Chapter 1

River Armstrong’s day had just gone from bad to worse. It was a beautiful day in Aruba, but he didn’t notice the bright sunshine, the white sandy beaches, or the turquoise water. A steep frown creased his forehead as he stomped into the employment agency.

“Mr. Armstrong,” the clerk said, waving him forward. “How can I be of help today, sir?”

“I need a new assistant,” River said and flopped onto the chair in front of the clerk’s desk.

“I’m sorry, sir. I don’t understand. Didn’t we just place a young woman with you last week?”

River spit fire through his blue eyes. “Yes, but I caught said woman stealing and fired her on the spot. I need a replacement immediately, as I’m bound to depart tomorrow.”

The clerk made a tsking noise and shook his head. “I’m sorry for your predicament, sir. Let me pull up your account and we’ll see what we can do.” He typed into his computer and a few moments later looked up with a smile saying, “Ah, here it is. We would be happy to place another assistant with you; we just need to take care of this existing contract and commission fee. Would you like to cut us a check right now?” The clerk looked up at him expectantly.

“Come again?” River stared, stupefied for a moment.

“We need you to pay the entire first month of your contract with us, as is stipulated under paragraph seven—“

“I’m not paying a single cent for that thief you sent me!” River jumped up, but then sat back down, taking a deep breath, controlling his urge to blast the man with a volley of less than polite words. “Let me go over the facts one more time. Your company was hired to provide me with a reliable, and trustworthy, employee. Needless to say, stealing was not one of my requirements for an assistant, even though it was the highlight of her resume. I want a replacement. And I want it now.”

The clerk shook his head and leaned back in his chair. “I’m sorry, sir. In this instance, we would need verified witnesses to the thievery.”

“Witnesses?” River pushed his hand through his dark, longish hair in exasperation. Then he fisted his hands at his sides. They itched to reach across the span of the cheap metal desk and throat punch this insolent prick. “Are you kidding me? I saw with my own eyes how she stuffed money into her bra while walking out of my cabin.”

“But you can’t be sure, it wasn’t her own money, right?” The clerk lazily spun his pencil in his hand.

“She came out of my cabin, for God’s sake. What more proof do you need? Last I heard, Victoria’s Secret hasn’t invented money making lingerie.” River’s voice filled the entire office of the employment agency. He heard the sound of the door clicking shut, but couldn’t care less.

 “Have you told our employee not to enter your cabin?” The clerk ignored River’s question.

“Of course I have. My cabin is taboo for everyone except me.” Why am I even answering his ignorant questions? It’s ridiculous.

“Well, then wouldn’t it have been better to lock the door to your cabin?”

“Are you now telling me it was my own fault, that your thieving employee stole from me?” River grabbed his legs with both of his hands to prevent himself from strangling the fat, self-righteous man in front of him. He wouldn’t be surprised if the clerk was in cahoots with the assistant he’d just fired, palming his cut to fund his fast food habit.

“Sir, we need more proof to nullify the contract. Maybe you could provide us with a video tape of this person’s alleged thievery in your cabin?” The clerk had the audacity to smile at River, who felt the rage boiling in his veins.

“No! This is ridiculous! I don’t have a hidden video camera in my cabin! That is sick! I want a new employee, that’s all…” A stealing employee would ruin River’s entire business. He couldn’t even imagine what would happen if this girl decided to bypass him as a target and instead, steal from his cruise guests due to arrive this weekend.

The clerk shook his head and smirked. Smirked. “I’m more than happy to provide you with a new employee, as soon as we’ve taken care of the existing contract. You do understand that without witnesses or other proof, we cannot nullify the contract. We pride ourselves as a company on treating everyone fairly.”

“Yeah, except your paying customers. What’s fair about making me pay for an employee who isn’t even an employee any longer?”

The clerk ignored his question and continued, “I hate to be the bearer of such distressing news, but unfortunately, you will have to pay the first month plus our commission before we can place another person with you. Now, would you prefer to cut us a check or pay with cash?”

River leaned forward, encroaching on the clerk’s personal space. “I saw her with my own two eyes. She took several hundred dollars out of my wallet and tucked them inside her bra. I don’t lie, and I certainly don’t steal. Neither do I employ or tolerate those who do.”

“Now, I’m not paying the previous contract, and I need a replacement. Today.” River’s used his most threatening voice, accompanied by the stare he’d perfected in many arguments, trying to intimidate his older brothers.

“Sir, unless you’re going to honor the previous contract and commission agreement, there is nothing I can do for you,” the clerk answered, unfazed.

“Your employee stole from me!” River shouted. Someone behind his back gasped. Ha! Now all future clients of this shady agency will know what they’re dealing with.

“We need witnesses to back up your claim,” the clerk persisted.

“This is ridiculous!” River shouted. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a woman walking over to the water cooler. Instinctively, he turned his head and forgot to be angry for a moment. A tall, brunette woman with fascinating golden strands and mesmerizing blue eyes framed by impossibly long eyelashes did her best not to stare at the two men.

Despite wearing a simple white shirt with spaghetti straps and faded blue jean boxer shorts, she exuded an unparalleled class. River had slept with hundreds of women over the years, but never one like her. He licked his lips and a recess of his brain started strategizing a plan on how to get into her panties.

“I need another employee, and I need her today,” River dropped his voice to a socially acceptable level again. “Is it too much to ask that in addition to speaking fluent English, Dutch, Spanish, and having decent computer skills she also has to be honest?”

“I’m sorry to repeat myself, sir,” the clerk said, “but nowhere in our contracts does it say we are liable if the business owner decides to claim a theft or other misdeed has been done and there is no physical proof to back up the allegations. If you do not wish to take care of the outstanding contract today, we will of course, continue to debit your account for the agreed upon amount until the four weeks are over. Then you can return and apply for another employee.”

“You gotta be kidding me?” River said, groaning, but he already knew the answer. This son-of-a-clerk didn’t joke. He was dead serious about making River pay for the full contract. This agency had a good reputation and River had fully expected them to provide him with a viable replacement. Of all the stupid-ass policies…I can’t have a replacement employee because I have to pay for a dishonest one? What kind of sham place is this?

“Is there anything else I can assist you with today? As you can see, I have other clients waiting,” the clerk said.

River clenched his fists, fighting the urge to reach over the reception desk and commit a more serious crime than stealing. He stood and stomped toward the doors, checking out the beautiful brunette as he passed her. His body gave a strong visceral reaction to her presence, hitting him straight in the gut. She wasn’t actually his type, but she would do to channel his anger into something more delightful.

The woman though, didn’t so much as glance at him and approached the clerk’s desk. “Good morning, sir.”

River’s body stalled for a moment at the sound of her voice. It was sweet, melodic, and a tad timid, but there was also a band of strength beneath all of that sweetness. He turned at the door and let his eyes travel up and down her body.

Even her backside was stunningly beautiful, and he longed to bury his hands in her waist-long golden-brown hair. His body liked everything he saw, but now wasn’t the time to allow his baser instincts to take over. He had a problem on his hands, and finding his next bedmate would have to take a backseat.