1. Chapter 1

Mr. Hayes stood tall, with not a hair out of place, and slicked back in a smooth swoop. Whenever I looked at his hair, it reminded me of honey wheat that glowed in fields as the sun kissed over its tips, swaying in the breeze. His skin was as pale as the morning sky as the sun rose. His eyes were blue, not Caribbean blue, but Hawaiian blue, like they came from the depths of the dark ocean.

Ugh. I never waxed poetic unless he was around. What was wrong with me? I just got all swoony whenever he was near.

My face suddenly burned as if he could read into my very soul, so I quickly turned my attention back to my laptop, pretending to type out a very important email when he approached my desk, carrying a garment bag.

He laid the bag right on my paperwork, completely erasing that swoony feeling. Seriously? Just because my boss was hotness personified didn't mean he could dump shit on my desk while trying to do his work. Or maybe he did and just didn't care. What did I know? I'd only been working here for two months, still learning his nuances and behaviors. While he looked hot, his personality was cold, aloof at best.

"We're going to a costume party tomorrow night, Mr. Everett. My date canceled on me at the last minute."

Mr. Hayes was a snack, even for an older man of forty. Surely, he could find someone who wanted a nibble and go with him. And I had my own party to go to with actual friends. I'd had no life after starting this job. While I loved doing it since it paid really well, and my boss was nice to look at, it took all my time to be at Mr. Hayes' beck and call. I needed to get out and have fun, even if it was for one night. Bosses were not fun, hot, or otherwise.

"Whatever plans you have, cancel them," he continued, staring down at me with those intense, deep blues, full, pouty lips, and blond scruff dusting on a jaw that was to die for. I had to breathe through my mouth so I wouldn't inhale his intoxicating cologne that smelled fresh but peppery. Focus, Greyson . "We're going as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. You're Watson, of course."

But of course, I am .

"It's a party being held at the old Generations Hall. You know the one. The old sugar refinery near the French Quarter? I am one of the sponsors, so I received two free tickets to the event. We'll attend, make our appearances, have a couple of drinks and some food, and then you're free to go."

I sunk into my chair as I deflated. If Mr. Hayes were any other man, I'd tell him to kiss off with his cute costume idea. Fine, I wouldn't, but the thought would be there. That counted as having a backbone, right? Regardless, saying no to Xander Hayes, Founder and CEO of Nomadology - Specialized Travel Agency, was impossible. Still, I tried.

I sighed. "But… I haven't really seen my friends since I started working here. I was really looking forward to dressing up as Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice . He's my favorite character, next to Elizabeth Bennet, from my favorite book."

Maybe whining would appeal to his better nature.

Who was I kidding?

The only expression on his face was a raised brow, making me sink lower in my chair. "I'll send my car for you at eight tomorrow night. Don't be late."

Okay, hotness does not compensate for being a jerk—a well-paying jerk, but still a jerk.

He turned around and walked back to his office. And no, I didn't stare at his backside or notice how well his suit fit his tall, broad body. Okay, maybe I did just a tad.

When he shut his office door behind him, I exhaled loudly and sent a quick text in the group chat to let my friends know I couldn't party with them. Then I turned off my phone so I didn't have to read their complaints and be told I worked too hard and had no life.

Thanks. Tell me something I don't know.

Once I organized Mr. Hayes' calendar and cleaned up his email, I shut down my laptop for the evening and packed it in my leather case.

My apartment wasn't too far from work, so I walked home. The temperatures were cooling down in late October, but it was still balmy and warm during the day. That was New Orleans for you. Despite being a winter lover, I adored the southern city. It was so wild and diverse. It had a strange sort of energy that filled you to your soul, and you couldn't help but feed off it. Don't even get me started on the fantastic music and food. Every time I was in the middle of it, I felt alive.

I let myself into my apartment, walked toward my bedroom, and rested the garment bag on my bed as Agatha, my black-and-white tuxedo cat, curled around my legs, screaming at me. "Just a minute, Aggie."

I unzipped the bag and opened it to reveal an authentic-looking costume from the late 1800s. Mr. Hayes had really gone out of his way to find such a gorgeous costume. I certainly had no hand in it as his PA. My Mr. Darcy was a pretty good costume, but not nearly as realistic as this.

Of course, leave it up to Agatha to try to sit on it. I lifted her off the costume and kissed her head. "Food in a minute. Now be a good girl and try not to get cat hair all over it."

