Chapter 1

LACEY

Fat drops of rain fell from heavy gray clouds that covered the sky like a thick blanket. It had been pouring nonstop all morning, and everything was slick and drenched.

With a high-pitched screech, a car pulled up from behind, spraying a cascade of rainwater from the puddles on the road that landed across the sidewalk. I leaped out of the way, pressing myself against the door of a nearby shop. It was no use, and I still ended up with dirty water soaking through my boots and jeans.

My heart thudded in my chest, and I wanted to shake my fist at the car, but it was no use. As it vanished into the distance, the car's bass rattled the road with its rhythmic thud. The driver inside was oblivious to the chaos he left behind him.

Everybody else on the sidewalk walked past me at a brisk pace, paying the car no mind. The first thing I noticed when I first moved here was that everybody was in a hurry to get to their destination. Was this what it was like to live in the big city? Was I going to eventually become numb to the daily indignities I would encounter on the streets?

On the other side of the road, tucked in between the towering glass skyscrapers of downtown Huntington Harbor, I spotted my target. The cozy little coffee shop was barely bigger than a shack. After an entire morning of walking around in the rain, the inviting glow from inside and the familiar coffee bean logo announced the shop as a port of safe harbor for weary commuters. Bean Brewing and Sipping's chain of shops was always a welcoming place to hang out. It didn't matter if I was in a small town in the middle of Nebraska or a bustling city like Huntington Harbor.

As soon as the light at the crosswalk turned, I dashed from the shop doorway and ran across the road. A bell over the door let out a tinkling ring as I stepped inside. The warm interior was a sharp contrast to the bone-chilling humidity outside.

Safe inside, I finally noticed that the icy rain had completely soaked through my clothes to the skin. Even the calming jazz music that floated through the air was not enough to muffle the wet squelching sound my shoes let out with each step I took.

"Welcome to Bean Brewing and Sipping," announced the barista behind the counter. "Customers are welcome to use our restroom. You can freshen up and wait here until the rain lets up." She shot me a pitying look. "Huntington Harbor is famous for flash rainstorms. It'll be over and sunny outside before you know it."

"Is it that obvious that I'm new to the city?" I thought I fit in so well with the other residents in the city. One of the first things I did after I arrived in Huntington Harbor and moved in with my roommate, Katie, was to buy new clothes to replace my dated wardrobe from back home. Looking down, I judged my outfit. I was wearing a pair of loose jeans and a designer leather jacket that Katie and I had found for twenty bucks at a thrift store.

The barista smiled. "It's the shocked and confused look on your face. Don't worry, we've all been there."

I shot her a weak smile, embarrassed that my status as a country bumpkin radiated like bad body odor.

I glanced around the coffee shop. Despite this location's notoriety as the chain's first location, it was oddly empty except for a few customers. At the far end of the dining room against the back wall, a tall intimidating man sat alone. He was busy working on his laptop. The cup on his table was empty and the beverage it had contained was long consumed, leaving the top of it lined with a dried ring of coffee-stained milk foam. Two empty crumpled packets of sugar were on the table next to the cup.

He was good-looking, with broad shoulders and a strong muscular body that filled his perfectly tailored gray suit. His dark hair was clean cut and every strand was styled into place. I would have said he was handsome, except he was burning a hole into me with his fiery copper eyes. He reminded me of a predator, like a wolf or mountain lion stalking his prey.

I probably disrupted him from whatever work he was doing on his computer. Power and arrogance radiated off him in waves. The guy looked like a stuck-up finance bro who worked in one of the towering office buildings next door. On his wrist, he wore a large silver watch that I guessed was worth more than an entire house. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. His type, as I already discovered, was a dime a dozen in the city. They acted like they were gods and looked down on anybody who didn't make as much money as them. People like me.

Ignoring him, I walked over to the counter. "Let's see, I'll have a flat white, please."

I paid for the order and the barista slid the key to the restroom across the counter.

"Your order will be ready in a couple of minutes. The restroom is down the stairs to your right."

I muttered my thanks and disappeared in the direction she indicated. Thankfully, the restroom was a private room instead of a row of stalls. Glancing at my reflection in the mirror, I cringed at the drowned rat staring back at me. I looked like I had just crawled out of the sewers. No wonder the asshole out there was judging me so hard.

Pulling a wad of paper towels from the dispenser, I wiped the droplets of rain that clung to my glasses. Then, as best as I could, I toweled my hair and neck before wringing the water out from my shirt. What I couldn't get out, I tried to dry with the blowing hand dryer. My shoes were a lost cause though. What a pity. I really liked the ankle-length suede boots. Not that it mattered much, since I was going straight home as soon as the rain stopped.

