The two-hour ride to the Blue Mountains flew by too quickly.One minute Natalie was enthralled by the views of the snowcapped peaks, and the next, they were landing in a backyard so enormous it could hold her old high school.She wished she hadn't blinked during the ride just so she could have taken in every little detail to share with Jamie.Mr Ackerman helped her off the aircraft and held her head down as a safety precaution to avoid the still spinning rotor blades as he whisked her away.Two fancy-ass golf carts pulled up in seconds, and Natalie laughed in disbelief. The billionaire shows she'd watched last night with Emily, in preparation for today, weren't far fetched at all. The uber-wealthy never walked anywhere. Why should they when they had golf carts to drive them around?"Ma'am?" Mrs Ackerman turned and frowned at her when she saw her still standing there, dazed by the splendour all around her, her eyes as huge as flying saucers.Natalie knew she was acting like a real hill
A bewildered laugh shot through Natalie's lips even though she was anything but amused.Never in her wildest dreams would she have ever imagined this.But even as he stood in front of her, in all his six-foot-something glory, wearing that damn white shirt even though it was the weekend and he had no business wearing it since he wasn't at work, she still couldn't accept that she wasn't dreaming.Surely, her Freddy Krueger lookalike boyfriend would walk in any moment now and put an end to her hallucinations."Natalie," Levi said as he walked to the other end of the table and sat down. He pointed at the chair she'd just vacated and smiled, flashing that darn dimple of his. "Please sit."Anger so terrifying and unlike anything Natalie had ever felt before quickly replaced her stunned disbelief. But she surprised even herself when she spoke in a calm and steady voice, belying the confusion and turmoil swirling in her heart. "No, I'm not sitting down until you tell me what the hell is going
The first thing Natalie saw when she opened her eyes was Levi watching her intently.Even from the side view, he was still perfect, and she was so tempted to reach up and brush his tousled hair away from his forehead.Like a moth, drawn to a flame, she extended her hand and was almost touching him when she remembered their fight earlier. The rock in her chest returned harder than before as it pressed down on her heart, snuffing out any feelings of tenderness she was starting to feel again.Natalie turned away, but Levi's hand resting loosely on her hip spun her back to him and held her in place.Ever so gently, he reached up and cupped her cheek. "Sleeping beauty is finally awake. Or is it Snow White?"Quivering at the light stroke of his fingertips on her skin, Natalie couldn't help but hate herself for being so darn aware of him. Even when she was livid, heartbroken, and everything in between, Levi still set her on fire with the most fleeting of touches."When was the last time you
Alone in an unfamiliar place, Natalie sat up, noticing for the first time she was wearing one of Levi's shirts as she pulled the covers over her knees, and she couldn't help but giggle at the long sleeves dangling over her hands. She'd always wondered about his shirts, but she would never have imagined ever wearing one.A contented sigh fluttered through her lips as she looked around her, trying to acquaint herself with her new surroundings.Like the rest of the house, the bedroom was exquisitely furnished. Everything—from the four-poster bed to the pastel-coloured chaise lounge in front of the bay window overlooking a gorgeous sunset on the horizon and the cream faux fur rug covering most of the dark wood floor—screamed elegance and luxury.Directly in front of her was a huge TV screen, and next to it, double doors leading to a walk-in closet. There was another door to her left. Where it led, Natalie could only guess. But an en suite bathroom seemed like a plausible destination.A sin
Levi looked up from the screen and smiled as he pushed his laptop aside and gave his shirt a thumbs up. "Good choice!"Natalie glanced at her attire, blushing at her state of undress. In her rush to get answers about this Colleen woman, she'd forgotten to change back into her own clothes."I didn't want to mess my dress," she lied feebly and did her best to ignore his appreciative gaze gliding over her."I'm not complaining," Levi smirked, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes as he laced his hands behind his head. "It looks way better on you!"Natalie sat down, willing herself not to place too much stock into his sweet words. She would not be swayed by his silver tongue and handsome face any longer. He'd fooled her one too many times with his devilish charm.Before she could throw her toys out of the pram, though, and demand answers, a flurry of activity snatched her attention away from him when Mrs Ackerman and her staff wheeled in their meal on silver trolleys.The housekeeper draped a
Natalie looked up and gulped at the sight of his Adam's apple and the beginnings of a five o'clock stubble along his jawline and chin.Was there anything not sexy about this man, she wondered as her eyes glided up to his tempting lips."Is that all I really am to you? Just your boss?" Levi's voice was gruff, his face dark with the same desire burning hot in his gaze as he drew her closer to him."So all those kisses, all those moments we shared meant nothing to you?" he continued, her breath hitching in her throat when his hands trailed down her sides and rested on her hips."Yes," Natalie nodded, praying he couldn't hear her heart thudding out of control or feel her quiver at his touch. "You are my boss, so you can't be my client.""Liar!" It was the last thing Levi rasped before his lips descended on hers. His tongue inside her mouth, like it was always supposed to be there, massaging hers, was as disorienting as his hands pressing her hips closer to him to give her a sneak peek of
Would she, though, Levi wondered as he jerked himself off in his bathroom. Would Natalie really sign the amended contract?As his movements became more frantic, he imagined it was Natalie's hands, her touch, her lips, bringing him to his peak.Natalie would never know the strength and self-control it took him not to ravish her then and there and have his way with her.He really should have just taken her on that damn table. Good Lord, he'd wanted to. But he was sincere when he said he wanted their first time to be memorable.It's not like she'll forget tonight, Levi thought as he shuddered his release. How could she, when he'd acted like a caveman?He stood in front of the sink when he was done, his hands gripping the edges as he willed his pulse to return to normal before he stepped into the shower and spent a long time under the cold jet sprays. He could already see the dreaded case of blue balls and a lot of such cold showers in his future if Natalie insisted on her boss nonsense b
By the time the night sky made way for a new day and the house stirred to life, Natalie had been awake for hours.As much as she wanted to hide in Colleen's room forever, she couldn't. Sooner or later, she'd have to go out there and face her biggest mistake yet.Last night's oopsie was so big she'd never share it with Emily...or anyone for that matter. Her lapse in judgement was best left in the past, where it belonged.From now on, she'd hang on to her panties—and bra—with everything she had in her where Levi Van Holt was concerned, Natalie vowed as she checked herself in the mirror for the hundredth time.For someone who'd hardly slept, she didn't look too shabby if she did say so herself, and if it wasn't for the dark circles around her eyes, she would have been a vision of calm and serenity."Okay, let's go do some adulting," she told her reflection before she grabbed her handbag, flung it over her shoulder and headed out, praying she wouldn't get lost in the maze of rooms.Maybe