“I’ll go get dressed,” Dax said, turning on his heel and trudging out of the kitchen.
“I don't know what I'm going to do with him,” Kian said, sitting beside Everly at the table. “I hope he didn't offend you.”
“I'm not offended,” she said, gulping.
“Did you like seeing him like that?” Kian asked, with a pained look on his face.
“No, it's not that. It's just... This is his house. He can walk around however he wants.”
“I see. Well, it shouldn't happen again. With any of you,” Kian said, giving Aiden and Cato a pointed expression.
Cato flipped down his newspaper and gave Kian a shocked look.
“I know how to dress appropriately,” Cato said, going back to his newspaper.
“Same here,” Aiden said with a frown.
“Of course,” Kian muttered, biting into his gourmet grilled cheese.
Everly giggled and ate the delicious lunch provided by her hunky boss. Her life was definitely looking up. With the promise of going shopping with not one but two gorgeous, rich men this afternoon, she couldn't have asked for more.
After lunch she helped Kian tidy up the kitchen. She, Aiden, and Kian, carrying Ember’s car seat, went out to the garage and piled into the SUV. She sat in the backseat with Ember while Kian drove, and Aiden sat in the front passenger seat. The two bickered over what to listen to on the radio. Kian preferred NPR, but Aiden wanted rock music.
“What do you like to listen to on the radio?” Kian asked Everly.
“I like pop music,” Everly said. “You know, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, that kind of thing. I know it's silly.”
“Not at all. That settles it, then.”
Kian flipped through the channels and settled on a pop station. Everly smiled as her favorite singer crooned over the radio.
“I love this song,” she said happily.
“It’s better than the droning news shows Kian likes,” Aiden said from the front seat. “I tend to prefer my music a little edgier. But this is all right.”
They parked downtown near the designer boutiques and the three of them piled out of the SUV. Kian helped Everly get Ember into the stroller and pushed it down the sidewalk.
“I don't know where to start,” she said.
“Well, these stores are a bit boring. But I'm sure we can find you something cool. We want to bring out what’s inside you,” Aiden said, tapping his bottom lip and looking around. “This one!” He pointed and led them into a designer clothing store.
“This place is awfully expensive,” Everly said, looking down at her own clothes.
“I believe this is where we will bring out your true self,” Aiden said, leading them deeper into the upscale boutique.
“Can we help you?” said the sales girls behind the counter upon seeing them.
“We need to get her a new look,” Aiden said, motioning to Everly.
“Of course,” the girls said, beginning to fuss over Everly.
The sales girls led her into the back room where they found her a seat and brought her a glass of champagne. They then began to show Everly the various items in the store.
“I saw a vintage vinyl record store on the way down here. I’m out,” Aiden said. “Good luck, Everly.”
Kian sat beside her as the clerks brought her one dress after another.
“Oh, I love the red one. Oh, and the green,” she said. “What you think, Kian?”
“I'd have to see them on you,” he said.
Heat rose in her cheeks and a wash of desire filled her core.
“I could try them on for you,” she said, gulping. “Are you okay here with Ember?”
“Of course,” he said rolling Ember’s stroller back and forth.
“All right then.”
She took the dresses, lingerie, and shoes and hurried off into the dressing room. After sliding into new underthings, she slipped on the emerald-colored dress with a pair of black pumps. She looked at herself in the mirror, and her mouth dropped open. If it weren't for her simple haircut and makeup, she would have looked like a completely different person, someone she barely recognized. Her curves looked sumptuous, not frumpy, and she had to catch herself before she got lightheaded.
With a huge smile on her face, she walked out into the waiting area where Kian was sitting with Ember. She did a little spin for him, and his eyes went wide.
“You look amazing,” he said. She put her hands on her hips, appreciating the way that the new lingerie accentuated her curves. She had no idea she could look like this.
“Now I want to see the red dress,” he said with a purr in his voice.
“Okay,” she said, clapping her hands together.
She trotted off to the dressing room and quickly slipped into the red dress. It was fitted in the bodice and flared at the waist into a full skirt that came to her knees. It had a black leather detail around the waist and leather trim around the heart-shaped neckline.
She hurried back into the waiting room and did another twirl for him. He growled, and his eyes flashed when she turned back around to face him.
“You are breathtaking.”
“You really think so?” she asked, looking down at her shoes and glancing behind her at the curve of her behind.
“Absolutely.”
Aiden came back after she’d tried on a dozen dresses, holding a bag of records. He inspected her.
“You definitely need jewelry for that look. And you're going to have to go to the salon and do something about your hair.”
“I know,” she said, touching her dim locks with her fingertips.
“I think she looks perfect,” Kian said flatly.
“She looks fine. But she could look better.”
Aiden winked at her. She grinned from ear to ear. Kian grumbled, and Aiden shrugged. Kian and Aiden stared at each other and some nonverbal communication passed between them. Kian finally sighed and shrugged, as if giving in to whatever message Aiden was sending him.
