Boss's Babysitter_An Older Man Younger Woman Romance Read online

  I take a drink and realize it was a good idea and that maybe I wasn’t okay.

  And I’m still nervous as heck, but I’m certainly feeling better. A crazy thought hits me. Being powerful doesn’t have to be about trying to dominate or domineer everything. Being powerful means giving others the freedom and comfort to be powerful too. To encourage and inspire confidence.

  I’m far from powerful right now, but Mr. Stone is doing everything in his considerable power, and does he ever have a lot, to encourage and inspire me.

  What an incredible man. And he does it all without bringing any attention to it.

  It only solidifies that I’m in the presence of a man unlike any other. One I want to know more about. Have to know more about.

  Google searches can only just scratch the surface of the multiple depth of his personality.

  I need to learn more about how he got this way. To learn from his wisdom.

  And if the feeling I’m getting underneath my skirt right now is correct, there is another kind of wisdom I’d really, really, really like for him to impart on me one day.

  One that happens not in the boardroom, but in the bedroom.

  CHAPTER 3

  Jacob

  Two hours later I shake Mina’s hand and escort her out of my office.

  Watching her bloom like a flower right there in front of my own eyes as the time passed was an absolutely beautiful thing.

  She arrived a little nervous, but quickly she got her bearings and by the time we were finished she was handling herself like a champ.

  My initial impression had been correct. She was special.

  But it was my second impression, my first experience with her in person, that had sealed the deal. And in more ways that one.

  It was clear that she wasn’t being challenged and she wanted more. We talked through it and found a different role for her that would not only inspire her to do more challenging and interesting work, but would be better for the company.

  The transition to that role would start immediately. And it was a need I didn’t even realize the company had until she brought it to my attention. It certainly pays to listen to people who are in the thick of things day in and day out. They know more about the intricacies of my business than I could ever hope to.

  But I know I want her.

  And I know she must be treated as fairly as all our employees are. And the first action was to cut her a check, on the spot, for those overtime hours she wasn’t clocking. I was young and hungry once just like her and I know how far a somewhat unexpected windfall can go.

  And now I may not be as young as I once was, but I’m definitely still as hungry. Up until today my hunger had been for business deals and adding another comma to my bank account but now my hunger has completely changed.

  I’m hungry for her. And that hunger has reinvigorated my youth as well. I do everything I can to stay in excellent shape, and I am, but there’s a certain vigor and vitality her youth and exuberance give me. Something lifting tons of weight in the gym, or getting that lightheaded feeling from intense cardio just can’t bring.

  The thrill of such a beautiful, smart, and young woman who presents herself so well beyond her years can only provide.

  And by only I mean only her.

  I’ve met thousands of women over the years. In business, social events, charity fundraisers, athletics…you name it I’ve met every type of woman you could imagine.

  I was completely sure of it.

  Until her.

  And I was also completely sure marriage and family life weren’t for me. It just wasn’t going to work out for me in this lifetime. I’d long ago resigned myself to the thought.

  But one look at her. One word from the soft, plump lips of hers and that resignation was quickly off the table. I was ready to sign a different kind of contract with her right then and there.

  A life contract.

  She’s the one. There’s absolutely no doubt in my mind.

  I can’t control myself as my eyes gaze over the back of her skirt as I show her into the elevator. I’m walking with my body turned at an angle trying to conceal my raging erection that hasn’t stopped throbbing for over two hours now. Two hours!

  No one has ever stimulated me this much. She’s beautiful, intellectual, and hungry to do big things in business. God, she reminds me of myself.

  I just want to take her under my wing and teach her everything I know about business.

  But first I need her to be a teacher. A kind of teacher much more important than on a topic such as making money or business.

  The topic of life.

  And there’s no one I want my baby girl to grow up to be more like than her.

  CHAPTER 4

  Mina

  The next day

  The black limousine pulls up to the hedges and the security guard leaves the guardhouse. The window to the back of the car suddenly slides down without making a sound and I hand my ID to the security guard. He looks at it and looks at me. Then he hands it back to me and the window shuts just as quickly as it had opened.

  Though the tint I can see he motions for the driver to pull through as the gate pulls back.

  This is unlike any kind of treatment I’m used to, and totally out of place for an employee follow-up meeting.

  Not that I’m complaining one bit.

  There was a package on my desk when I arrived in the morning. It provided details for the car that would pick me up, at a time and place of my choosing this evening, and take me to Mr. Stone’s home to discuss the transition of the first day in addition to other opportunities that might be available.

