Be Bad, for Goodness Sake

By Tara Lain

Christopher “Kit” Merchant is a metrosexual. Though he’s great at his job in product marketing for a high tech firm, he loves fashion, grooming, design and planning parties. Sadly, he also loves the CEO of his company, Elizabeth “Bett” Harding, who is nine years older, ten times richer, and has a big successful CEO as a boyfriend. When Bett asks Kitt to plan the big company holiday party at her house, he’s thrilled. Maybe she’ll come to see him as eligible. But when Bett’s boyfriend finds them together in bathrobes sipping wine, Kit discovers Bett thinks he’s gay. On top of that, the boyfriend is trying to take over Bett’s position as CEO “for her own good”. Some serious holiday magic is required. Will Kit and Bett ever get the chance to be bad, for goodness sake?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tara Lain
• Release date: Nov 11, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301602186

Book preview

Be Bad, for Goodness Sake

Tara Lain

Down the Lain Books

This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, or have been used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved.

No portion of this book may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher, with the exception of brief excerpts used for the purposes of review.

Copyright 2012 by Tara Lain

Smashwords Edition

Cover Art by Mina Carter

PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Dedication

To all of my wonderful readers—old and new. You make it so worthwhile. : )

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Extra

Definition: Metrosexual

1. Derived from metropolitan and heterosexual; a heterosexual man of taste and style who pays attention to his appearance and aesthetics, cultivates an interest in art and design.

2. A straight guy who’s so cool, smart, attractive, stylish, and cultured, that everyone thinks he’s gay. But he’s so secure in his masculinity that he doesn’t care.

Chapter One

Christopher.

Kit Merchant halted his forward rush down the hall like somebody had put gum on his shoes. Was that…?

He turned slowly. Wow. The boss. The boss. Did you say something, Ms. Harding? Had she ever spoken to him individually? Oh sure, a short chat in a group. How do you see our marketing efforts? How are you liking your new software? But never just him.

Yes. She smiled and some new sun came out. When you have a minute, could you come and see me in my office?

Really? A minute? Hell, how about a lifetime? Shall I come now, ma’am?

That lopsided grin everybody talked about flashed at him. You seemed to be rushing somewhere with that when I stopped you. She nodded toward the huge cardboard under his arm.

Okay, he was losing it. I’m taking this to the marketing impact meeting. It’s the new layout for the airport advertising. I blew it up to give an idea of the effect.

May I see it?

He smiled. I think it belongs to you, ma’am. Okay, take a deep breath. He stood the board on the floor, flipped back the flap covering the poster, and held it in front of her. The bold graphic of a young woman talking about how she’d gotten a great new job stood out on the page. In the background was the Harding Systems logo screened back and the tagline, Harding. Technology for People. Bett Harding looked at it with that careful, deep, total focus she gave everything. What would it be like to have that kind of attention lasered on him? Dream on, kid.

She took a step back and angled her head. The shiny brown bob, well, bobbed. Keeping his eyes off her legs was the problem. Even though they were well disguised in the plain black pants and flat shoes she wore, he couldn’t seem to miss the curve of her thighs against the fabric. He’d had some embarrassing responses imagining where he’d like to wrap those legs. Funny. She had no idea she was devastating, at least to him.

She nodded. It looks good, Christopher. Then she did it. She looked up and crinkled those blue eyes at him. Like everything you do.

Holy crap. His heart stopped. Thank you so much. Would you call me Kit?

Kit?

It’s the nickname most people call me.

Of course. And maybe you could drop the ‘ma’am’ in favor of Bett?

Yes, of course. He felt special even though he knew a lot of employees called her that. Especially the engineers. Her babies.

She turned toward her office and looked over her shoulder. So come see me when you have a minute.

Her lean figure receded down the hall. Man, he’d love to put her in a dress. A blue dress with stilettos and a touch of mascara. She was only thirty-two. She could be a full-on glamour queen if she wanted to, but she didn’t seem to have much awareness of herself as a woman. Just as an engineer. He shook his head. Maybe his heart and his dick couldn’t take it if she dressed up.

Okay, late. Get going.

He raced through the software development department and skidded to a stop outside the mid-size conference room. Pushing open the door with his hip, he sidled in with the large board preceding him. Four people stared at him.

Sorry I’m late. I had to stop for a minute.

Anna Bell smiled. Yeah, you had to stop to chat with Elizabeth ‘call-me-Bett’ Harding, didn’t you, Christopher ‘call-me-Kit’ Merchant?

How did you hear that? He set the board on an easel at the front of the room.

Hey, I know the shortcut through engineering too. Just passing by, kiddo. So what did the big boss want?

He shrugged. I don’t know yet. She asked if I’d come to see her when I have a minute.

Randy Sikorsky, aka the worry wart, frowned. Do you think you’re going to lose your job?

Anna didn’t suffer fools gladly, and especially Randy. She gave him a stare down. "Why the hell would the big boss fire somebody in her

Reviews for Be Bad, for Goodness Sake

[regencyfan93 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Bett is a competent woman with more power in the relationship than Kit. Kit is a mature enough man that he is comfortable with the dynamic. Perhaps because Tara Lain started in m/m romance, Bett didn't have to be pregnant at the end. Thank you Ms. Lain for and enjoyable m/f romance!