Daddy's Boss: A Billionaire Older Man Younger Woman Romance Read online

  I look over at Beth, and a tiny part of me is grateful that I’m not the only one who’s fallen under the spell of his smile. She’s saying something back, giggling all the while.

  “I better get back to it,” he says regretfully, and the two of us straighten up a little. “There’s a lot of work to be done today.”

  “Of course,” Beth says hurriedly. “I’m sure Jenna is eager to start.”

  We head back out of his office, closing the door behind us.

  “What did I tell you,” Beth says with a dreamy sigh. “He’s really something else, isn’t he? Too bad office dating’s not allowed, because I’d be happy to help relieve some of that stress in his shoulders any day of the week.”

  She leads me back to my desk, and I sit, staring blankly at my computer. I’ve already got an email, probably asking me to photocopy something, but I can’t seem to focus on the words on the screen. I was so sure this morning that the hardest part of this job would be working under the eye of my father. That the only thing I would be worried about would be messing up and embarrassing him somehow. It turns out that I was right about it, with the wrong reason. It’s not misplacing office files I have to worry about, it’s my dad’s boss.

  Lachlan

  I notice our new hire, Jenna, right away, but it’s not until almost a week later when I come back from lunch that I get a chance to talk to her. I’m driving back from my visit to one of our new plants about three hours away. I’m particularly proud of this one, because it’s gone up almost a year ahead of my own plans. Buchanan Manufacturing is growing at a rate not even I could have predicted. It feels damn good, and I roll down the roof on my convertible to let the sun shine down on me.

  Even though I could have probably taken the day off, it’s not in my nature. I tend to work hard and play hard. I wouldn’t have succeeded or come as far as I have otherwise. A company is only as good as its leader, and if I slack off, it gives permission for the rest of my staff to do the same. That’s a lesson drilled into me by my grandfather, who climbed up from nothing into everything. I’ve listened to him talk since I was knee high, dreaming about becoming my own businessman while other children wanted to be ball players and astronauts.

  As soon as I walk through the doors to the office, Jenna stands up. Lacy must be on her lunch. Her dark hair’s cascading down over her shoulders today, and I feel an appreciative twitch in my pants. I like it when a woman has hair long enough to really get my hands in, to pull back and run through.

  “Mr. Buchanan,” she says, “a FedEx came for you.”

  She turns around, and I’m treated to a fantastic view of her ass in that prim pencil skirt of hers that I saw her in on her first day. Even though I know that she’s the daughter of my office manager, I can’t help but appreciate that she’s got curves in all the right places. I want to pull down that zipper and see just what lies underneath. I know that society seems to prefer their woman thin, but a woman in my mind should be soft and feminine. Perfect for running my hands over, squeezing, sinking my hard cock into. I have to put the brakes on my thoughts right then and there, before my erection becomes obvious to everyone at work.

  Jenna hands over the signed package, looking at me with those cornflower blue eyes that could stop a heart in its tracks. I’m sure that they have a time or two.

  “There you go,” she says.

  “Thanks Jenna,” I reply, and she blushes adorably. I’m used to having that effect on a woman, but I’m enjoying it more with her. I lean against the counter. “How’s your first week?”

  “Oh it’s fantastic! I’m learning so much.”

  “About plastics recycling?” I raise an eyebrow. “Surely it can’t be that interesting.”

  “But it is,” she says. “I’ve always wanted to be an interior designer, making and creating things to put in homes, so this is really right up my alley. It’s amazing to watch how all of this gets made, and how much you can do these days to reuse materials.”

  She’s refreshingly earnest, something that I haven’t seen in a long while in the women I sleep with. In fact, she has nothing in common with them, not the least of which is her age. I’m intrigued by her, and from the way Jenna’s cheeks are flushing, she is too. Not that I plan to sleep with her. No, I know better than to shit where I eat. I’m sure there have been rumors that I’ve dated a few of the women in my offices, but in truth I’ve never been tempted. Not until now.