  It definitely sounded strange, or should I say maybe out of the ordinary, but I wasn’t about to pass up the opportunity to meet with the man.

  And let’s be honest here. A chance to see this man in his own element? In his home. A private man and he was giving me access to his personal life, and so quickly to boot?

  I wasn’t about to turn that down.

  I’d laughed at myself just after I’d confirmed this morning. I gave an pick-up address about a mile from my house. I didn’t think it would be smart to just give out my home address, plus my neighborhood wasn’t the best. Then the laughter came when I realized they had my home address on file.

  And what was I trying to hide or protect anyways? What could he possibly want from me that he couldn’t just get with a snap of his fingers?

  As the car pulls down the long driveway. About half way down it hits a winding point and the car angles so I can see him standing there in front of his house. I thought he’d have someone there to do that for him? Maybe he wants to greet me personally?

  And he does look much more personable. Not that he’s not an absolute picture of perfection in his suit in and around the office, but now he’s wearing a simple white V-neck T-shirt and pants.

  Standing there like that in front of his home he looks like a cover shot for Town & Country magazine. Like he’s the monthly feature of a sneak peek into the home of a famous, wealthy, and powerful man.

  “Thanks for coming,” he says just after he opens the door and helps me out.

  I sure am glad I wore a nice dress here. Even though he’s in jeans and a T-shirt I would definitely feel underdressed for his home, or should I say mansion.

  “Let me show you inside,” he says.

  CHAPTER 5

  Jacob

  What a difference a day makes.

  Yesterday she was a nervous wreck and I was able to get her calmed down and get us moving in the right direction.

  Today I’m the nervous wreck and I need nothing more than her to calm me down and get us moving in the right direction.

  And by us I mean me and my baby.

  I’ve shown her around the house and now here we are in my study ready to have coffee and get down to business…and life.

  “How’s the transition so far?” I ask.

  “It’s great. It’s all happening so fast and is really seamless. Everyone
’s really cooperative and supportive. I really like working at a place with such nice and encouraging people.”

  “Business is all about the right people…as is life. And speaking of life there’s another transition I’d like to speak with you about.”

  Here we go.

  The coffee cup is right at her lips, but just as she’s about to tip it back that last little bit she stops and blows on it instead. I know it’s not so hot that it needs to cool down, not hot enough for even the most sensitive of lips…and how I imagine just how sensitive her lips would be to touch…with mine. No, the reason she stopped is because my words threw her off. And I’ve been thrown off too by everything that’s happening as well, but when life throws you a challenge you have to rise to meet it. I’m glad I did, but now I realize I’m in over my head. Part of strength is admitting your weaknesses, and I’m here to admit mine.

  Because together I know we would have no weaknesses. She is strong in areas where I’m weak, and I could learn from her and even more importantly there’s someone who’s just getting started in life who could learn from her as well.

  “A transition? You’re not firing me now are you?” She smiles and finally does take that sip of coffee. The way her eyes look over the top of that cup. The way they’re peering out over the top at me. The cup is blocking out the rest of her beautiful face, and it’s definitely breathtakingly beautiful, but there’s just something about putting those hazel eyes with the gold specks in focus that melts me. That causes me to forget everything else in life temporarily and just become lost in her look.

  And I like that she’s becoming more comfortable with me already. Now she’s even able to make a joke about my comment. Of course I’m not going to fire her and she knows that. As a matter of fact I’m ready for what we’re building together to go deeper…much deeper.

  I’m ready to bring her into my inner circle. A place where I’ve never let anyone. Years and years of keeping everything to myself and just a day with this young woman who’s all of twenty two years old and I’m ready to open up and let her in. Life sure is crazy sometimes. Crazy and beautiful, just like her.

  “Never. I couldn’t imagine you not being with our company,” I begin. “And more than that I think the skills you have and…” Suddenly I’m stuck. Do I just tell her how beautiful she is and risk the chance of scaring her away before I even say what I want to say? I’m not used to all this political correctness stuff, especially when it comes to paying a woman a compliment. And I have no idea what they’re teaching in schools these days and how younger people react to compliments. Suddenly I feel my age, which isn’t old, but just might be a bit older than I thought. I need to relate to her right now and build up bridges, not tear down walls.

  “…the kind of amazing person you are, tells me that you’re ready for even more challenges.”

  “Okay,” she says.

