“Come…”
Don’t even joke, Amber thought as the deeply masculine, faintly accented voice of Alexei Riga took a leisurely ride across her senses.
He glancedup as she walked in.Twenty-four years old, according to her CV.Slender and pale, she had the type of Celtic fragility he’d steered clear of in the past.He preferred his women sophisticated enough to know the score.He reminded himself that she wasn’t here to share his bed but to work, and possibly advance within his organization.He took in the untidy red hair piled up haphazardly on top of her head and the casual outfit.Any resemblance to a woman who had undergone the most intense physical training the army could offer was lost on him.He might have wondered if her CV had been embroidered if it hadn’t come from an impeccable source.
“Please sit down.”He indicated a sofa.
“I prefer to stand, sir.”
As she straightened up and stared directly ahead, he got the first clue that she might be genuine.
“At ease.And sit,” he commanded.
She perched awkwardly on the edge of a leather chesterfield.She was a beauty, with clear jade-green eyes, and freckled, peachy skin.It was all too easy to imagine her lithe limbs wrapped around him and her lips parted as she panted out her pleasure, but none of that was relevant to him.
“Why do you want to see me?”she asked, staring up at him intently.
The bluntness of her question took him by surprise.“Speak when I invite you to speak.This is not a pleasure yacht, and you are not a guest.”Walking in front of his desk, he lost no time on pleasantries.“Do you know what I do, Amber Smith?”
Her full lips pressed down as she considered this.“Something to do with oil and pipelines—and you play polo with the Blood and Thunder polo team?”
“What do you know about the team?”
“Not much, but I can ride.I have a horse on the farm where I grew up.”
“Why did you leave the farm?”
For the first time, she hesitated.“Family differences,” she said at last.
Her CV told him she’d lost her father when she was twelve.The man had been covered in glory in the forces and killed in battle trying to save members of his platoon.Her mother had married again, taking her young daughter to live with her second husband on a remote hill farm.Alexei could make what he liked of that.There were no further details available to him.
“What brings you to Monte Carlo looking for a job?”
“I thought this would be the best place for me to gain the type of experience I need.”
At least she was partway honest.He knew the full story.He was testing her.
“You can’t come here togainexperience.I only accept fully trained crew.And you’ll wear a uniform in future.I hope you brought something warmer to wear in your downtime?It can be cold in Monaco at this time of year.”
“That’s why it’s not so popular with the big yachts around Christmastime,” she observed, frowning.“Obviously, I’m delighted that you’re here,” she added quickly.
“Obviously,” he said dryly.She was right in thinking that most of the superyachts followed the sun and would be in the Caribbean or in the southern hemisphere.“So you do have some warm clothes?”
“Oh yes.Flannelette pajamas, bed socks, jeans, and a fleece,” she said, widening her eyes into innocent saucers.
She was bold enough to be cheeky.Interesting.But she appeared too innocent to fit his usual taste in women.“And you got all that in your knapsack?”he said, playing along.
“I did.”Her eyes sparkled with the knowledge that to know she had a knapsack with her, he must have been watching her as she’d boarded.“Does that mean I get to keep the job?”
“You get to be on trial.”He pulled away from the desk and straightened up.“And now you’re dismissed.”
She stood immediately.
“Report for duty at seven o’ clock.”
“Tonight?”
“Tomorrow morning, and every morning after that.”