The only reason I had to brave the horrible weather and come downtown was to record my employment interview and sign some forms at Discreet Talent Connections Agency. All of the agency's clients were powerful people and celebrities who had little time to find their own employees. A posting from the agency was my best bet at a job that paid enough to cover the bills.

Signing up to become a personal assistant for some rich businessman wasn't what I had planned on doing with my life, but I needed money. I couldn't mooch off Katie without chipping in for my share of the rent. Besides, living off instant ramen and frozen peas was quickly losing its novelty. This situation was only temporary. All I wanted was a well-paid job that didn't demand too much of me mentally and covered my living expenses while I finished writing my paranormal romance novel.

By the time I stepped back out into the dining room, my order was waiting for me at the counter. The rich nutty aroma of the freshly brewed coffee hit my nose. I picked up the cup with care, making sure the coffee didn't slosh over the lip and admired the latte art of a heart on the surface.

Maybe I should train to be a barista? Working in a coffee shop seemed like it would be fun. I shook my head. Knowing how clumsy and forgetful I was, I could already picture myself scalding my hand with hot steam from the espresso machine and mixing up everybody's orders.

I turned around to find somewhere to sit, only to let out a yelp as I crashed into somebody. My coffee tumbled out of my hand and splattered all over the crisp gray silk suit of the man who was standing right behind me.

The coffee had to be scalding hot, but he didn't even flinch as it soaked through his shirt and suit. Some of it splashed back onto my jacket before dripping onto my boots. Great. Just what I needed.

It was the guy who had been staring at me when I entered the coffee shop. I hadn't heard him make a single noise. How did he sneak up so close to me?

He put his hands on my shoulders to steady me. "Is it a custom in Oklahoma to go around tossing your coffee at strangers?"

"Only those who sneak up on me like a creeper." Ignoring the warmth of his hands seeping through my jacket, I shrugged off his grip.

"And I'm from Nebraska, not Oklahoma," I growled. The speed with which he identified me as an out-of-towner only flamed my anger.

He looked down his sharp nose at me, scanning his judgmental gaze up and down my figure. "Same difference."

I balled my fists. Arrogant jerk.

Up close, he was even bigger and more intimidating than he seemed from across the room. My nose was right at his chest level. He had wide shoulders that made him seem like a brick wall. Not that I was going to let him intimidate me. His eyes shimmered with amusement as I refused to step back. I had no doubt that he expected me to apologize for the accident.

"You need to watch your step before you piss off the wrong person, or you're not going to last very long in Huntington Harbor."

Was that a threat? Before I could even process his words, he picked up his laptop from the table behind him and walked out of the door. How strange. From the large front window, I watched him make his way down the sidewalk and disappear into the crowd.

The barista rushed over and handed me a bunch of paper napkins. "Oh my. Let me make you a fresh cup."

I dabbed at the coffee on my jacket. "No, that's okay. It's my fault, and I've already caused enough trouble for you." I gestured toward the window where a beam of sunlight spilled into the coffee shop. "Besides, the rain has already stopped, just like you said it would."

On the hour-long bus ride back home, I stewed in my anger and coffee-soaked clothes. What a jerk! The nerve of that man to threaten me after he was the one who invaded my space.

I got off at the bus stop near my apartment. As usual, the front door of the building was jammed shut. The lock had been broken for as long as I lived here, so the sticky door was actually the only security measure we had against strangers wandering into the building. I kicked the door repeatedly until it finally popped open.

Junk mail littered the entryway, which meant the mailman had already been here this morning. Our mailbox was filled with the usual, ads and bills. Not that I expected anything else. Well, a check from an unknown millionaire aunt would have been nice, but the chance of an inheritance coming my way was as likely to happen as getting struck by lightning.

When I opened the door and stepped into the living room, Katie was sitting on the floor behind the coffee table and buried up to her chest in a pile of yarn balls. We were both in between jobs right now. To make some money, my roommate ran an online store selling crocheted stuffed toys.

Her chestnut hair was tied up in a messy bun and a fuzzy pink headband held back the unruly strands around her face. She was still dressed in her blue penguin pajamas, and it looked like she hadn't moved since I left earlier to go to Huntington Harbor.

I kicked off my wet shoes next to the front door and tossed the bills onto the coffee table before I collapsed on the cheap futon behind her.

"What are you making this time?"

"Baby Yoda sitting in a space pod."

She stuck her hand inside the still unstuffed project and moved her fingers so that the deflated crocheted Yoda nodded at me. Most of the orders she received were for custom fan commissions.

"Cute. Has the agency called you yet?"

Katie stabbed her crochet hook into the project and worked another row of stitches.

