SEVEN MONTHS LATER…

“I’m not going to hire someone to oversee security who hasn’t served in the military,” Landon exclaimed, effectively shutting down this conversation. He and his father had gone through several resumes in their bid to construct a security team now that their corporation had officially doubled in size and currently had more lucrative deals on the table. “I’ll have Susan bring in another round of applicants next Wednesday. We’ll start from scratch. What we need here is leadership, someone who has the credentials that the rest of the team can identify with.”

“This one has military service,” Richard Smyth pointed out, holding up a thick manila folder. He opened it to the front page and started to read off the applicant’s accomplishments.

“Dad, I think we need to call it a day.” Landon pushed his black leather chair back on its wheels and stood in exhaustion, bringing to close another long week. Recently, he’d been working fourteen-hour days and most weekends, this one included. “My flight leaves for Aruba in three hours and I still need to go home and pack.”

Aruba.

Landon couldn’t think of the Dutch Caribbean island without seeing his blue-eyed brunette lying naked on his bed.

Yes, his.

He’d thought of little else since they parted ways at the airport.

“I think we should pick someone from our existing group to start heading up the security team.” Richard tossed the dossier onto Landon’s desk. He wasn’t in the day-to-day business decisions, but he did like to be included in major changes within their family organization. “You shouldn’t be going back to Aruba without security, so I’ve made an executive decision.”

“Dad, you don’t have the authority anymore to make an—”

Landon broke off his declaration when his father swung open the office door to reveal the woman who’d taken over his thoughts every waking moment for the last seven months. She was wearing the same exact dress she had been the night she’d asked him to dance, thwarting whatever plan Curtis Pynaker had in mind.

Kelli Garrett was breathtaking as she stepped into the office and paused long enough to embrace his father in a warm hug.

Was that a blue flower in her hair?

His curiosity went by the wayside at the familiar way Kelli was addressing his father, as if they were old friends. Exactly what had he missed?

“Meet the head of our new security team,” Richard said rather proudly, a broad smile on his face as he grabbed the doorknob. “I’ll leave you two to sort out the details of the trip, and I’ll see you both next Wednesday.”

And just like that, Kelli was standing by herself wearing that beautiful, white formfitting dress with nothing on underneath. Well, most likely besides her holstered weapon.

“Lock the door, Kelli.” Landon had already started to remove his jacket, well aware that neither one of them was leaving this office without some sort of satisfaction. “It appears we have an interview to conduct.”

“Technically, I’ve already been hired.” Kelli turned the small lever on the door handle anyway, securing them inside. Her blue eyes practically sparkled as she leaned back against the wooden structure. “No interview needed, though there are details that will need to be sorted out before we continue with this…relationship.”

“Such as?” Landon asked, tossing his jacket over the arm of his chair. He took his time pushing away the various items on his desk, giving them a wide clearing for what he had in mind. “Wages? Hours? Responsibilities?”

“I was thinking more in terms of guidelines for a professional work environment,” Kelli responded, reaching under her dress and removing that ever-present holster. She set it gently on top of the bookcase without ever breaking their gaze. “I keep you safe by you simply following every instruction I give you during the course of your trip.”

“Agreed, with one exception.” Landon began to loosen his tie. “I allow you satisfaction in the bedroom by you simply following every instruction I give you during the course of our sexual endeavors. We can further agree to an equal partnership in our marriage.”

Kelli had just slipped out of her heels when the last word registered, causing her to slightly stumble. It was quite adorable to finally see her somewhat taken aback by his declaration.

“There’s this clause we have here at the office about employer and employee relationships, so I took it upon myself to discover a loophole that would allow us to continue to explore our relationship.” Landon shrugged out of his shirt, discarding it over his jacket as he reached for his belt. “By the way, you didn’t return my calls when you arrived back in the States.”

“I was busy accepting a business offer I couldn’t turn down,” Kelli explained, still regarding him warily as he unzipped his pants. “Landon, we can’t get married. We hardly know—”

“You said it yourself, little siren. I follow your directives during our business trips, and you follow mine in our love life and we’re equal in our relationship. It’s a fair exchange, though I can see where we would want a six-month probation to iron out the kinks.”

“Was that a pun?” Kelli’s light, addictive laugh rang out through the room as he slowly closed the distance between them. “Mr. Smyth, I’ve already negotiated my contract. But I’m open to making a few concessions.”

“And the six-month probation period?”

They both were aware that he was talking about a short engagement. He needed an answer before they took this any further.

“Yes, I definitely agree to those terms,” Kelli whispered happily as she wrapped her arms around his neck, lifting herself up on her tiptoes so that her lips were inches from his.

The tightness he’d experienced in his chest over the last seven months eased, finally allowing him to breathe in her sweet fragrance. Everything was right in their world. He wrapped his arm around her waist with every intention of taking her over to his desk to seal their contract.

“Then let’s finally put this deal to bed, little siren. We have a plane to catch.”