Perhaps he should end this interview here and now.
Heâd opened his mouth to do just that when she opened her eyes, gave a little wriggle in the chair, andâwham!
An image zig-zagged across his brainâa picture of Imogen Lorrimer, standing up to wriggle her way right out of that navy skirt, shrug off the jacket and slowly unbutton the pearl buttons of her white shirt. Before shaking that dark hair free so it tumbled to her shoulders, then sitting back down on that damn red chair and crossing her legs.
A hoarse noise rasped from his throat. What the hell � Why? Where on earth had that come from?
It was time to get a grip on this interviewâand the conversation. A sigh escaped her and for a second his gaze focused on her lips. Hell, this was not good. âNever Mix Business and Pleasureâ was a non-negotiable rule.
I so enjoyed writing this bookâhey, Montmartre, Paris, and a yurt in the Algarve ⦠whatâs not to enjoy?
But most of all I loved writing about Imo and Joeâthey became totally real to me even while they drove me nuts as they fought the idea of love all the way.
Imo wanted to play it safe and Joe wanted to play by the rules. So when the sparks began to fly in the bedroom and out theyâand Iâwere thrown in at the deep end.
I hope you enjoy seeing what they did about it!
Nina xx
NINA MILNE has always dreamt of writing for Mills & Boon>®âever since as a child she discovered stacks of Mills & Boon>® books âhiddenâ in the airing cupboard. She graduated from playing libraries to reading the books, and has now realised her dream of writing them.
Along the way she found a happy-ever-after of her own, accumulating a superhero of a husband, three gorgeous children, a cat with character and a real library ⦠well, lots of bookshelves.
Before achieving her dream of working from home creating happy-ever-afters whilst studiously avoiding any form of actual housework, Nina put in time as both an accountant and a recruitment consultant. She figures the lack of romance in her previous jobs is now balancing out.
After a childhood spent in Peterlee (UK), Rye (USA), Winchester (UK) and Paris (France), Nina now lives in Brighton (UK), and has vowed never to move again!! Unless, of course, she runs out of bookshelves. Though there is always the airing cupboard.
For my parents, for believing in me.
Dear Diary
My name is Imogen Lorrimer and my life is in a less than stellar place right now.
For a start there is every possibility that my temporary new boss is about to fire me. His name is Joe McIntyre and, just to really mess with my head, he has taken to appearing in my dreams.
Naked.
Last night was particularly erotic. I wonât go into detail, but we were in his office and letâs just say various positions were involved ⦠as were varying bits of office furniture ⦠glass-topped desk, red swivel chairâ¦
Obviously I know this is thoroughly unprofessional and utterly inappropriate.
In my defence he is gorgeous.
Think sexy rumpled hairâdark brown, a tiny bit long, with a few bits that stick up. Think chocolateâthe expensive kindâbrown eyes. Think a strong but not too dominant nose. A long face, with a sculpted jaw and clearly defined chin. Oh, and a body to die forâJoe McIntyre is a long, lean fighting machine.
Problem is, however much I appreciate the man in my dreams, the real live clothed version of Joe McIntyre is a ruthless corporate killing machine. He is a troubleshooter who has been called in to overhaul Langley Interior Design and we are all in danger of losing our jobs.
In fact there is every chance he will fire me on the spot tomorrowâespecially given my recent screw-up.
I cannot let that happen. I cannot afford to lose my job. Not on top of everything else.
To be specific I am:
Homelessâmy scumbag boyfriend, Steve, of three years has just dumped me for his exâSimoneâand thrown me out of the flat we shared. So I am currently living with my BFFâand, whilst I love Mel like the sister I never had, I can only sleep on her pull-out bed for so long. I think Iâm cramping her style.
HeartbrokenâSteve ticked all the boxes on my âWhat I am looking for in a Manâ list. I thought he was The One.
BrokeâI blew my savings on a romantic holiday for Steve and me. And, unbelievable though this may sound, he is now taking Simone. How humiliating is that?
Itâs no wonder that I am fantasising in my dreams. My real life sucks.
Time for some ice cream, methinks!
Imogen x
JOE MCINTYRE LEANT back in the state-of-the-art office chair and picked up the CV from the glass-topped desk.
Imogen Lorrimer. Peter Langleyâs PA for the past five years.
She of the raven-black hair and wide grey-blue eyes.