Derek Langley can’t keep an assistant to save his life. He’s grumpy, demanding, and sometimes mean, which mirrors his reputation in court. Derek doesn’t have time to coddle an employee, so when the temp agency informs him their next placement will be the last, he knows he’s doomed.

Maya Sterling is excited to move to Seattle. She wants to be closer to her siblings and her new friends, and a position with a temp agency fits the bill for her new life in the city. She doesn’t plan on walking in and finding a sexy British grouch for a boss, but his gruff nature doesn’t really bother her. In fact, she’s attracted to his rough-around-the-edges nature.

They quickly realize the attraction is mutual and steam up the office. But Maya’s position with Derek is temporary, and she knows she must maintain a professional distance to preserve her sanity.

Will they be able to resist each other? Or does fate have other plans?

Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.

Book Type:

Romance

Excerpt: The Substitute

“Hi, I’m Maya Sterling,” she says, crossing to shake my hand. Her grip is firm and confident, and her eyes never leave mine as she introduces herself.

So far, so good.

“Derek Langley.”

“I figured,” she replies with a grin. “It’s interesting how this practice is set up, with everyone having their own separate offices. It makes it feel like you’re a private practice.”

I narrow my eyes, surprised. “Do you have a background in law?”

“My brother does,” she says with a shrug. “Anyway, I’m your sub.”

And just like that, this woman manages to do what the one from Friday night couldn’t in a million years. She’s the opposite of MJ. Almost…guileless.

She makes my cock twitch.

“Excuse me?”

“You know, your substitute.” She frowns. “No, that’s not right. Your temp!” Her face brightens once more. “Sorry, early morning with little coffee. I’m your temp.”

With a shake of her head, she laughs and crosses to the reception desk.

“Is this mine?”

“Yes. Make yourself comfortable. There’s a wet bar with coffee in my office. Feel free to use it.”

“Oh, thanks. Appreciate it. Let me just get settled, and I’ll be in to get my marching orders.”

“Very well.”

I nod once and return to my office but don’t sit at my desk. Instead, I stand at the windows, shove my hands in my pockets, and stare out at the gray spring day.

I don’t believe I’ve ever had this kind of visceral reaction to a woman within the first several minutes of meeting her.

And she’s my bloody assistant.

“Would you like coffee?” she asks as she bustles into my office and heads straight for the coffee maker. “Is that part of my assistant duties?”

“No.” My voice sounds hard, but damn it, I don’t want to want her. I just want her to do her goddamn job without her feelings getting hurt every twelve minutes. “I’ll get my own coffee.”

She turns and raises a brow at me, seemingly unaffected by my gruff tone.

“Okay.” She finishes assembling her drink and then sits across from me, taking a sip and then looking around my desk as if searching for something.

“What do you need?”

“Coaster.” She sips again. “I don’t want to make a ring on this gorgeous desk. Is it an antique? It looks Edwardian.”

I frown at her and then at my big, sturdy—and yes, antique—desk. She knows about antique furniture?

“Uh, indeed, it is.” I’d like to do things to her on this desk, but I just frown down at the mahogany. “No coaster. Don’t worry about it.”

“Okay, but you don’t want a permanent ring on it.” With a shrug, she sets the mug down and opens her iPad, tapping the screen and then poising the pencil over it. “I’m ready when you are.”

“What are you doing?”

“I’m going to take notes.”

“Why?”

She lifts an eyebrow again, but the humor never leaves her eyes.

“Blue.” My voice randomly breaks into the silence, startling us both.

“Sorry?” She frowns in confusion.

I shake my head. “Your eyes are blue.”

“Kind of gray, really, from what I’m told. But anyway, I’m going to take notes because you’re going to tell me what my job is here since I’ve lost the ability to read minds. I traded it in for my sparkling personality.”

She smiles and bats those intriguing eyelashes. Suddenly, my stomach feels like it’s been twisted into a knot.

I clear my throat and begin telling her what I expect from her each day.

She busily takes notes on her iPad, and when I’ve finished, she only nods slowly.

“There will be other things as I think of them.”

“Sure, makes sense.” She nibbles on the end of the pencil. I can see just the tip of her pink tongue, and it’s almost my undoing.

I’ve never had a hard-on for an assistant before.