âYou think I didnât notice how youâve changed?â
Jenny wasnât sure how to answer that. If heâd noticed, heâd done a darn good job of hiding it. âYou didnât say anything,â she pointed out.
âWhat, exactly, was it that you wanted me to say?â He leaned closer still, and a few beats of silence ticked past. âThat your eyes look like emeralds without your glasses? That you have unbelievably sexy legs?â
Jenny couldnât move. She couldnât breathe.
His fingertips fluttered against her temple, touching her hair. âOr that your red lips look soft, smooth, delicious.â His hand eased around to the back of her head, fingers splaying into her hairline, as he drew her forward, his mouth coming down on hers in slow motion.
What was happening? What was goingâ
And then he was kissing her.
He was kissing her.
Dear Reader,
I was thrilled to be invited to participate in The Millionaireâs Club continuity series for Mills & Boon>® Desireâ¢. Iâve long been a fan of multi-book, multi-author series. I love cowboys, and I have some very dear friends in Texas. This project was great fun on so many levels, not the least of which was a visit to Texas while I was writing!
Mitch Haywardâs professional football career has been interrupted by an injury. While he recovers, heâs taken on the role of President of the club. There, heâs reunited with office assistant Jenny Watson, whoâs had a crush on Mitch since school. When Jenny undergoes a makeover, Mitch sits up and takes notice, and the sparks fly between them.
I sincerely hope you enjoy An After-Hours Affair, along with the rest of the continuity. Iâd love to hear from you, so please feel free to drop me a line through my website at www.barbaradunlop.com.
Barbara Dunlop
Jenny Watson knew a bad idea when she heard one.
âItâs not a date,â she tartly informed her best friend, Emily Kiley, kicking off her shoes and curling one jean-clad leg beneath her on Emilyâs bed.
Emily called from the depths of her closet. âJust because he doesnât call it a date, doesnât mean you canât look your best.â
âHeâs my boss. And itâs a business function.â
âItâs a wedding.â
âA Texas Cattlemanâs Club wedding,â Jenny corrected. âAnd he was invited in his capacity as Interim President.â
Emily emerged from the closet carrying something made of dark burgundy chiffon. âI was thinking this one.â She draped the dress along her body, revealing a one-shoulder, sleeveless creation with a wide-fitted waist, and a two-layer, A-line skirt that dropped to midthigh.
âHa, ha,â Jenny mocked, leaning back against the oak headboard.
Emily knew full well that Jenny would never touch a style that was so off-the-runway sophisticated, and sheâd definitely never wear a color that bold.
âItâll look great with an updo.â Emily swirled around to the corners of the room as if she was waltzing. âYou can borrow my black rhinestone sandals. And Iâve got those fabulous teardrop earrings and the matching necklace. The diamonds are synthetic, but thereâs no way to tell.â
âIâm not wearing that dress,â Jenny insisted.
âWhy not?â
âDo you need me to write you a list?â
âCome on,â Emily cajoled. âLive a little, girl. Youâll look gorgeous, and Mitch will absolutely sit up and take notice.â
âIâll look foolish.â Jenny wasnât showing up in front of her friends and neighbors in Royal, Texas, looking like some kind of Manhattan diva. âThereâs nothing wrong with my black dress.â
It was her perennial favoriteâa sleeveless, square-necked jersey knit that flowed to her knees. She combined it with a short, sheer black cover that fastened at her throat. It was the perfect combination of classic and chic.
âAnd how many times has Mitch Hayward seen you in that?â
âA couple,â Jenny admitted, seeing no need to do the math.
Mitch didnât care what she wore. He wanted an uncomplicated woman on his arm, someone to help him work the event. Her boss liked to keep tabs on the members of the Texas Cattlemanâs Club. He prided himself on recalling details of everyoneâs lives, and Jenny knew she was a big help in that department.
âYouâve had a crush on him since you were twelve,â Emily pointed out.
ââCrushâ being the operative word,â Jenny put in. And it had been over a long time ago. âThe man left town when I was only sixteen.â
Quarterback Mitch Hayward had gone to college in Dallas on a full football scholarship. Heâd come back to work in Royal for the first two summers. But after that, his successful sports career had kept him on the road. Up until last year, when a shoulder injury had brought him back home.