“Warren,” Cade growled into the telephone. “Why one earth are you dumping that idiot of a secretary on my desk? Can’t you just fire her? She can’t even make decent coffee. How on earth am I going to use her? As decoration?”

He could hear laughter streaming from the other end.

“Oh, she will turn out fine. I just needed to remove her for a time. Some married guy got a bit distracted, so I figured you needed a new secretary for a while,” Warren replied. “Besides, she’s a definite asset. Just wait and see.”

“Thanks, I’ve already noticed those ‘assets’ as you call them, and so did the rest of my crew. She definitely has both her resume and brainpower right there in her cleavage. She ruined the entire staff meeting by offering undrinkable coffee and lots of cleavage to a bunch of Neanderthals in training. The men still haven’t begun thinking with their brains after the ordeal, and the production is suffering. Solve your own problems next time, will you?”

“Well, look at the bright side. Maybe your guys will start bathing for a change.” Warren sounded as if he was laughing even harder at his own words. “Just remember that you promised to keep her for three months.”

Cade just growled into the phone. He had promised, but that was before he knew what sort of woman he would have to deal with.

“Or is it something else that bothers you? Afraid you will start chasing her yourself?” Warren asked.

Cade chose to ignore Warren’s comment and attacked the problem head-on.

“Tell me, Warren, is this another of those single women you keep pushing in my direction?”

“No, whatever gave you that idea?” Warren replied quickly and sounded so innocent that Cade knew he was on to something.

“If so, I must say that your taste has completely deteriorated since the last one you set me up with. And that is the only thing that speaks in favour of your innocence.”

“Really, Cade. You know I promised never to set you up with anyone since you threw out the last one, but I must admit I’m still concerned for you. You need to settle down sometime.”

“When I meet a woman that is sexy as hell, has a brain and is not after my money, I’ll consider it. But until then, stay out of my personal life, Warren!”

“Maybe you should try that secretary I sent you? She’s usually only after a man’s body so that should fit your demands, shouldn’t it?” Warren laughed at the other end.

Cade smashed the phone down, enraged and frustrated by an overload of work and Warren’s good humour. He was doing this on purpose, he thought. Getting rid of a problem and dumping her on him. Already she was distracting too many of his crew from behaving as rational beings, including himself.

How could he deal with the annoying woman? Perhaps he could appeal to her common sense, although he strongly doubted her ability to use any sense at all. No one who dressed or acted that way could be using much of her brainpower. Or perhaps she was simply a troublemaker?

Hopefully, the next three months would pass quickly. Allowing him to pack off the woman and send her back to being Warren’s problem before she ruined anything other than their tastebuds.

He should have known Warren was up to something when he asked for a ‘small’ favour. Cade should’ve known better by now. The old fox was constantly manoeuvring people to suit his interest, and he had been too stupid to turn him down.

As if he hadn’t plenty on his mind already with the new contracts that were pouring in. These days he spent more time working than not, so if he kept this up, he might as well move into his office permanently and give up his house.

Still, what he really needed was a willing woman in his bed and some hard fucking. Yes, that would be something. Maybe that would prevent him from reacting to that new secretary. These past few hours, he’d seen more breasts and curves than was comfortable.

He’d tried to avoid looking at her, but his eyes seemed to be drawn in her direction even if he didn’t want them to. That was just proof that he needed to get laid and soon. He couldn’t lust after his own staff. It was unseemly and totally against his rules.

Ever since his father had a stroke, Cade had taken over the family business. He’d been involved in running the company for many years. But his new position meant that he had the sole responsibility for the business and all the staff. It felt like a load that was too heavy to bear.

Still, there hadn’t been any alternative at the time, and slowly he was becoming more comfortable in his new role.

Suddenly, he heard someone enter his office. It was Sam. One of his most trusted staff members. He closed the door behind him before he sat down in one of the deep chairs beside Cade’s desk.

“Who’s the pink beauty?” Sam asked with a wink.

“Some secretary that Warren wanted us to borrow. She’s staying for three months unless I can come up with some bright idea to get rid of her.”

“What for? I think she brightens your outer office quite well. Any idea what cup size she might be?”

Cade snorted. “Keep your dirty thoughts to yourself, old man.”

Sam laughed. “Oh, come on. You must have noticed, or you must be half-dead.”

“Sure, I noticed. I’m not blind yet.”

“Good to know. I would be worried about you if you hadn’t. How’s your father, by the way?”

“Better every day. The doctors are very optimistic, but it will take time before he can return to work.”

“If ever. It was probably the workload that caused that stroke. You must be careful, so you don’t end up the same way.”

“I’m only 30, Sam. Not 60.”

“You work too much, Cade. It’s not healthy.”

“Thanks for the advice.”

Sam grinned widely.

“What?” Cade asked suspiciously.

“Are you sure you didn’t hire the pinup?”

“Very sure. I try not to look at her.”

“No harm in looking and raising your blood pressure once in a while.”

“I don’t fraternise with my staff.”

“Technically she’s on Warren’s payroll, not yours. You should invite her out for a coffee.”

“Does this conversation have a point?” Cade asked. “If not, I have plenty of work to do.”

“The point is, you need a woman in your life. Not just drown yourself in work. Your father doesn’t want that.”

“I know,” Cade said with a nod. “Thanks, Sam.”

“Anytime. I promised your father that I would look after you.”

“Huh, as if I can’t do that myself.”

“We can all need a kick in the butt from time to time,” Sam said as he walked out of the office.

‘Yeah, right,’ Cade thought. It was better to come up with tasks that put her at the other end of the office building. Absolutely. She was too distracting.