Expecting the Boss’s Baby Read Online Free Page A

jealousy, could it?
    It couldn’t be that she could actually picture herself coming out of Dax’s office with her shirt on crooked and her hair all wild?
    No. Absolutely not. She wanted this job. She liked this job. And nothing—especially not a burning desire to get down with the boss—was going to mess this up for her.
    Friday, when she came in after lunch, Dax called her in for an afternoon huddle.
    They had a lot to do and a short time to do it in. He would be gone from the office after next Wednesday. Thursday morning, he and a photographer and Lulu Grimes, one of the associate editors, were off to Melbourne for the December Spotlight, “Aussie Holiday.”
    He would be gone a full week. He wanted to be sure she had his travel arrangements under control. Also, he needed to make the most of the time he had in theoffice next week. Scheduling had to be flawless. And he had to have everything that would need doing while he was in Australia effectively delegated.
    Twice during that meeting, she caught him looking at her legs. This was not good—especially since she found she liked to have him looking at her legs.
    Something definitely had to be done.
    Saturday morning, she took action. She found a dingy little shop in a part of SA where she would never run into anyone she knew. The brawny, heavily tattooed guy behind the desk offered a nice range of cubic zirconia engagement and wedding rings. She chose a fat emerald-cut solitaire in a faux-platinum setting. It looked impressive—and real—on her finger, the price was right and the fake stone was really, really big and sparkly.
    She took the ring home. Monday, before she went to the office, she slipped it onto her ring finger.
    An hour and ten minutes later, when the elevator doors slid wide and Dax stepped off, the art assistant, two associate editors and Lin were gathered in an admiring circle around Zoe’s desk.
    Dax wore dark glasses. And even though Zoe couldn’t see his eyes, he looked at least as tired and cranky as he had the Monday before. Had he been with Faye all weekend? If so, the woman must be insatiable. He looked drained of energy—and probably bodily fluids, as well.
    â€œWhat’s going on?” he groused. “Why aren’t you people working? There’s a planning meeting at ten in the conference room downstairs.”
    â€œDax.” Lin answered for all of them. “We know. We actually do get your memos. And after we get them, we read them.”
    He made a growly sort of sound low in his throat. “I’ll expect at least five solid ideas from each of you. And Zoe, where’s my coffee?”
    Lin gave her a big smile. “Zoe, it’s so beautiful. Seriously, I’m beyond happy for you.” She winked so fast that only Zoe could have seen it and added archly, “On more than one level.” She turned to go. The others dispersed with her.
    Zoe grabbed the coffee she’d picked up on the way in and held it out to him. “Venti, bold and black. Good morning, Dax.”
    He took the coffee. “What’s beautiful? Why is Lin happy for you?”
    She held up her other hand and wiggled her fingers. The fake diamond glittered in a satisfyingly blinding fashion. “Johnny proposed,” she announced on a happy sigh. “And I told him yes.”
    He took the lid off his coffee and stared down into it. Even though the sunglasses obscured his eyes, she assumed he was checking to make sure she hadn’t slipped a little half and half in there or something. He sniffed at the contents and then demanded darkly, “Who’s Johnny?”
    She arranged her expression into a thoughtful frown. “Didn’t I tell you about Johnny?”
    â€œNot one word.”
    â€œOh, I can’t believe I never mentioned Johnny.” She released another gusty sigh. “What can I say about Johnny?” She waved the hand with the ring on it. Flashes of refracted