Irresistible Bachelors: Books 1-5 by Landish, Lauren (bts books to read TXT) 📕

be working under. The dirty part of my mind fills with a picture of Jake in his suit. He was so powerful, so decisive, but at the same time a gentleman. The way he commanded everything and everyone without being a braggart or a loudmouth oozed confidence and masculinity. And yeah, the way he kissed me . . .

“Shit,” I mutter to myself as I shake my head. I’ve missed most of what Tom’s said already. Focus, Roxy, focus!

“For over seventy years, Franklin Consolidated has stood as a pillar of this community, and while our corporate headquarters is obviously changing, I can assure you that we will continue to serve this city and its people . . .”

“Oh, my God,” Hannah whispers next to me. She jostles my elbow, and I glance at her just as Tom wraps up.

“My Franklin family, it’s with great regret to confirm that yes, after this month, I will be retiring. However, I am confident in the hands that I’m leaving Franklin in. Without further ado, I’d like to introduce the new Regional President . . . Jake Stone.”

“Is that . . .?” Hannah whispers as Jake steps up next to Tom. I turn white as a sheet and drop down quickly before he can see me, Hannah squatting down next to me. “Roxy?”

“I’m dead . . . I’m fucking dead,” I whisper, looking at Hannah, terrified. “What the hell am I supposed to do now? I almost slept with and killed my new boss!”Jake

I stand before the window in my new office, looking out with my hands clasped behind my back. It’s just after lunch, and the whole city lies before me, sparkling in the sunlight. This is a far better view than what I had at my old office. I can see the entire city and even the mountains in the distance.

I feel powerful. Like the world is at my fingertips, and while I haven’t climbed the mountain yet, I’m getting there.

Even my office is better, a large, classical executive room with a polished oak desk and a large leather tufted chair. The shelves are lined with bookcases, and I’ve found it’s more than just the standard assortment of old law books or regulatory books, but there are all sorts of things. I’ve found leather-bound classics of fiction, biographies of great leaders, and more. This could rival a lot of small school libraries.

Franklin Consolidated really wanted my talents. I found out that they requested me specifically, so they rolled out the red carpet for me. My arrival has been well-received so far, but I’ve already noticed one problem.

I saw who was standing in the crowd. It was just a moment. I barely caught sight of that angelic face. I swear, I blinked and it was gone, and later on, I couldn’t find her when I walked the cubicle maze. But I know what I saw. She might be in my dreams, but I’m not imagining things.

I turn slightly when I hear the door open behind me, bringing me back to the tasks I have at hand. “Is there anything I can get you, Mr. Stone?” says Elena May, my new interim secretary, an elderly woman dressed in a crisp pantsuit. She used to work for Tom, and I gratefully accepted her services from him. “You told me to check in right after lunch.”

“Yes, Elena,” I say. “I need the report from the property management division, and the Jefferson agreement. Also, if you could get me a hot cup of coffee and something to snack on. I skipped lunch. I need something to get through the afternoon.”

Elena bows her head respectively. “Right away, sir.”

She turns away, ready to leave, and I know it’s now or never. I tense and call out, “And Elena?”

“Yes?”

“Please send in Miss Price.”

She pauses for a moment, a question in her eyes. But she doesn’t question me. “Right away, sir.”

She disappears, and I turn back to the window. I wasn’t going to call her in. I can’t even be sure I have the right person. It could be another Roxy. But I can’t resist and I have to know.

It’s a miracle from the highest heaven or a curse from the depths of hell if it is her. I guess it’s lucky for her that it’s me and not Nathan. He would have started kicking ass at nine in the morning.

Five minutes after Elena leaves, there’s a quiet knock at my door, and it opens behind me.

I don’t turn around immediately, drawing out the moment as I hear muted footsteps on the thick carpet of my office. Instead, I stand, staring out the window, feeling the sun warm my face.

“You called for me?” Roxy’s soft voice asks, and I momentarily close my eyes. There is a hint of nervousness and anxiety in it, but her sweet, soft voice is still like music to my ears. I know I should be mad. I should be raging and demanding answers, but in those four words . . . I swear I’m hearing an angel again.

“It’s a beautiful day today, isn’t it?” I ask. “The sun is out. The view from this office beats the one at my old one.”

“It is,” she says, and I can hear the fear, the quaver in her voice, but also a note of something else, so soft that I don’t even think she knows it.

I turn to see her and the breath catches in my throat. In a tight skirt and blouse, her hands clasped respectfully in front of her, she reaches out and grabs my thoughts, a jolt going through me as I take in the vision in front of me. My God, she’s fucking beautiful. She’s still got that sweet angelic face, that gorgeous curvy body. Maybe I should’ve learned my lesson, but the things I want to do to her . . .

She gazes at me with anxiousness in her eyes. I know what she’s thinking, but she needn't worry. One look at her, and