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“Oh, that rule,” he chuckles. “Yeah, sorry about that. It just sort of happened. You know me—ladies can’t resist these good looks.”

He grins, trying to make it seem like no big deal. I suppose it shouldn’t be, as long as it doesn’t get in the way of Nina’s work for the rest of the month.

“Seriously, Zander,” he says as we walk into the kitchen and start the coffee. “It was nothing. Just a bit of fun.”

I let it go. If I push, I’m either the jerk who ruins the holidays or the guy who admits Nina matters to him. I’m not interested in being either.

“Fine.” I lean against the counter as the coffee brews. “Just make sure she stays on top of her work. We’ve got a lot planned.”

“Of course,” he says. “Besides, you can’t blame me. You’re the one who hired such a hot assistant. If you’re into her too, I don’t mind if you sleep with her. It’s not like I’ve laid claim to her or anything.”

I shake my head. “You actors and artists are all the same. Everything’s a group project.”

Jarek laughs as the coffee finishes. “Nothing wrong with sharing a good time when everyone’s enjoying it.”

I guess he’s not wrong. Still, sharing isn’t exactly my strong suit. I like being in sole control.

He fills a mug with coffee. “It does strike me as odd, though.”

“What does?”

“I know Nina has only been here a week, but I’m a pretty good judge of character. Occupational skill,” he says. “She seems like a genuinely good person. Not the gold-digging, selfish diva her ex made her out to be. The scandal doesn’t line up with how she actually behaves.”

“I agree,” I say. “It doesn’t.”

Jarek studies my face, and his eyes light up.

“Your lawyers dig anything up yet?” He chuckles. “I’d know that look anywhere. It’s the same one you used to get in college when you went behind the professors’ backs to do your own research and prove them wrong.”

“Nothing solid yet,” I tell him. “But there’s more to that story than what’s online. There always is.” I shrug. “Not that I care personally. I just like knowing who’s working in my house.”

I add that last part, so it doesn’t sound like I have a personal interest in her past. I also remind myself that I don’t have a personal interest in this woman. Or at least I shouldn’t.

Jarek pauses in the doorway. “You know, most people would’ve canceled her contract the second that scandal broke.”

Before I can respond, he turns away, and says, “Guess it doesn’t matter. She’s here now.”

He heads back to his room, and I stand there thinking about Nina still lying in his bed. My cock stirs, and I shift before I can picture what she looks like naked under those sheets.

Jarek is right. She’s here now. And strangely, it feels like she was meant to be here.

CHAPTER 8

NINA

Going into week two, I have a renewed determination to impress Zander, Jarek, and Pascal and make this the best holiday season they’ve ever had.

I tell myself my little romp in the sheets with Jarek has nothing to do with how excited and comfortable I feel here now, but I’m not entirely sure that’s true. Either way, I’m going to blow this gig out of the water and walk away with references that will bring in new clients for the new year.

Winter in the Colorado mountains can be both beautiful and brutal. After last week’s snowstorm and power outage, which was honestly more cozy than inconvenient, winter has decided to settle in.

The roads are icy, the mountains are buried in snow, and the temperatures are beyond brisk.

Today, I head to the grocery store for supplies. The house is running low on a few things, especially coffee, and I shudder to think about running out. When I get back, I have tons of work to do for Pascal. His family’s fundraising gala is apparently one of the biggest events of the season around here, and it needs to be perfect.

The store is bustling, but I get everything on my list quickly and make it back before noon. I’m used to rushing around, since my clients are always on a timeline, but I’m not used to these conditions.

Normally, the caretaker has the driveway plowed and the steps salted before any of us are even awake. But last night’s freeze must have beaten him to it, which is exactly what I’m not thinking about as I race up the icy front steps with my arms full of grocery bags, eager to get to work on the gala.