  “It is, isn’t it? In fact, I’m hoping that we’ll be landing a huge contract soon with Toys 2 Tots. They’re planning on opening up their in house line of baby accessories, and landing it could mean one of the biggest orders in our plant’s history. I think we’ve come a long way where recycled products are safe even for our most precious customers.”

  Jenna’s eyes are wide open.

  “That’s amazing,” she says. “Is that why you chose to base yourself in California where the regulations are so strict?”

  “Exactly,” I say, surprised that she knows about this. “Some people think it’s a pain in the ass, but I believe that a higher standard can only be to our advantage.”

  I hold up the package.

  “And hopefully Toys 2 Tots thinks so too.”

  “Me too,” she says with a shy smile. “Well, have a good day, sir.”

  And damn if her calling me sir doesn’t give me a full on boner. I hurry through to my private office, not stopping to talk to anyone like I usually do. Having Jenna in at my work is going to be a problem, one I have no idea how to solve. Actually, scratch that, I do know how to solve it. The only question is, would it be worth the risk?

  ********

  Once I let myself consider the possibility of fucking Jenna, my brain can’t stop. I have to jerk off every morning and night just to keep myself under control. Her laugh, the way she tosses her hair, even a glance from those piercing blue eyes is enough to make me hard as a rock. I’m finding myself distracted in my meetings, my calls, practically every minute of my day. I leave the office more often just so I could have a reason to walk by when she’s subbing for Lacy at lunch.

  I think about calling her into my office, making her close the door, and pushing her against it. I’d rip off every one of those buttons on her shirt, suck her breast through the thin bra, swirling my tongue over her peaked nipples. My cock stiffens under my desk, as I imagine myself licking up her delicious skin, tormenting her with pleasure as I switch from one breast to another. I want to hear her moan my name as I nip those sensitive buds, whimper for me as I suck each tit into my hot mouth. And then that gasp, that breathy sigh as my hand lifts up her skirt, parting her dripping wet thighs to her center…

  “Mr. Buchanan?”

  Oh shit. It’s HR, with a stack of papers for me to sign off on the new hires. I quickly do, trying to keep my mind off the boner in my pants. It’s quite frankly, getting out of control, and I need to get this shit out of my system.

  And if it wasn’t for her father, Frank, I would have.

  I’m at a complete loss as to why the man hates me. Granted, we have different ways of doing things, but he’s not inherently a terrible manager, and I don’t think I give the guy that hard a time. We’ve had our disagreements in the past over how to run the office, but you’d think that he’d have found a new job by now if he was so unhappy with me. But the man’s still here, almost eight years later. I have no reason to fire him, nor do I have a desire to. The man’s well-liked by the rest of the staff. But sleeping with his daughter… that could complicate things much further than necessary.

  Of course, I don’t remember any of that as soon as I see her in the break room one afternoon.

  It’s been a long day, with back to back meetings, and a flurry of calls that run over, pushing back my work like a stack of dominoes. I know that I’ll have to stay at least an hour or two late, so I figure I should get some coffee before I power through it all. As soon as I walk in, I see Jenna over by the sink, washing up. She’s got in this tight blue sweater, and
her long hair is pulled up into a tight bun. My fingers twitch to pull the clip out, let her hair tumble down around her. It’s not part of her job, but I’ve noticed that she does more than her share. I can appreciate that value in anyone, but especially in her. I head towards her, reaching just above her to grab a mug. I can smell the strawberry shampoo in her hair, the warmth of her body next to mine.

  “Excuse me,” I say.

  “Mr. Buchanan,” she says in surprise. “What are you doing here? I thought that you would be done for the day.”

  “Busy day at work. I’ve got to stay late to catch up. Why haven’t you left work?”

  “My car’s in the garage and my dad’s busy with something on the floor, so I’m just waiting for a ride home. I thought I’d get some studying done,” she says, waving her hand towards the table, where a notebook and some pens have been set out. So that’s what she’s been doing during her lunch breaks.

  “You’re still in college?”

  “I’m just finishing up third year.”

