www.millsandboon.co.uk

      ALL NIGHT WITH

      THE BOSS

      BY

       NATALIE ANDERSON

      About the Author

      Possibly the only librarian who got told off herself for talking too much, NATALIE ANDERSON decided writing books might be more fun than shelving them—and boy, is it that! Especially writing romance—it’s the realisation of a lifetime dream kick-started by many an afternoon spent devouring Grandma’s Mills & Boon® novels…

      She lives in New Zealand with her husband and four gorgeous-but-exhausting children. Swing by her website anytime—she’d love to hear from you: www.natalieanderson.com

       Look out for a thrilling new book from Natalie, The End of Faking It, coming from Mills & Boon® Riva™ in April 2011

      For Dave: you said nothing is impossible and,

      because I’m lucky enough to have your support,

      you’re right.

      Chapter One

      LISSA had just reached the railing when she heard the footsteps behind her. Quickly turning, she sat on the bench in the shadows, hoping she couldn’t be seen, just wanting five minutes’ cool-down time.

      She watched the approaching figure knowing full well she wasn’t invisible and that he was heading right towards her. She didn’t recognise him. She’d been at Franklin and Co. for five months now and knew everyone. Long legs wrapped in navy denim casually strode out with a grace that signalled a natural athlete. He was tall with dark hair. With the only light on the balcony being the thin streams escaping from the boardroom windows she couldn’t see much more. She sighed, her heart sinking. Gina must have sent her friend Karl out to sit with her. Why was it that people thought set-ups were a good idea?

      Unable to take her eyes off him she decided to ignore the tightening in her stomach and her promise to Gina to be ‘open to possibilities’. Instead she would just get it over with. Tell it to him plain and then she could have some space again.

      ‘Did Gina tell you I was out here?’ She used her most decisive, not-to-be-messed with tone.

      ‘No.’ She caught a flash of white teeth as he smiled in the darkness. He sat down next to her with a companionable nod, setting his glass beside him. He’d positioned himself across from her, at right angles. His face was in shadow and he was close, too close. His presence radiated out, his legs near hers and she caught a faint citrus scent. Lemon, fresh and cool.

      ‘Look, I’m sorry,’ she began, trying for kind yet firm. ‘I don’t know what Gina told you, but I’m really not interested.’

      ‘Oh.’ He paused. ‘Really?’ He sounded quite surprised.

      She took a deep breath and ploughed on, the words tumbling over each other in their rush to get out. ‘It may seem hard to believe, what with everyone else so keen to get it on, but I’m really not looking for a bit of fun. I’m sure you are a great guy and all and you’ll have no trouble finding someone else. Especially in there.’ She emphasised by waving wildly at the window. ‘After all, Gina says you’re an amazing flirt.’

      His sharp burst of laughter surprised her. Even more surprising was the way it resonated within her. It was deep, warm and dry.

      ‘Does she? How nice of her.’ He took a careful sip from his glass. ‘But you know I don’t think I want anybody else. Especially not “in there”,’ he mimicked her tone.

      Her fingers tightened around the cool glass. She still felt hot and bothered and this interruption wasn’t helping.

      ‘Please yourself,’ she said in resignation. ‘But let’s get one thing clear. It’s not going to happen so we’ll just chill, right?’ She winced a little at her crabbiness, not intending to have spoken quite so baldly. She snatched a deep breath, trying to overcome it, but breathing properly seemed more tricky than usual when seated next to this guy.

      ‘Suits me.’ He was agreeable. ‘Are you always this blunt?’

      She frowned, her cheeks heating. ‘Mmm. I’m sorry if you thought I was rude. I don’t mean to be, but I don’t want to have any misunderstandings.’

      ‘OK.’ He laughed, a shade too heartily for her liking.

      She glanced at him, thinking he was pretty relaxed about being rejected from the outset. She could see a broad smile, an inviting smile. The kind of smile that made you want to smile right back and move closer to its warmth. She looked back to the windows and watched with cynical amusement as two consultants vied for Gina’s attention. Lissa flicked a quick look sideways at Karl again, wishing Gina had warned her he was the most physically attractive man on the planet and not just a super flirt.

      ‘Now that we have that settled,’ he said easily, ‘why not tell me something about yourself?’

      ‘What do you want to know?’ Lissa asked. She’d just shot the guy down before he’d had a chance to start his engine, she didn’t need to be totally rude.

      ‘I don’t know.’ He stretched out a leg. It crossed in front of hers, a barrier between her and the door. ‘How about where in Australia you come from?’

      ‘The South Island of New Zealand,’ she replied coolly, trying not to admire the long leg before her.

      ‘Sorry,’ he chuckled. Again the sound reverberated within her, tingling her insides. ‘Will you ever forgive me?’

      She shrugged off the mistake and the sensations. ‘It’s OK. I’m not one of those Kiwis who has a fit at being mistaken for an Aussie.’ She took a sip of her drink. Despite the chilly air she was no closer to cooling down. She sat for a minute and then leaned towards him with a conspiratorial smile. ‘To tell you the truth, I still can’t tell the difference between Irish and Scottish accents.’

      ‘How shocking.’ He leaned in towards her and for a moment she wondered what he was going to do. What she was going to do. His proximity knocked her breathing. ‘Which am I?’

      ‘Um…’ She was taken aback. He didn’t sound much like either. He sounded pretty BBC to her. ‘Scottish?’

      He inclined his head and sat back. ‘Indeed.’

      She was feeling a little unnerved by the effect he was having on her. Unnerved by the fact she was sorry he’d just sat back. It was a dark, cool night and she felt warm and wobbly.

      Gina popped into view again and Lissa watched as her face lit up as an unfamiliar man walked towards her.

      ‘Oh, that must be the infamous Rory.’

      Karl turned his head sharply and looked back through the window. ‘Where?’

      ‘With Gina.’ Rory stood absorbed by Gina as she talked, her arms gesticulating wildly with her effervescent enthusiasm.

      ‘Well,’ said Lissa practically, ‘I don’t