His Secretary: BBW Romance (Her Second Chance Book 1) Read Online Free Page A

she brought it up to her mouth.
    “Are you OK?”
    She kept her back to him as she answered. “No. I shouldn’t be here.” She lifted her hand and he knew she was wiping away a tear. “I should be at home with my kids. I thought I could do this. But I was wrong. Please don’t blame Max. I’ll type these notes up and then I’ll go. I hope you can find someone else to replace me tomorrow.”
    “Listen, we’re both tired. And I’m sorry if I said the wrong thing.” Oliver Pierceson never apologised. He must be more tired than he thought.
    She shook her head. “You have nothing to apologise for. I’m an idiot for thinking I was ready to get back to a career.”
    “Why did you?” And why do you care? he asked himself. Let it go. Let her go. But he couldn’t, he had been drawn to her from the first moment. She was so different to any of the other women he met, both professionally and socially.
    “I wanted to make a better life for me and my daughters. We’ve struggled along for the last few months, I managed to stall my house being repossessed, but if I don't do something soon, the only thing my children are going to grow up hearing is how we can’t afford luxuries. Do you have any idea how soul destroying that can be when their friends have fantastic birthday parties and Christmas presents?”
    “Yes. Yes I can.”
    “Really?” She turned to face him. “Because if you’ve never been there I don't think you can. Your suit is probably worth more than my monthly income.”
    “And your husband?” The voice in his head yelled at him to leave it alone. While she was married she was out of reach, otherwise she would become a distraction he didn't need, least of all at this moment in his life. His time and energy had to be channelled into his work one hundred percent.
    “He left us. I have no idea where he is.” She wiped her eyes once more, and then turned to look at him defiantly. “So there you have it, I’m a failure. No marriage and no career.” She moved to push past him, but he put his arm across to stop her.
    “You’ve kept your family afloat. That is not failing, that is surviving. The fact that you are still here, when all you really want is to go home, tells me you will succeed with whatever you set out to do.”
    “I think I preferred it when you were being nasty. It’s much easier to handle than being patronised.”
    “I’m not patronising you.” She was so close to him, his eyes drawn to the rise and fall of her breasts as she struggled not to cry. His hand itched to touch her, to draw her into his arms and comfort her. He knew exactly what it was like to grow up with no father, to watch your mother struggle to keep her family together, too proud to ask for help. “I’m glad you told me.”
    “I should go.”
    “Will you let me drive you home?”
    “No, thank you.”
    “Mrs Draper, please. I don’t want you making your own way home when you are upset. I apologise for keeping you here so late.”
    “No... I mean I’m not ready to go home yet. I have to type up your notes.”
    “Leave them for tonight. We’ll start again in the morning.”
    “Are you sure?”
    “Yes. You’ve reminded me that there is more to life than work. Get your coat, I’ll meet you by reception.”
    “Thank you,” she said, and brushed past him, totally unaware of what that lightest of touch did to him.

Chapter Seven - Helen
    She felt more than a little foolish. In fact, as she fetched her coat and purse, she knew she didn’t belong in this kind of world. Disappointment with herself grew, she had blown her chances of getting a good reference and being able to update her CV.
    ‘Mommy who threw her toys out the pram’ did not look good for potential employees, she would have to stay in her dead end job until the girls were older and she could go back to college to study. It all left her feeling rather subdued, and even the thought of sitting in a car next to the most attractive man she had ever met