A Baby for the Beastly Boss

By Jenessa Beyer

They call me an ogre. A beast. They say that I’m difficult to work with and nearly impossible to work for. But what they said never mattered, as the only thing I cared about was business, and proving myself worthy of taking over my family’s company.

Then my great-uncle died, and the terms of his will threw my ordered life into disarray. To keep the one thing I’ve always wanted, I’m going to have to do something that I’ve always avoided: fathering a child.

It seems impossible. I don’t have time for relationships. And no woman would ever put up with me anyway.

But then there’s Emma. My assistant. The only one who has been willing to stick by my side for any length of time. She’s sweet, loyal, and beautiful, though I’ve done my best to ignore any attraction that I felt for her. When she offers to help me with my ‘problem,’ not knowing all the details, I’m tempted to cross the line that has always stood between us. From professional to personal.

To make her mine. Temporarily.

The agreement is set. She’ll give me the heir I need, and then we’ll return to the way that things have always been. Business first.

But now that I’ve tasted just how sweet she truly is, how can I ever let her go?

A Baby for the Beastly Boss is a short and steamy romance between a boss and his assistant, and their baby-making project that definitely does not include test tubes. It contains no cheating and a guaranteed HEA.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jenessa Beyer
• Release date: Apr 15, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005095994

Jenessa Beyer

Jenessa Beyer has been fascinated by romance since she was a young girl. As she grew up, so did her tastes, and now she loves—and writes—hot stories full of instant attraction and desire.

Book preview

Chapter One

(Emma)

L ook out, everyone, one of the secretaries whispered. A chorus of hushed giggles followed the quiet declaration, making it impossible to tell who had said the words. Here comes the ogre.

The front door of the office was made of glass, and so it couldn’t be slammed with quite the force that I’m sure Mr. Harrison would like to apply. He stormed past the front desk without so much as glancing in our direction, and another chorus of nervous laughter followed in his wake.

Looks like you’ll have a rough day today, Emma.

Before I could answer, another of the secretaries spoke up. "She always has a rough day. She has to work with him, doesn’t she?"

It’s not that bad, I said. Wanting to defend him, even though I knew my feeble protest would do nothing. And remember, he had to go to a funeral this morning. I think that gives him a right to be in a bad mood.

Maybe. If he was capable of feeling any grief. Which I doubt. Several nods of agreement followed that statement. Though everyone knew our boss had attended the funeral of his great-uncle, they all believed that he hadn’t cared for the old man anyway.

Even I didn’t know all the details, despite being his personal assistant for nearly five years. He was not what anyone would consider open about his private life, especially in front of his employees.

Still, I’d sensed his uncle’s death had rattled him in more ways than one.

Not that I would tell anyone that. It wouldn’t do any good. The entire office considered me the quiet mouse. The abused and put-upon assistant who would never dare speak a word against the bully. I set my coffee cup aside and rose to my feet. I need to get back to work.

I didn’t get a cup of coffee for my boss. He never drank caffeine after a certain time of day. The funeral had consumed most of the morning and it was nearly lunch time. Perhaps I should check if he wanted something to eat.

He had already thrown off his coat and rolled up the sleeves of his crisp white shirt. Leaning forward with his elbows on his desk, his hands over his face.

I paused in the doorway instead of approaching, my heart racing.

Not because of fear. Oh, no.

It would be so much easier for me to work with Andrew Harrison, if I had been afraid of him.

My actual emotions were more difficult to deal with.

And much more pathetic.

I’d never intended to become that oldest of clichés: the secretary or assistant who fell in love with her boss. I couldn’t even say for certain whether I was in love with him, but I admired him more than I should.

And not purely in the emotional sense.

Even now, despite seeing how upset he was, my body reacted to his. Besides my racing heart and shortness of breath, I had the ridiculous urge to squirm and wriggle my hips as a flood of wetness soaked my panties. Inside my bra, my nipples tightened into hard points, which chafed against the very plain cotton fabric. I never wore anything sexy to the office, no matter how much I might be tempted.

Not that I was deluded enough to believe anyone would see what I wore underneath my suit. Especially not Andrew. The practical garments made it easier for me to forget their existence, even if they did nothing to help me control my responses.

I had several phone messages that I needed to give him, but he would be in no mood to deal with them now. I’d offer you a drink, sir, I said. Trying to keep my voice as professional and normal as he would expect. But I assume it’s a little too early in the day for that.

His laugh was more bitter than amused, but at least he did laugh. Well, you know what they say. It’s five o’clock somewhere.

We didn’t keep any alcohol in the office. Andrew rarely drank at all, except for those rare social occasions when he allowed himself to indulge in something as frivolous as free time. His entire existence focused—almost consumed—by his work. If you want, I can step out for a few minutes to get something.

No. He lifted his head, raking a hand through his dark brown hair in a way that had it standing up on end. I knew him well enough now to see the shadows in his eyes, though it wouldn’t be obvious to everyone. Not with the way they considered him as nothing better than an ogre. A monster. I don’t have time for that, anyway. And I’ll need my wits about me if I’m to figure out how to get out of this mess.

Mess, sir?

I half expected him to tell me to ignore what he’d said. It was certainly not my business, as I sensed it had to be personal.

I was called to a lawyer’s office after the service was over, to discuss the terms of my uncle’s will.

His will, sir? I bit my lip as soon as the words were out. Never mind. You don’t need to tell me.

He dropped his head in his hands again and muttered something under his breath. About how someone continued to control his life, even beyond the grave.

That could only be a reference to his uncle.

He rubbed at the back of his neck, a clear sign of the strain he felt. If something wasn’t done to relax him soon, he would end up with one of his stress headaches.

I moved toward the small floor cabinet that stood close to his desk, where I kept the things needed for a time like this.

Namely, the small heating pad that would fit around the back of his neck.

I retrieved it, moved to plug it in, and cursed.

His head snapped up, and he stared at me in shock. My face heated, for though I had a bit of a potty mouth during my off hours, I usually did a better job of cleaning up my language at work.

I held up the plug to the heating pad