"No. I think they've tossed my file into the trash."

I settled into the cushions. My heart sank. Katie was the one who referred me to the agency, and she had joined long before I even submitted my application. If Katie, with her multiple impressive talents, couldn't get a callback, then what hope did I have?

Her crochet hook paused in the middle of the next stitch. Katie sniffed the air and crinkled her nose. "Why do you smell like a wet dog that's rolled in a puddle of coffee?"

"Ugh. Don't even get me started. This whole morning was awful. You wouldn't believe the guy I ran into."

Just then, my phone started ringing in my jacket pocket. I looked at the screen and then at Katie.

"It's the agency."

She tossed aside her crochet project and scrambled up onto the futon next to me. "Well, what are you waiting for? Answer it."

I accepted the call and put it on speaker. As if the person on the other end of the line could see me, I straightened my back and sat primly on the edge of my seat. Clearing my throat, I put on my best professional-sounding voice.

"Hello, this is Lacey Conway speaking."

"Good afternoon, Ms. Conway. This is Gladys at Discreet Talent Connections. I am calling to inform you that you have been selected for a nanny position. The client has requested that you start immediately."

I frowned. "Nanny? I thought I would be assigned an assistant or an office job."

There was a sigh. "Ms. Conway." The irritation in Gladys's voice transmitted across the phone. "We provide a variety of talent to our clients. Whatever needs they express, we find a way to meet and exceed them. Your information stated that you have experience with young children. Is that not the case? If there is a problem or any doubt about your ability to perform, then we can remove your file from our roster."

"No, there's no problem! I mean, I'm just surprised at the assignment. It's so sudden. When and where do you need me?" I hadn't lied in my interview. Not exactly. I only omitted the part where my experience was babysitting my seven-year-old cousin during family get-togethers on Thanksgivings and Christmases.

"The client, Mr. Wulfthorn has requested your presence at Wulfthorn Baked Goods Corporation for an initial interview. You will be caring for a four-year-old girl, Emilia Wulfthorn. She's very well-behaved, but her guardian needs someone to look after her while he is at work. The term of the contract is for one year, and you will receive compensation of one hundred thousand dollars."

I stared wide-eyed at Katie in shock at the amount. Wow, she mouthed silently.

"Ms. Conway, I must warn you, Mr. Wulfthorn is one of our most demanding clients. If you want the job, you will need to be at his office by 2 PM on the dot. Will this be a problem?"

Katie picked up her phone and flashed the screen at me. Shit. It was already 12:30. How was I going to clean up and get there in time? Katie nodded her head frantically.

"Take it," she whispered.

"I'll be there," I blurted.

"Excellent. If your interview goes well today, I will send you the contract and documents to be signed. Best of luck, Ms. Conway."

I stared at the phone in shock as the call ended.

My eyes met Katie's. "Holy shit!" we shouted.

She wrapped her arms around me, and we jumped in excitement. "I can't believe you got a job!"

"Well, it's not a job yet, unless I can get across town at the speed of light," I said.

"Go," Katie ordered. She grabbed me by the shoulders and pushed me in the direction of the bathroom. "I'll find something for you to wear. You get cleaned up."

"I need shoes too!" I shouted. Thankfully, the two of us shared the same size.

Katie was already rummaging through her closet by the time I stripped out of my clothes. I wet a washcloth and swabbed my chest where most of the coffee had landed and soaked through my shirt.

She came into the bathroom and shoved a chunky dark gray knit sweater and light gray pants in my direction. On the floor, she placed a pair of tawny-colored loafers. "It's not the latest in fashion, but it's professional. You know how these corporate places can be."

I shrugged on the clothes and while I got dressed, Katie tapped away at her phone. "Wow, listen to this."

"I'm listening," I grunted as I pulled the sweater over my head.

"Your boss is the youngest founder of a food empire worth over ten billion dollars. He started his first bakery in Huntington Harbor at the age of twenty-two and by the time he was twenty-nine, expanded his chain of bakeries to over thirty countries."

As she filled me in on the guy I was going to be working for, I finger combed my hair into a somewhat presentable state. Frizzy strands stood up in a halo around my head, but that was unavoidable with all the humidity from the rain. I pushed my glasses back up my nose with my finger.

"I wonder what he looks like?" Katie scrolled on her phone and frowned. "Strange. I can't find a single picture of this dude. Shit, you've got to go. It's 12:45 already. The next bus is at 12:50."

"Fuck!" I ran out to the living room to grab my phone and keys before flying out the door.

"Good luck. Try not to sleep with your billionaire boss on the first day," Katie's voice called out as I ran down the street to the bus stop.

As if that was ever going to happen.