  I do some quick calculations in my head. She’s only twenty, maybe twenty-one. Even more reason to stay away. I watch as she bites her lip, lost in thought. I wonder what they taste like, how they’d feel, and I put down my mug. When she releases her pink lip, I can’t look away. I shouldn’t, I know I shouldn’t, but I’m drawn towards her.

  I take a step forward, tilt her head up to me, and I kiss her without a second thought. Our mouths crash together, and she stiffens in surprise before melting into my arms. I can feel that lush body against my cock, hot and soft and better than I could have imagined. My tongue sweeps against her, and she opens up her lips for me. She’s sweet, like honey, and I commit the taste to memory. There’s a tiny sigh, and I pull her even closer to me, our tongues coming together. She’s so good that I lose myself to it all. Her hands move over my suit jacket, and I’m overcome with the need to have them on my bare skin. She’s making my cock painfully hard, and I’ve never wanted anyone as badly as I want Jenna now.

  “Jesus, you taste good,” I mutter.

  If you had asked me what I was thinking, I’d have to tell you that I wasn’t. In fact, the only thing in my mind right now is if I could manage to peel that prim cardigan off her before her father decides to show up. My cock is throbbing in my trousers, and I want her. Now. Dirty and fast.

  “Sir?” she stutters when we part for air.

  “Call me Lachlan,” I say roughly, and I kiss her again.

  Jenna

  I’m moody and confused, and it’s showing in my studies. The fact that it’s my last test before I’m free for the summer makes it worse. I can’t help it. I don’t know where to go with Lachlan at all. Gosh, I don’t even know if I’m supposed to be calling him Lachlan. He’s my boss.

  “This isn’t working,” I grumble, and I get up from my desk to head towards the kitchen. I’m grab a container of yogurt and plop onto my futon. It came with the apartment, and it’s definitely seen better days. I flick on the T.V., just so I can have something going on in the background, because I sure as hell wouldn’t be able to concentrate on the show.

  I replay what happened between us all the time. The way he stepped towards me, making my whole body burn up with heat, the way he touched my chin, his touch burning like a brand on my skin, and then the way my brain sort of turned to goo as soon as he kissed me. And then oh my god, the way I pressed against him, wanting more, my body just following its natural urges. My cheeks flame up again as I think about his hard body, those flat abs, and strong pectorals, just perfect in every single way. I close my eyes, and I remember inhaling in that spicy scent of his, sending my heart hammering in my ribcage. It was the kind of kiss that could make you forget about everything around you, even the fact that my dad could bust in on us at any minute.

  And in fact he did. The second time we broke apart, I could hear my dad calling. Not two seconds later, he shows up at the door to the break room, and Lachlan’s smoothly moving away from me with his mug. He turns to my father, nods, and heads out with his coffee. On the other hand, I’m pretty sure I looked completely dazed, my cheeks splotchy pink as I try to process what had happened. In fact, it’s not until I’m in my dad’s car on the way home that I manage to really wrap my brain around it all.

  Twenty-one and I’d never been kissed by a man. Not until that day.

  And then to have it be the kind of toe-curling, breath-taking, angels-parting-the-heavens-singing, getting-down-and-kinky kind of kiss that only happens in movies? It’s no wonder I’m a mess about it all.

  Except for one thing. Mr. Buchanan, no Lachlan, acts as if nothing has happened. The next day, he gives me his signature grin as if I’m just any other woman, and heads out to lunch. And I have no idea what to do. Do I try to talk to him? Am I supposed to put it behind me like he has? Was it just a slip? Maybe my nonexistent kissing skills put him off.

  I remember Beth’s words, about how he’s a player. Could that kiss have meant nothing at all? Maybe he’s already moved on to some other woman whose likely better in bed than I could ever be. I’m chasing my own thoughts in circles, and I’m in no better a mood than when I started.

  So when my sister invites me out for coffee, I agree to go. I mean, she knows all about men, having dated since she was sixteen, so maybe she’d know what to do about it all? That’s my hope at least. It’s a lovely Saturday afternoon, warm and breezy at the same time. We go to our usual place, the Starbucks that’s roughly between both of our apartments and settle down outside under one of their shade umbrellas with our drinks.

