think about how sexy he looked, all scruff and sideburns and that smile. Definitely not about the smile.

  “I don’t want a new girl or some flighty intern,” he said with what should’ve been exasperation but sounded a tad too honest for that. “I thought maybe you’d go with me tonight.”

  Raising an eyebrow in disbelief, Sabrina waited for him to laugh and tell her he’d been teasing her. But no. Those eyes remained steady on hers, while his lips still quirked in that amused smile.

  She swallowed hard and breathed deeply, fighting to find her equilibrium. “What?” she asked, unable to keep her incredulity out of her voice.

  Gideon didn’t answer immediately, and Sabrina thought now was when he’d say something like “Gotcha” or “Just kidding.” But he was too still for that and stood a little too tall, and he looked at her a little too evenly.

  “Rowan Haversby is going to be at the cocktail tonight,” he said quickly, making her think she’d imagined the pause.

  “Ahh.” Sabrina nodded. Now that made sense in a morning of Gideon not making any. At least she felt like he hadn’t been. It’d been a strange elevator ride.

  Rowan Haversby hated Gideon, though Sabrina couldn’t decide if it was because Gideon was the better businessman or Rowan was simply jealous. Possibly both. Still, Rowan did like her; he thought Gideon part of the one percent and Sabrina more down to earth.

  “Are we still going ahead with that Napa Valley project?” she asked, though it sounded as if they were.

  “If we acquire the right piece of land,” Gideon confirmed. He hadn’t moved, hadn’t looked away, and Sabrina stood glued to the spot.

  She wanted to think they were on equal footing—on business footing, but didn’t exactly feel that way. Still, she offered a significant smile and quick laugh. “And the only piece of land you want belongs to Haversby, huh?”

  Business at the opera. Sounded so much better than a date. Yes. Much better. Even if her stomach fluttered with nervous butterflies.

  “Gotcha.” She smiled wider. “I’ll do my best to use what charm I have on him.”

  “Oh, Sabrina,” he said softly, his voice like melted chocolate. “You have plenty of charm.”

  Her heart missed a beat. Before she could think of an appropriately witty reply, he pushed off her desk and turned for the door.

  “I’ll pick you up at your place at 6:30,” he said and walked out of her office.

  Licking her lips, she watched his shorts-clad body saunter through the maze of cubicles and tried to remember how to breathe.

  She’d be a fool to think of this business evening as a date, despite his use of that particular word.

  Weird. Lately, Gideon had been acting like this, acting strange. Dropping innuendos and sexy hints and asking her out for a drink after work or dinner on a weekend. Maybe he’d simply broken up with his latest girlfriend and wanted a shoulder to cry on.

  She didn’t know that much about his private life; despite being VP of Development, theirs was a strictly professional relationship.

  Except for lately. And except for backgammon.

  Lately, she’d been confused by what shouldn’t be signals but were beginning to feel like them. Or maybe it really was Gideon wanting a member of his company on his arm to woo the appropriate business interests.

  But why pick her to woo anyone? She was a buttoned-up professional with too many curves. And too much on those curves.

  Shaking her head, Sabrina sat behind her desk and woke up her computer before logging onto her e-mail and starting her day.

  What she wanted to do was call Audrey and spill every detail about what happened this morning with Gideon to her friend. But it was barely eight, and calling her best friend to dish on what happened with a guy she’d had a crush on for forever seemed a bit too childish.

  “Laura Dixon is here to see you,” Cynthia said over the office intercom.

  Sabrina jumped at the interruption, a very welcome interruption from Gideon and their not-date business event tonight. What the hell was she going to wear, anyway? She had nothing appropriate to wear—or nothing appropriate that fit, at any rate.

  “Okay,” she said to Cynthia. “Send her in.”

  The only dress she could think of off the top of her head made her look like a pig in a blanket. And Sabrina refused to wear that to the fashion parade that was opera at the Met.

  She’d call Audrey. If her stylist best friend couldn’t help her, no one could. Plus, it’d give her an excuse to call Audrey.

  Why had she said yes to Gideon? When he asked her out to dinner or for drinks, she’d always said no—that was too personal and a line she refused to cross. But in business? Work through lunch? Sure. Stay late and he’d order in? No problem. In business he was a genius, and they made beautiful deals together.

  Good Lord, all this early morning tension was driving her crazy.

  Laura walked into the office; her project manager looked fresh and bright and much more put together than Sabrina felt at the moment. And she probably didn’t have bright pink gum on her new shoes.

