Beyond 10 Nights by Michelle Hughes, Karl Jones Page B

to take care of whatever place I
get, I will expect you to do your fair share of the cooking and cleaning; more
than your fair share most likely, since I’ve never been much of a cook and I’m
usually too busy for cleaning. In addition to that, once you are financially
comfortable, you will repay me for any expenses that are incurred during this
period. Is that agreeable to you?”
    She had been ready to refuse his
offer for help, both with somewhere to stay while she sorted herself out, and
in getting an apartment. The last thing she wanted was to be indebted to this
man more than she already was. It would have been bad enough if he had been a
friend, but to have someone who barely knew her so willing to help out just
made it clear to her how much of a bad situation she was in.
    The conditions he attached to the
end of his offer at least made the situation tolerable, even if it was still
one she would have preferred to avoid. After thinking about the situation for
several long minutes, while he waited patiently for her to respond, Leah
nodded. “I’ll pay you back for all the help though, with interest,” she told
him, feeling the need to attach her own condition. “Hopefully I won’t need to
stay with you for long, I have some money, so I could stay at another hotel,
but I admit being worried my funds would run out before I am financially
stable.”
    “If that is what you wish.” Interest
was not something he would have ever considered suggesting in this situation,
and it certainly wasn’t something that mattered to him, he doubted any expenses
incurred would be enough to trouble his wallet, let alone his bank balance.
Despite that, he realized it was probably a good idea; it would help to keep
things on a professional level between them. “I’ll get a contract drawn up with
all the details, that way we both know where we stand.”
    “As long as you’re sure I won’t be
in the way.”  It hit home again how vulnerable a place she'd allowed
herself to get in by not being able to support herself. If she learned nothing
else from this experience, she thought, the one thing she would take out of it
was the need to take care of her own needs in the future.
    “Believe me; I plan on using your
talents to my advantage while I have you with me, Leah.” He smiled, thinking
that with her living with him, even for a short time, he would have a personal
assistant at his beck and call, in some respects that was likely to make things
a lot easier for him.
    “Um, could you explain what you
mean?” She didn’t want to sound ungrateful but just when he had her convinced
that everything was on the up and up, he left her worried that he was talking
about something other than business.
    Sensing the cause of her sudden tone
of concern, Alex fought back a grin. “Not what you’re thinking, I assure you,”
he said, not quite able to keep his lips from twitching with the ghost of an
amused smile. “I simply mean that as long as you are here, I can get you to do
paperwork and such as needed. It will be an excellent learning experience for
you, and will save me a great deal of time and hassle. Trust me; I would never
even consider getting involved in a personal relationship with an employee,
unless she made the first move that is.”
    Leah flushed bright red. “I’m so
sorry; I didn’t mean to suggest that you intended anything like that.” She was
mortified that she had thought that was his intention. He hadn’t done anything
to suggest that he found her sexually attractive.
    “Please, don’t apologize. You’re a
lovely young woman, and I would be honored to know that you found me
interesting enough to consider such a thing, but you are engaged to a friend of
mine, and have just taken a job working for me. Given the circumstances it
would be completely inappropriate for me to even think about getting involved
with you, let alone suggest such a thing.” He hoped she understood what he was
trying to say; even to his