  “But I have a challenge for you that quite honestly is something I can’t solve by myself, and it’s not in the realm of the business world. It’s why I asked you to come here, to my home. And it’s why I didn’t put on my suit and tie and why we’re having coffee and getting to know each other a little better, not that I need the time to do that. As crazy as it might sound I feel like I already know you well enough. Well enough to know you’re someone I trust completely. And when I say completely please realize I don’t say it lightly.”

  I see the intensity of her eyes as she hangs on to my every word. I’m glad she’s taking this as seriously as a listener as I am as the one saying these words. They are words I practiced in the mirror before she came, but somehow got lost between then and now. Why? Because although some of the words and sentences are familiar, and I am good at memorizing things, this kind of conversation has to come from the heart. And it has to be a two-way conversation. I need her input and now’s the time to get it.

  “I realize the strength of your words and I want you to know you can trust me,” she says. “This is your home and you’ve invited me inside and I respect the sanctity of whatever is said in these walls. I give you my word it will stay within these walls.”

  She just gets it. She understands me and completely grips the challenges I face. I don’t even have to allude to what I go through, let alone tell her straight out. She already knows and that makes this all less stressful and reinforces my decision as a good one, not that I ever questioned it would be.

  “My brother and his wife recently passed away when their helicopter crashed during a skiing vacation. It was a trip I was supposed to join them on, but I got a last second call at the office from a very important client and had to cancel. I was supposed to be on that helicopter with them, but I wasn’t. Somebody was looking out for me that day. And now through this tragic twist of fate I’ve decided to pay it back and look out for someone of my own. Not that pay it back is the right choice of words. I see what happened next as my duty, my responsibility, but most importantly something I want to do. And I do. One hundred percent. But after trying and trying I’m realizing now I won’t be able to do this by myself, and that’s hard for someone like me to admit. Someone who likes to take on any challenge, no matter how big or small in life admitting that they bit off more than they can chew. And that’s what I’m doing here now before you. And the reason I’m telling you is because I know you’re the only one who can help me make this right…make this work.”

  She nods. It’s not exactly a nod in agreement but just to let me know she’s listening and it’s okay for me to continue. I’m not usually one to speak so openly and so much, but I’m finding these words somewhat cathartic and realize I’ve been keeping this inside too long. But now it’s time to cut to the chase.

  “So without further ado, can I show you what I’m talking about and I think it will put everything into perspective and make a lot more sense?”

  “Of course,” she says. “Please.”

  CHAPTER 6

  Mina

  There’s a fine line between a weak man and one who shares his true feelings. Jacob is anything but weak, but wow…did he ever just open up to me.

  Or at least he started to.

  And now he’s about to finish that thought and I’m both excited and nervous at what I’m going to discover.

  He extends his hand toward the door and I place my coffee on the saucer.

  He escorts me through the main entryway. I’m not even sure what all these rooms are called in a house as large and elegant as this, and into another room.

  I see it and I freeze.

  Suddenly everything he was alluding to makes complete sense.

  There’s a crib in the corner and I don’t have to guess what’s inside.

  I start to say a whole bunch of words but finish none of them. I basically just mouth a bunch of syllables. Finally I get ahold of myself. “May I?” I say softly.

  He nods and together we walk towards the crib.

  When I reach the side I place my hands behind my back making sure not to disturb the crib incase the baby is sleeping and lean in over the edge.

  Oh. My. God.

  She’s so tiny and so peaceful looking. I can see her little chest rising and falling as she sleeps there with the tiny bonnet on her head and the pink blankets covering her and the white sheets below her.

  “I had someone watching her, but she just stepped out. I’d asked her earlier to do so when she heard us leave the study. I don’t want you to think I left the baby alone in here by herself.”

  “No. Of course I know you’d never do that,” I say quietly. But to be honest for the first time since we’ve met I’m not paying too close of attention to his words. I am processing them, yes, but I’m just so focused on this little adorable thing in front of me. I just want to pick her up and hold her and…oh my gosh do so many things with her.

  I do like babies of course, but I’ve never had a reaction to one like this before. And I have no idea why.

  I’m not at the age where my body is demanding one. I haven’t been think
ing about them. I’m not emotional or having any mood swings lately, except for the desires I had about Jacob last night which definitely cost me a few hours of sleep but that’s another story entirely.

  I’m not really sure how much time goes by as I’m just in complete awe, staring down at her.

  “What’s her name?”