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Copyright ©2019 Lily Vega

Kendra’s job as the personal assistant to a wealthy entrepreneur involved little more than calendar management and simple errands. A colossal waste of her MBA.

At least the generous paycheck helped to make a dent in her student loans.

Who the hell was she kidding? The real reason she’d procrastinated in applying for a better job had everything to do with her boss’s hunky gardener.

Whenever they’d spoken, the air seemed charged with current. Every time she caught a glimpse of his physique or looked into his soulful eyes, her heart sped like a rabbit spying a wolf. Since she’d met Alistair, he’d inspired a number of naughty fantasies.

Mr. Wong’s business trip to Shanghai provided the perfect opportunity for quality time with Al. The frenzied departure of her typically Zen boss could be blamed on Mercury retrograde or a zombie apocalypse. Not that she believed in astrology or zombies, but a girl could use any excuse to seize the day. A romp with the hot gardener might be just the thing to satisfy her base urges enough to allow her to break out of her comfort zone and jumpstart her career change.

She didn’t dare consider the possibilities of a long-term relationship. After discovering her two roommates doing the nasty with her boyfriend in the kitchen of their apartment, she’d stopped believing in relationships. After kicking all three of them out, she had allowed her life to become a mind-numbing rut.

Never again would she let herself be gullible enough to trust a lover. Best to stick to casual sex and her vibrator to fulfill her needs.

She peeked out the window. The lawn was lush and green. Each blade of grass stood basking in the rays of the sun. The rose bushes displayed their velvety petals. Pansies added splashes of purple, blue, and yellow to the grounds. The landscape displayed Al’s care, but the man himself was nowhere to be seen.

If he was into her, she’d limit their liaison to a one-night stand. Even if it killed her, she’d let herself have one taste and move on.

“Excuse me.” The deep rumble of Al’s voice sent a quiver from the back of her neck to the tips of her toes. “I need to water the bamboo plant behind you.”

“Of course.” When she moved out of his way, her high-heeled sandals caught the edge of the Persian rug and she stumbled.

His hand shot out to steady her. Up close, he was even better looking. At over six feet tall, he towered over her five-foot frame, making her feel petite.

She gazed into his eyes and took a deep breath of his earthy scent — fresh-cut grass with a light hint of flowers. An image of him rolling around shirtless in a meadow flashed through her mind. She clutched at his soft shirt and the muscles of his chest contracted underneath.

“Would you consider… “

“Yes.” His hand slid up her arm to caress her shoulder.

A laugh spilled from her lips and her nervousness vanished. “I didn’t finish asking the question.”

“Your wish is my command. After I water the plant, of course.” He continued to rub lazy circles on her shoulder. “Wong will skin me alive if he returns to find his favorite frond droopy.”

“How do you know it’s his favorite? The house and grounds are full of greenery and flowers.”

“The bamboo sits where he can see it while he works at his desk. An object of desire is usually kept close.” His voice went deeper on the word “desire.”