After I set her down on the floor, I pulled out a navy blue wool jacket, black bowler hat, tie, scarf, black wool pants, suspenders, and a white button-up with a rounded collar. There was also a handlebar mustache. Seriously? God, I was going to sweat in this. Couldn't he have picked out something more… breathable, like a Tarzan loin cloth? Hell, I would've been happy as Jane. Though, I had to admit we would look pretty epic tomorrow night.

After brushing my teeth for the night, I climbed into bed as Agatha curled next to me, purring up a storm before my phone rang. I picked it up off the nightstand and answered.

"Yes, Jojo. Let's hear it." She was calling to torment me about backing out tomorrow night, no doubt.

Jojo had been my best friend since high school, which seemed like a gazillion years ago, although it was only eight years since we graduated. So, I knew her as well as I knew myself.

"Oh, you're so gonna get it. You need to learn the power to say ‘ no ,' Grey. You don't owe that man anything beyond what he's paid you to do. I doubt he's paying you overtime for this."

"Well, no. I'm on a salary. Besides, you're preaching to the choir. But I've only been working there for two months. I'm not ready to piss off the man yet. And the money is just too good."

"Or maybe it's because he's Mr. Hottie McHotterson."

"That could be a teeny-weeny part of it."

"Ugh, you're hopeless."

"So, what else is new? It's lonely working such long hours, and he's nice to look at. Anyway, I miss you guys, but maybe while I'm out, I'll get lucky and meet a guy or something. One can dream, right?"

"What happened to that… Davey? Danny? Dougie?"

I snorted a laugh. "Dustin. You know very well what his name is. You also know we broke up."

"But he was so cute!"

"If he was so cute, why couldn't you remember his name? Anyway, he was also an egotistical jerk that played way too many video games."

"Fair. But now you're going to spend Halloween night with an egotistical boss."

Truth .

"He's not that bad. He's a very busy man and doesn't have time for things like idle chit-chat or telling me how attractive and charming I look in my new charcoal-gray suit."

Jojo giggled over the phone. "As I said, hopeless."

"Who knows? Maybe it'll be fun."

"It better be because you deserve some fun. Your last job was horrible." She sighed on her phone. "We miss you. I miss you. Please make sure you at least take some time off for yourself."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Call after the party and tell me all about it."

"I will. Bye."

She gave me air kisses and hung up.

I stared at myself in the full-length mirror behind my bathroom door, adjusting the collar and tightening the tie. Mr. Hayes provided a mustache in dark brown to match my hair color. I loved not having to wear a wig or that he made me look old. Shit, it was itchy, though. I wiggled my upper lip, deciding that I'd never grow a mustache, no matter how much they were trending.

The costume was a little big on me, but it'd have to do.

Before I could shrug on my coat, my phone pinged. I picked it up off the bathroom counter and saw Mr. Hayes texting me.

Mr. GrumpyHotnessBoss: My car is

waiting.

Me: I'm ready. I'll be down in a second.

Mr. GrumpyHotnessBoss: Tick-Tock, Mr.

Everett

I rolled my eyes and shoved my phone into my pocket. Grabbing my keys, I rushed out the door, locked it behind me, and ran down three flights of stairs before bursting out of the lobby door.

Mr. Hayes had sent one of his fancy black SUVs to pick me up. An older gentleman in a black uniform stood by the car's back door and opened it as I approached.

"Good evening, Mr. Everett."

"Thanks," I said.

When I slid in, I stopped in my tracks, seeing Mr. Hayes waiting for me. "Oh! I, ah, thought I was meeting you there. I mean… hello, Mr. Hayes. Thank you for picking me up."

He gave me a nod. "Mr. Everett."

Mr. Hayes looked surprisingly good as Sherlock. Why was I even surprised? He looked good in anything, even wearing a deerstalker hat and holding that weird pipe. Now, I was stuck in the car with him, filled with his fresh peppery scent.

His mouth twitched in a barely there smile after he gave me a cursory glance at my costume. "Who knew mustaches would suit you?"

"It's elementary, my dear Mr. Holmes. I look good in anything," I said in my most horrible attempt at an English accent.

His mouth twitched again, and his dark blue eyes gleamed before looking out the window at a dark but vibrant city. I bet he was trying to school his features. God forbid he'd laugh around an employee. But then he glanced at me again and stared for so long with those intense eyes that I struggled not to squirm under his scrutiny. Did I have a booger hanging out of my nose? I itched to check, but my nose wiggled, having a mind of its own.

"I'm afraid I invited you to this… party under false pretenses."

I swallowed the joke I was about to say to distract myself from his staring. What did he mean? God, I wasn't going to like this, was I?