  “It almost feels like summer’s here already,” my sister comments.

  “Don’t say that,” I tell her. “I’m not ready for it to get blistering hot.”

  “You look cute today,” she says, pushing her shades up on top of her head. “Is that the dress you bought with me at Macy’s?”

  I nod. Janine leans forward, scrutinizing my face.

  “There’s someone in your life,” she says in surprise as she sits back. “Isn’t there? You’re even wearing makeup.”

  I blush and start to deny it, but then I remember why I agreed to come with her.

  “Maybe,” I say slowly. “It’s not anything serious though. In fact, I’m not sure if anything’s really there.”

  Okay, so that’s a big fat lie, but I don’t want Janine guessing too close to the truth. I’m pretty sure she won’t say anything, but I still want to be cautious.

  “Of course there’s something there,” she retorts as she sucks up the whip cream in her Frappuccino. “You hardly ever wear dresses. Now tell me who it is.”

  “I can’t. I don’t want to get anyone in trouble,” I say, and at least that’s truthful.

  She gazes at me thoughtfully, tapping a finger against the table.

  “It’s an older man, isn’t it? A married older man,” she says at last, and I’m so surprised I almost choke on my latte. “Aha! I knew it. Go Jenna! Is it your professor? Are you having sex with your professor?!”

  I shush her fast. She’s close enough to the truth for me to not want anyone to overhear. Not that I expect there to be anyone from work or school here, but still.

  “Don’t say it like that,” I mumble, not exactly telling her she’s wrong. It’s just best if she doesn’t actually know the whole story. “There’s nothing going on between us.”

  “But you want there to be.”

  I swirl my straw around. Did I want there to be? In just a few short weeks, we’ve gone from strangers to something more. And while every fiber of my being wants there to be something, my brain is telling me to slow the hell down. To think things through. To consider the consequences. And there were lots of them, the biggest of them being my dad.

  “Maybe a little,” I admit. “You know me Janine. I’ve never had a boyfriend. I’ve never felt the sort of head-over-heels attraction that I’ve read in all my books. So I’m totally clueless. Add to that the fact that I’m not even sure we should be doing this…”
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br />   I stop there and sigh. When I spell it out like that, even I know what the right answer is. I don’t need Janine to tell me.

  “Look,” Janine say. “I know how it feels. Unrequited love sucks. So let me be the big older sister and set you up on a date with a hot, young guy who’s single and available. He’s Trev’s friend, and I actually thought you two would be pretty compatible for a while now. Lemme ask Trev if he’s available.”

  She whips out her phone and begins to text her boyfriend. I’m still reeling from the fact that my sister even knows what ‘unrequited’ means to stop her.

  “He says that Louis is free,” Janine reports. “So let’s make it a double date.”

  “Wait what?” I say. This is going way too fast. “Did you just set me up with a stranger?”

  “Louis isn’t a stranger,” she says as she slips her phone back in her purse. “He’s charming I promise. And geeky like you.”

  I read books. That doesn’t make me a geek. But the distinction escapes my older sister.

  “Come on,” she says when I don’t reply to her. “I’ve already said yes. We were planning on hitting up the street market for dinner. It’s supposed to be a lot of fun. And it’s not like you have to go home with Louis. Just meet him, for crying out loud.”

  “I don’t understand how meeting someone is supposed to fix my current problem,” I tell her at last. “It seems like it’d just complicate things.”

  “Of course not. If you go out with someone else and you feel something, then clearly your feelings for this guy aren’t as serious as you thought. It probably means you just need to get laid. Trust me, I get that way too sometimes, especially when I’ve been single for a few months. I can’t imagine what it’s like to be single for years like you have.”

  There’s a look of horror on my sister’s face that really makes me reconsider ever telling her anything again. Seriously, we may get along most of the time, but Janine can really annoy me sometimes.