When I emerged from my office and saw my secretary smiling a goofy little grin, it was clear she was thrilled to be spending the evening with me. Perhaps that was a rather self-absorbed thought, but a man had to indulge himself every once in a while, didn’t he?

“What has you all smiles?” I asked her with a slightly teasing lilt. She stiffened, fumbling with her phone for a moment before holding the blank screen in front of her face.

“Oh… Just something on my phone,” she said, her voice quaking nervously with the obvious lie. I tilted my head curiously, fighting to keep the mirth out of my eyes. She looked terrified by the prospect of me asking just what she was looking at, and as much as I wanted to tease her, I held back.

“All right. Off we go, then?” I suggested, offering her my arm.

Her eyes widened in a manner she probably thought imperceptible, but Ashley was anything but subtle. Her cheeks flushed a pleasant shade of red, and she obligingly took my arm.

I guided her toward the elevator, a sensation of warmth brewing in my gut as we descended from the top of the building. Happiness seemed to radiate from her entire being, and I couldn’t deny feeling a bit more chipper myself.

“You said the Cerf Blanc, right? Isn’t that one of the most expensive restaurants in San Diego?” she asked shyly, and I curled my lips into a smile.

“Suddenly glad I offered to pay, then?” I teased. She pouted; that adorable expression that made her hazel eyes glimmer, sending jolts of longing through my heart. All right, so perhaps my feelings for her were a bit deeper than I cared to admit.

From the moment Ashley Calhoun had first stepped into my office, those eyes had had me captured. I was but a captive in her presence, gripped by the subtle bounce of her curly hair, her voluptuous curves and those soul-gripping eyes. I couldn’t deny that my reasons for hiring her were less than charitable, though I was certain I had blown my chances at getting her under my desk a long time ago. At least, under my desk with no strings attached.

It was easy to pretend that all I wanted was those luscious lips wrapped around my length, her curls bouncing as she moved her head back and forth…but that wasn’t all that I desired from my tender little secretary, and I felt some trepidation considering that night’s dinner topic.

Then again, I had no intentions of settling down. I intended to make it very clear that all I sought was a surrogate mother. More than once I’d been struck by the thought that Ashley herself would be the perfect mother to my child. She had brains, beauty, wits to boot. She was the kindest woman I’d ever had the pleasure of meeting, and the thought of conceiving naturally with her sent a flare of desire straight to my loins.

I was unaware that I’d tightened my grip on her until she turned to me with wide and imploring eyes. I could only stiffen beneath her gaze. My jaw clenched as I fought to repress the desirous thoughts that brewed in my brain. She was an employee, and I could never cross that line with her. If I allowed myself to get that close to her, even for a night, I wasn’t sure I would ever be willing to let her go.

“Are you all right, Jensen?” she asked gently, resting her hand on top of mine. In spite of the pounding in my heart, I managed to keep my cool as I flashed a broad smile at her.

“Oh, I’m fine, just thinking about what I might have for dinner,” I lied, though she didn’t look altogether convinced. As far as I was concerned, that just made us even after her lie scarce moments ago.

The elevator’s ding as we reached the bottom floor drew Ashley’s attention away from me, and I found myself somewhat grateful. I didn’t exactly want to explain that I was imagining her splayed on my bed in skimpy lingerie.

“All right, so I’m just going to meet you there? Or…?” She trailed off, looking at me with something of a glimmer in her eye. “We could head over there together. I’d like to get a drink and relax after the day I’ve had,” she said mischievously. I raised a brow, unable to stop the grin that nearly split my face in two.

“Oh, so you’re going to be naughty tonight? All right, I suppose I can drive you. Just don’t get too tipsy, I don’t know that I trust you to keep your hands to yourself,” I said just above a whisper, leading her out of the elevator. Her eyes widened, and I wasn’t quite sure if she was scandalized or just embarrassed.

“You get to be a bad boy every day, Jensen. Let someone else have some fun for once,” she said after a moment. I felt my mouth go dry, arousal spiking between my thighs. She simply smirked at me, drawing away just as we reached my red sports car. I opened the passenger door for her, winking as she settled inside.

“All right, I guess I’ll just have to keep an eye on you then,” I said with a smile, closing the door and circling around the car. As I opened the door, the last thing I expected was the retort she offered.

“I hope you’re able to control yourself,” she said flirtily, her expression bolder than I’d ever seen it before. I knew it was a dangerous line we were toeing, and professionalism had long been thrown out the window. Just the same, I had to play it cool. It was for her own good, after all.

“Oh, perish the thought,” I replied under my breath, my heart lurching when she seemed upset that I hadn’t taken her bait. Was there more to this dinner than I’d expected? Ashley was a terrible liar, and if she wanted to discuss anything beyond a bit of work chatter, I would surely know by now.

Cranking the ignition, I backed out of the parking lot faster than was strictly necessary. Even though I had to keep things professional, I still wanted to impress the woman at my side. It was a game of give and take, but I had to remain certain that it was just that: a game. Ashley clutched the armrests of her seat, pressed against leather upholstery. I pretended not to notice the way her thighs subtly shifted together, nor the pleased flush on her cheeks.

“You sure know how to show a girl a good time,” she said teasingly. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see a sliver of her thigh peeking out from beneath her skirt, and it was all I could do to keep from swerving off the road. She was just teasing me, and it was nothing I couldn’t handle. If she wanted to press me, I wasn’t about to be outdone.

“Oh, Ashley dear, I’ve not begun to show you a good time. At least, not yet,” I said lasciviously. I regretted the words as soon as I said them, though there was something all too thrilling about the way she blushed from her cheeks all the way down to her neck. I longed to see if her blush dipped down any deeper, perhaps between the valley of her sizable breasts.

Forcing my eyes on the road, I realized we were closer to the Cerf Blanc than I’d thought. I tried to calm my racing heart, and the rush of blood that seemed intent on surging in my groin. I wasn’t some high school kid with a crush, I was a grown man having dinner with his secretary.

I banished the thought of her lips shaped in a perfect ‘O’ from my mind, pulling into a parking spot and cutting the ignition. The vibrations of the car ceased, and I was all too aware of the pleased haze in Ashley’s gaze. Perhaps I had pushed her too far. The situation was getting dangerous fast, and I tried to repeat rationalizations in my mind. She was an employee. She was off-limits. I could not take her to my penthouse and have my way with her, as much as her gorgeous eyes begged for it.

“Here we are,” I managed, offering her a warm smile. She shook off her dazed state, glancing toward me with a blush.

“Here we are,” she repeated. Apparently unable to take the tension any longer, she pushed her door open and scrambled out of the car.

Disaster avoided.

For now.