Claimed by my Boss & His Twin Novel – Natalie Pulling into the driveway of my boss’s luxurious mountain home in Eggplant Canyon, I hope my car doesn’t drip oil on his pristine driveway. That’s not the kind of mark I’d like to leave on his life. If I ever got to play out my fantasies, I’d leave lipstick on his collar, his chest, his co—I stop myself from imagining my boss’s eggplant. I give myself a mental shake and grab the large envelope with the contract he needs me to drop off. The errant thoughts will serve me just fine later, but for now, the most fun I can have is pretending I live with him and I’m coming home.
Be nice. Be pretty. Be useful.My mother’s mantra plays through my mind. It may be a little ridiculous, but here I am, after hours, delivering a contract in between waves of the horrific storm. Reaching under the chair, I feel around for the hidden key that he said is magnetically attached. When I don’t find anything, I drop to my hands and knees to look. Still nothing. Did I remember incorrectly? Checking the other chair and small table, there’s no key. I poke around the porch at the edge of the bushes looking for a fake rock like my parents used to use. He gave me one mission…leave the contract inside his house.
I’d supposed my biggest problem would be refraining from testing how cozy his sofa is, or finding his bedroom and smelling his pillows—I’m not a creeper—but he probably has cameras and I’d end up fired. But I can’t even stick to my job and leave the contract inside if I can’t find the key. I glance overhead at the sky full of black clouds. The small break in the storm isn’t enough for me to trust leaving the contract on the porch. Doing exactly what my boss asked would be ideal, but if I can’t find the key, I suppose I can leave the contract at my brothers’ house next door, then have one of them deliver it when Mister Adams gets home. Will I get points for thinking outside the box? My boss and my brothers are friends. It was that connection that landed me the high-paying administrative assistant job that I can’t afford to mess up. I lose myself for a moment, staring at the ominous skyline cresting the mountain ridge opposite his house. It’s a view I could get used to, but that will be from my siblings’ house since our company has a strict ‘no fraternizing’ policy.
A chuckle bubbles through me…as if I’d have a chance to fraternize with my boss who barely ever looks my way. The crack of the front door opening causes me to spin around. He’s not supposed to get back in town until later. I spoke to him thirty minutes ago. Yet he’s here. My heart’s beating out of control. Is this more than a request for me to bring the contract? Am I ready for my fantasy world to be put to the test? Wet heat pools between my legs in the brief second we stare at each other. He’s so much more relaxed at home than at the office. His t-shirt hangs on him like it’s an old favorite, there’s no styling product in his hair, and his features are ever-so-slightly more relaxed… Like he’s a different person.
Jefferson Does my twin brother have a stalker? The woman rustling around on his front porch causes me to think so. Lincoln’s large glass windows give me an adequate view of the woman, although if she were to look, she wouldn’t be able to see much of me with how the furniture is arranged. Shifting from my relaxed sprawl on the couch, I sit forward with my hands on my knees, ready to go to the door. Even though she can’t hear me, I suppress my groan when she gets on all fours. Is it wrong to watch? Is it wrong for her to be snooping on my brother’s porch? I hesitate. What’s wrong is that I want to pretend to be my twin and imagine having this gorgeous woman in my life. Her business suit and bun, and the manilla envelope she’s holding, give her an air of confidence like she belongs here. Why doesn’t she knock? I take that back.
Looking under everything on the porch doesn’t exactly scream that she belongs, but she’s not looking over her shoulder or looking to see if he has one of those doorbell cameras. Who is she? And what is she doing? She rights herself, her hands and manilla folder flop to her sides, and she drops her head back. Is she looking at the sky? Oh. I got in town a few days ago and haven’t put Lincoln’s hidden key back. As far as Lincoln knows, I’m supposed to be at a meeting with my lawyer, but he had to cancel, leaving me home unexpectedly. I stride to the door and with every step I’m more curious who this woman is. She’s gorgeous with a self-assured innocence. She’s making my shaft hard. She’s exactly what I don’t need right now.
I moved back to Eggplant Canyon and am working with a lawyer to get partial custody of my son, Harrison. My wild ways when I was younger cost me dearly. One of the few things I’d contributed to my son’s life, was that I’d asked my girlfriend to use a presidential name like my parents had done. Harrison is the one she chose. I appreciate that she extended that courtesy and did such a great job of raising him on her own up until this point. It’s ten years past when I should have pulled myself together and shown that I could be stable. So why is temptation on my brother’s front porch? Why when I pop the door open do I feel an instant connection to the innocent beauty? Not the kind I’d had with hookups but the kind that tells me I have to get to know this woman. Why am I imagining her belly swollen with my baby while she carries another on her hip? “I have your contract.” Her voice is soft and delicate, like her. She holds up the folder.
A business associate? That explains the clothes, but she’s too young. Her innocence could be deceiving, but I don’t place her much above a teenager. Her big eyes look up at me with more than a business relationship brewing behind them. “Right,” I say, opening the door further. This isn’t right, but I can’t find it in me to tell her who I am. Devilish thoughts play through my mind. “I should go.” She looks at me with hope and desire while extending the envelope. Her eyes rake down my t-shirt and athletic shorts, the same as most women do. Thankfully, I manage to keep my shaft from tenting my pants. All of the self-control I’d been so proud of lately is urging me to invite her in, which can’t possibly work out. This is going to be wrong on a few levels. “Wait.” My words pull her eyes back to mine and the faintest hint of pink covers her cheeks before her expression turns to something akin to idolizing. This insanely gorgeous woman idolizes my twin? Time to explore.
Nothing will happen. He’ll be home soon. He’ll have to fess up that he has a carbon copy…physically anyway. His corporate path and my entrepreneurial struggles bear no resemblance. “Come on in.” Her eyes go wide and she worries her lower lip. But I remind it we’re going to bed alone tonight. “You want me to come in?” Why is she surprised? This rules her out as a girlfriend or mistress. I test the waters. “Sure, why not.” She enters and glances around as if she’s never been inside before. “What a beautiful home you have, Mister Adams.” That is my name, and this will be my home for the next few months. “Make yourself comfortable.” “What’s on your mind? You look curious.” She purses her lips, takes a sip, and looks everywhere but at me. “Am I that scary to talk to?” “You’re so different at the office. You never…” She pauses then waves her hand between us.
“Anyway, it’s good to see that you’re relaxed at home. Sometimes, at the office, I worry that you work too hard.” “Tell me about yourself. What do you do to relax?” “Read books.” “Is that it?” She shrugs. “Lots of books.” “Let your hair down.” Her hand flies to her chest. “Mister Adams…” “Or I can do it for you.” I shouldn’t have said that. It would be my preference to run my fingers through her silky strands, find the little clip that’s holding her together, and undo her. That would be the old me. I’m on thin ice, but the flicker of excitement in her eyes lures me further. Her blush takes over her entire cheeks. Angling her face to the side, away from me, she holds her bun with one hand and timidly retrieves two bobby pins. When she pulls her hands away, her hair spills down. “There, now you look relaxed too. Doesn’t that feel better?” She ducks her head. Intending to refresh her drink, I head to her, but when I’m close and can see the subtleties of the golds and blondes in her rich brown hair, I lose focus. I stroke a finger over her ear. “You’re gorgeous.”