“You are a lovely girl. Any man would be lucky to have you,” Aiden said, walking over to her and taking her hands. “You just need to feel good about yourself. And that means bringing the inside out.”
He twirled her around gently and she came back to stand, looking up at him.
“I'm here to help you get your man,” he said with a wink.
“You are so kind, Aiden. I really appreciate it.”
“Don't mention it. That's what friends are for. I've made you an appointment with the salon,” he said, tapping his cellphone to text her the information. “Now, I have a stack of records to listen to back at the mansion. I’ll see you both at home.”
“Good,” Kian said.
“Thank you so much, Aiden,” she said, reaching up on her tiptoes and kissing his cheek.
She couldn't help it. She was so grateful. Kian growled, but Aiden patted her on the shoulder.
“I'll see you two later,” he said, waving his bejeweled hand as he walked out of the boutique.
“Isn't he the best?” Everly said to Kian.
“Yeah sure, the best,” Kian said through gritted teeth.
“I'm going to change into one of my new outfits and then we can go to the salon. My appointment starts in just a few minutes.”
“When you’re done, we can go to dinner.”
“This is the best day ever,” Everly said, clapping her hands and trotting off to the dressing room.
It really was. She couldn't remember the last time she had felt so much excitement and joy. Aiden really was a good friend. Even though Aiden looked like a wild rock star, she couldn't help but think that he was trying to help her win Kian's heart.
Chapter 10
Everly was alone with Kian and Ember, with bags full of clothes and an appointment at an upscale salon. Kian put all her new things into the car and strolled the stroller down the street, past the high-end boutiques, and into the salon.
“I have an appointment for Everly Collins,” she said.
&n
bsp; “Oh yes, we'll be ready for you in just a moment,” said the receptionist. “Just have a seat in the waiting room.”
Everly sat beside Kian, feeling a little beside herself as she sat in her pretty dress with the cute fitted jacket and her knee-high boots. She thought Kian liked it too.
She tried to tell herself that the look of desire in his eyes was just her imagination, but the more time they spent together, the less she was able to write it off as her imagination.
“We're ready for you, Everly,” said the receptionist.
“I’m taking Ember for a walk,” Kian said, standing from his chair. “There’s a park around the corner. I’ll be back when you’re done. We’ll all go out to dinner after.”
The stylist took her back to a salon chair and asked Everly what she wanted as he played with her hair.
“I'm not really sure,” Everly said with a shrug. “It's been so long since I've been to the salon, or really took care of myself like this.”
“Well, we can give you the works, your husband gave us his credit card.”
“He’s not my…” She was about to say he’s not my husband, but decided to just go along with it instead. It was a fun fantasy. “I mean, my husband is the best. What do you think that we should do?”
The stylist ran his hands through Everly’s shoulder-length dark blonde hair and flopped it around a little bit.
“I think we should give you some layers and some highlights. That should really bring out those beautiful blue eyes of yours.”
“That sounds great,” Everly said, blushing.
The stylist washed and dried her hair before beginning to expertly cut the layers in. When he was done with the cut, he brushed the highlights over foil and wrapped her hair. Everly glanced into the waiting room and found Kian had come back. He held Ember in his arms and fed her a bottle.
Everly couldn't believe that this big hunk of a man was sitting in a salon waiting room with the baby while she was getting her hair done. It really was mind-boggling.
He had hired her to be his nanny, and ended up treating her like his princess. The stylist rinsed the highlight dye out of her hair, dried and styled it before another stylist came and did her makeup.
By the time she was done, she looked like a completely new person. More beautiful than she'd ever seen herself, even on her wedding day. She was a little shocked as she stared into the mirror.
“Thank you so much,” she said, playing with her hair. It felt light and bouncy.
She left the stylist chair and met Kian in the waiting room with a bag of makeup and hair products. He had been so patient.
“You are beautiful,” he growled.
“I can't believe it,” she said. “I've never seen myself look so good.”
“You were beautiful before. But I think you like it better this way.”
“I love seeing myself like this. I feel… I feel like I’m capable of anything!”
“Hmm,” Kian growled. “That’s good.”
They walked down the street together with Ember in the stroller. She felt almost like they were a family, and she had to remind herself that they weren’t.
Kian wasn't her man and Ember wasn't her child. She was an employee. He was her boss. But it didn't matter how many times she told herself that; she couldn't help but feel like she had found her place in the world.
“There is a café down the street that is family-friendly,” he said, clicking off his phone. “They have good food and excellent service.”
“That sounds fantastic. I'm starving.”
They walked the rest of the way down the street and found the café where a reservation was waiting for them. The waitress seated them at a table by the window and moved the chair out of the way for Ember’s high chair. She had been so agreeable all day while they were out.
They put the baby in the high chair and the waitress came back to take their order. The restaurant had high-end bistro food that made Everly’s mouth water just reading the menu.
“I'll have the spinach tortellini with Alfredo sauce, a Caesar salad, and garlic toast,” Everly said.
