Page 1 of Sexy Bad Boss

Chapter One

MYRA

I love weddings. Black tie. White tie. Cocktail. Garden. Even backyard weddings like this one. Weddings are just beautiful. The idea of loving someone so much that you want to stand in front of your family, your friends, your entire community in some instances, and tie yourself to another person in a symbol of your love; it’s swoon worthy.

Unless of course, you’re not in love.

Or worse, it’s unrequited.

In that case, watching one of your friends get married is still joyful, but it’s also a little prickly. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not jealous of Chloe and Paynter. I don’t wish they weren’t head over heels in love with each other. Or that the goat, along with Paynter’s niece, weren’t the cutest little flower girls.

I’m also not envious that Garrett, one of the other Frost brothers, found himself completely, irrevocably in love with his daughter’s nanny. So much so that the eternal playboy proposed to Erin at his brother’s wedding. And adopted a duck.

Who adopts a duck anyway? People in sickening, sweet love, that’s who.

Honestly, I couldn’t be happier for all of them. They deserve to live happily ever after. It’s just...I had hoped by now that I would be a little closer to wrangling a declaration of affection from my own Frost. Or, at the very least, a first date.

The bride is glowing. A minute ago, she was perfection. Not a hair out of place. Her perfect champagne gown appeared to glide along the carpet runner as she swanned toward her husband-to-be. But now she waves her hand under her nose and tries not to get teary while she says I do.

The photographer snaps shot after shot. They’re probably perfect, with the lake and trees behind the white trellis wound with vines and flowers. The groom pinches the bridge of his nose for a moment, hiding his eyes, before it’s his turn to make his vows.

It’s always the look on the groom’s face that gets to me the most. The way strong men can’t hide their emotions while pledging their lives to the woman they love. They crumble. The men in my own family would never show this much emotion. Not for love, death, or taxes.

I flutter my lashes and fight not to give in to emotion while I sneakily pull a tissue from my sequined clutch to blot the inner corners of my eyes. Beside me, James shifts his stance and makes a small, rough noise in his throat. From the side of my eye I can see his hands. Strong, capable hands with long, agile fingers and blunt nails. Tanned, but only because of his golf game every couple of weeks. I may have spent a little too much time over the years imagining them on me. He grips them together then drops them to his side before folding his arms across his chest. He never does know what to do with them when he’s not working. James Frost, the last single Frost brother and the one I have wanted to say I do to since the day I entered his office that first time. What an award-winning glower! And that head for business...such a turn-on.

The celebrant announces that Paynt can kiss his bride. The groom wraps an arm around his wife’s waist, one hand capturing her face while he says something that makes her smile. None of us hear it. Those words are only for her. Their lips meet and we clap. Someone, probably Garrett, says something a little untoward that sends up a titter among the guests.

James coughs into his fist. He’s uncomfortable with the display of affection in front of us. I glance up at him only to get caught in that familiar gaze. Is there any chance he could ever see me as a woman, instead of a walking, talking Blackberry? If I told him how I felt would he care, or would it ruin everything?

“Best go congratulate the happy couple,” he says. Then he strides across the lawn and it takes me a moment to catch up. He’s taller than me, slim, with long legs and a gym-earned physique, but I’m used to keeping up with him.

Five years. That’s how long I’ve been at this man’s side. And not once has he turned to me and said, “You know, Myra, I just want to throw you over this desk and fuck you senseless,” or “Would you ever consider dinner with me if it were, say, a date and not a business meeting?” Pity. I would like that.

“Myra, I’m so happy you’re here.” Chloe hugs me while James congratulates Paynt. They don’t hug, although Paynt gives his brother a light shove. The three brothers are so different, but James is the odd one out. He always has been that much more serious than the others. More determined and goal orientated.

“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” I tell her. “You’re such a beautiful bride, and that man loves you so much.”

“He does,” she agrees. “I know I’m incredibly lucky.”

“No.” I shake my head. “I doubt there was any luck involved.”

“But there was a goat.” Her eyes twinkle. “Some would say that finding Spot was luck.”

“Perhaps. Either way, you deserve to be happy.”

“What about you?” she whispers. “Are you ever going to do something about our boss?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I step out of the hug. I crinkle my brow as I look from her to James.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about. Come on, Myra, be a go-getter.” Chloe grins big, so big. She’s so happy, she wants to see everyone happy. This isn’t the first time a bride has decided I needed a man in my life. Usually they try to set me up with their cousin’s accountant in Bristol or their father-in-law’s lawyer from Michigan. They don’t hit the nail on the head the way Chloe does. But then they don’t work with us either, and Chloe is James’s partner at Frost Inc.

“There’s absolutely nothing—”

“What’s nothing?” Paynt kisses Chloe’s temple as James moves to my side.

Again I’m tempted to glance at him, but will that make it too obvious that he’s the subject of our conversation? “It doesn’t matter. We were just discussing Spot.”