Chapter 1: The Boss in My Bed

Good news: I hooked up with a ridiculously hot, take-charge guy.

Even better news: we’re officially friends with benefits.

Bad news: he’s my brand-new boss.

My world just imploded.

The office air suddenly felt too thick to breathe.

01

Again.

That sculpted body pressed up behind me again.

Seriously? I frowned.

My mouth said no, but my body wasn’t fooling anyone.

I turned and kissed him. My brain screamed at me to stop, but my hands had other plans.

……

Ethan and I spent the whole weekend tangled up together, day and night.

Right up until Sunday night.

He still didn’t look satisfied.

I scrambled around on the messy carpet for my clothes and forced myself to say no: “I can’t. I have an early meeting tomorrow. I can’t be late.”

A new boss is starting—I have to make a good impression.

He lay there bare-chested on the bed, looking regretful. “Alright, see you next week.”

“Okay.”

The soft blue light from my phone screen spilled across the pile of clothes as I checked my calendar one last time. Guilt gnawed at me, but I stuffed it down with the practiced ease of someone used to splitting weekends and weekdays like church and state.

Monday morning, I showed up at the office in a suit and tie, work badge around my neck.

Aubrey, who sits next to me, leaned over to gossip: “I heard the new CEO is both hot and young.”

I wasn’t interested in the CEO’s looks, so I said, “I just hope he’s not a total nightmare like the last guy.”

The previous CEO was a weirdo—he barely treated us like people.

Finally, he got transferred. I’m just hoping the new guy is even a little bit better.

As I tugged at my tie, trying to shake off the weekend, the scent of burnt coffee from the break room drifted over. The usual Monday morning buzz hummed around us, punctuated by keyboard clacks and the low rumble of gossip. Even Aubrey's voice, always a notch too loud, felt oddly comforting.

In the conference room, the new CEO made a dazzling entrance to thunderous applause.

When I saw the man at the center, my eyes went wide.

It was actually Ethan Carter!

My bed partner.

How is the world this small?

I wanted to crawl under the table. My stomach dropped, and my hands went clammy on the table’s edge.

Luckily, there were plenty of people in the room and he didn’t notice me at first.

My head was practically buried.

Suddenly, someone nudged my wrist.

Aubrey whispered, “Ryan, Mr. Carter is calling on you to speak.”

“Who’s Ryan?”

I snapped back to reality and heard Ethan calling my name.

I sucked in a breath and stood up, stiff as a board.

The moment he saw me, his face clearly showed his shock.

I felt a little guilty.

Because I’d told him my name was Kyle Ryan.

He looked at me meaningfully for two seconds, then slowly said, “Team Leader Ryan, your team is handling this project. Please present.”

My palms were sweating so much I nearly dropped the presentation remote. The room suddenly felt a hundred degrees hotter as all eyes swung my way. Under the fluorescent lights, Ethan’s stare bored into me, making my ears burn. I faked a cough and grabbed my laptop, willing myself not to stutter.