“I'll have the steak sandwich and a baked potato,” Kian said.
Everly pulled the bottle out of the cooler inside Ember's diaper bag. She helped her drink and then prepared Ember’s applesauce.
“You really are spoiling me,” Everly said as she sipped her pink lemonade.
“Nothing more than what you deserve,” Kian said.
“I can't help but think I'm taking advantage of you.”
“I want you to feel good about yourself while you’re taking care of my daughter.”
“I have no objections to that.” She giggled.
The waitress returned with their meals and Everly dug into her tortellini. She groaned with delight as the flavor burst on her tongue. The buttery garlic bread was crunchy and savory, and she sopped up the Alfredo sauce with her toast. Kian spooned applesauce into Ember’s mouth. They took turns feeding the baby as they ate.
“This is so good,” Everly said.
She washed down her meal with her pink lemonade and the waitress came back and refilled her glass.
“I must say that I enjoy human food,” Kian said after the waitress left.
Everly was taken aback by that comment. What did he mean by “human food”? What other kind of food was there?
“I mean the food in Seattle,” he said. “I've been all around the world, and I'm still surprised at how delicious the food is in this city.”
“Oh,” she said, blinking several times. “Seattle is known for its excellent food.”
“Do you miss being in the city now that you live at the estate?”
“Not at all. I enjoy the simple, quiet life, to be honest. Taking care of Ember is so much fun. I love it.”
“I'm glad. I want you to feel at home with us.”
“I definitely do.”
They finished their early dinner. Kian paid and Everly wheeled Ember out of the restaurant.
“Let’s go look at the water,” he said. “There's a trail along the waterfront with a nice view.”
They strolled along the path at the edge of the Puget Sound. Ships passed out on the water. There was something so mystical and romantic about the view. The day had been warm, and the sun was beginning to set on the horizon in shades of pink, purple, and orange.
“It's so beautiful,” she said breathlessly.
“It's even more beautiful being here with you.”
They looked out on the sparkling water as Ember laughed and giggled in her stroller. Everly leaned on the railing and took in a deep breath of the salty sea air. Kian stood beside her. Their hands brushed against each other on the railing.
She looked up into his eyes as a spark of desire vibrated between them. The air was thick with unspoken need. His eyes flashed with hunger as he looked down at her. He smiled, his lips curling as if he was holding himself back.
He lifted his hand and cupped her cheek. The touch of his palm on her skin sent a shiver down her spine. She didn't know what to think just as he leaned in and brushed his lips over hers. Her entire body exploded with the awareness that the man of her dreams was kissing her hard on the mouth.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, wanting to feel him closer. He enfolded her waist and pulled her to him. She could feel his desire for her hard against her. His tongue slipped between her lips. She groaned as he cupped the back of her head and the small of her back.
She gushed with desire, wanting to kiss him harder. Groaning against his mouth, she closed her eyes tight. She didn’t want the moment to ever end. She fell into a well of desire for him, drowning in the deep waters of her need. She didn't want to ever come up for air.
They kissed for long moments, tasting and savoring each other until the sound of clicking photographs brought them out of their reverie. She pulled away with a gasp and looked around, seeing a group of foreign tourists taking pictures and pointing.
She realized there was a w
hale out in the water. The crowd was gawking at the sea life. But her and Kian’s moment had passed, and she still felt embarrassed. Heat rose in her cheeks as she stepped away from him and rested her elbows on the railing. He put his arm around her shoulder and whispered into her ear.
“I'm sorry,” he said, removing his hand from hers.
“Don't be sorry,” she said.
“I should not have done that. I'm your boss.”
“I wanted you to,” she breathed.
“I find you irresistible,” he said. “But I must retain my self-control. I know that these types of relationships are frowned upon here.”
She didn't know what he meant by “frowned upon here”. But she knew she could probably sue him for kissing her. He was, in fact, her boss, and kissing his employee would definitely be considered wrong.
All she felt was the deep need to have him kiss her again, to feel his body against hers once more. Skin to skin, flesh to flesh, and to drown in their desire.
“I must confess, I am attracted to you,” she said, the words coming out almost too soft to hear.
“I am attracted to you too.”
“What are we going to do about it?”
“What else can we do?” he asked. “We need to see where it will go. If that's okay with you.”
“That's definitely okay with me.”
“And if things don't go well, I will give you a large bonus and an excellent reference. You don't need to worry about your job security. I want you to understand that.”
“I understand that you're a good man, Kian. I know you're not trying to take advantage of me.”
“Good. Then it's agreed,” he said, “We’ll take it slow and see where this goes.”
Chapter 11
Kian drove Everly and Ember home. He helped Everly put Ember down for the night. The child was exhausted from the long day out, but she’d been an angel the entire time.
He left Everly at her door. Everything in him had resisted kissing her again. He knew he had been foolhardy for kissing her in the first place. He still didn't know if she was his mate.