  It was far too early for her to feel this way.

  Laura also carried a thick file on the Mount Noël project, and Sabrina offered the other woman a seat while she pulled up that file.

  “I’m taking off for Vermont tomorrow,” Laura said and pulled out a pen. “Any last notes on the project?”

  Envying the other woman’s current poise, and wondering where her usual composure had disappeared to, Sabrina smiled. “I’m glad you’re so excited and leaving early for Vermont.” She tapped her nails on the desktop and chuckled. “I admit, this project sounds fun, and if I wasn’t so busy, I might have taken it on myself.”

  Laura seemed to relax. Oh, Sabrina remembered being that nervous on her first major project. The other woman smiled. “I’m glad you’re busy,” she said honestly but not rudely. “Mount Noël is all mine.”

  “When I visit,” Sabrina added, “I want to see a winter wonderland worthy of Mrs. Claus and those ornery reindeer.”

  “Don’t worry,” Laura agreed with a quick laugh. “You won’t know if you’re in a ski resort or Santa’s winter wonderland.” Then she shifted and asked seriously, “Have the final plans come in from Kamari’s firm?”

  Shaking her head, Sabrina said, “Not yet. He’s taking a long time with them. I’ll have them sent to you as soon as the final versions come in.”

  “Please keep me updated on the soon-to-be countess’s wedding,” Laura said, switching gears from business to friendship. She leaned forward and added in a posh faux English accent and laughed again, “I can’t wait to sit down and have tea and crumpets with Lady Audrey.”

  Sabrina laughed, all Gideon-related tension gone. She’d get through tonight as she always did: with a smile, a glass of wine, and the knowledge that business was tonight’s sole purpose.

  “I’ll keep you informed,” Sabrina promised. “And if the phone lines go down, I’ll use the rock on Audrey’s hand to blink out Morse code.”

  Laura stood and nodded. “I’ll keep an eye out for code in the sky.” At the door she turned and gave Sabrina a sly look. “And you let me know of any developments here, too.”

  Sabrina frowned as Laura walked out the door. What did she mean by that? Maybe it was another Audrey reference? Laura had become a good friend, and had often come over for dinner at the apartment she, Audrey, and Eliza shared.

  Ignoring the niggling thought that Laura meant something else entirely, and the way the butterflies in her stomach flocked back and forth, Sabrina turned back to her e-mail.

  “This is for you,” Cynthia said without knocking on the open door.

  She carried a potted plant, one Sabrina vaguely recognized, in a plain terracotta pot. A yellow stic
ky note stuck boldly to one side. She looked up at her secretary who had a carefully blank expression on her face and frowned.

  Thanks for tonight.

  Gideon. Oh.

  Without a word, Cynthia set the pot on her desk, caught Sabrina’s gaze with a strange, quirky, knowing look of her own, and left.

  It was a plant from his office—that’s where she recognized it from. She read the note again as if it contained a code she needed to decipher. But no, only those three words. Not even signed.

  Did Gideon think this was a real date? Sabrina tapped her fingers on her desk and stared from the note to the plant and back again. No. She tossed the note into the trash. Of course he didn’t think this was a real date.

  And so what if her heart skipped a beat at the thought? It meant nothing. Only another business meeting to Gideon. And that suited her just fine. Really.

  Chapter Two

  It sounded so cliché, but she didn’t care. Sabrina had nothing to wear. She’d left work early to get ready for tonight but now stood in front of her closet, staring at its pathetic offerings. Wrapped in a long, satin robe, she pulled out a typical black conservative dress and held it up.

  Typical, yes, but she could spruce it up with colorful jewelry. And it was long, so it covered her thighs. And, hey, at least it fit—and comfortably, at that. That was maybe the most important part of why she was now leaning heavily toward the dress.

  “No,” Eliza said definitively. Again. Her roommate sat on her bed, watching her every choice with a critical eye. Eliza had said no to every dress. Every single one.

  “It has a high collar and makes you look like a nun,” Eliza said without bothering to ask why Sabrina might want to wear it. “Unless you want to look like a nun from the seventeenth century?”

  Eliza had been doing that all afternoon. Her snarky comments were beyond frustrating. Even if she was a little bit, just a little bit, right.

  Glaring at the other woman, Sabrina hung up the long black dress. But kept it close at hand. She had a feeling it was going to be her choice for tonight.