Billionaire Boss by Meagan McKinney

stammered.“D-do you need anything right now?” she asked him. “Otherwise—”
    â€œOf course, we understand that you might have other plans, Mr. Morgan,” Jenn interrupted, “but we’d love to have you come to our little celebration, too, wouldn’t we, Kirsten? After all, it seems only proper to have the boss to dinner every now and then.”
    Kirsten froze.
    There was no way she could get through a family dinner with Seth at the table.
    Convinced he’d decline, she tried to hide her nervousness behind a pleasant smile. “Mom, I’m sure Mr. Morgan has better things to do than accept our last-minute hospitality.”
    â€œI’d love to. What time and where?” Seth announced.
    Kirsten just stared at him.
    â€œOh, about seven. And the address is—”
    Kirsten had had all she could take. “Mr. Morgan can get the address, Mom. We’ll be there.”
    Jenn grabbed her handbag and keys from the kitchen table. “I’d better be going, then. Lots to do before company arrives!” she said before breezing out the kitchen door.
    When her mother’s car was safely out of sight, Kirsten turned to Seth and said, “It was very gracious of you to be so kind to my mom, butreally, you don’t have to come tonight. I mean, it won’t be fancy or anything. Our idea of a feast is pizza.”
    â€œDon’t you want me to come, Miss Meadows?” Those aqua eyes of his laughed.
    â€œOf course you’re welcome to come, but I don’t see how you’d ever have a good time—”
    â€œDon’t worry about my good time.”
    She stared at him, speechless.
    â€œWill you be ready for six-thirty?” he asked.
    â€œYes,” she answered, sure somehow she was being set up, but not quite seeing the scheme.
    â€œHow do you dress for dinner at your house, Miss Meadows, if I may ask?”
    â€œPizza casual.”
    â€œDo I detect sarcasm?” He lifted one dark eyebrow.
    She studied him. None of it made sense. Unless he just wanted to check out the property he’d bought.
    â€œYou know,” she mentioned, “you can see the house any time without having to sit through a family dinner. And I am paying you back, so really you won’t have anything to do with the property as soon as I get the loan I’ve applied for.”
    â€œYou’ve made all of that perfectly clear, Miss Meadows. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have togo down to the wine cellar and pick out a nice bottle to bring to your mother.”
    She watched him open the door past the kitchen table. There, with its own staircase, was the wine cellar.
    â€œRed or white, Miss Meadows?”
    She rolled her eyes. His motives always caused suspicion in her. Perhaps it was just wisdom. He was not the kind of man one could control. But he had to know that ultimately he would not control her, either.
    â€œWhatever you like,” she offered, her voice sugar sweet.
    â€œThen we’ll bring both. Good choice.” He smiled, then disappeared down the stairs.
    Â 
    A dinner had never taken so long in Kirsten’s entire life.
    Fearing any subject might lead to something she did not want to talk about, she stayed animated through the entire meal, so that she could turn the topic to her own liking should the need arise.
    However, she needn’t have bothered.
    Her mom and Seth seemed to have taken an instant liking to each other. Jenn talked of all the places they’d lived overseas while Kirsten wasgrowing up. Seth, the world traveler, naturally found it all fascinating.
    Naturally.
    But the worst one was Carrie. The preteen girl seemed to have taken one look at Seth Morgan and developed an incurable crush on the man. When Carrie showed him the jewelry she’d been making and he complimented her on her originality, Kirsten thought Carrie would swoon.
    It was all too much. And too dangerous.
    Kirsten didn’t want her family