By His Desire by Kate Grey

 
    Chapter One
    “Can I make a comment that will probably piss you off?”
    Keith Logan glanced at his assistant, Valerie. “Nothing’s ever stopped you before.”
    “Yeah, but I usually rip you about work-related stuff, and this is personal.”
    Keith turned back to the million dollar painting he’d just lent to the Modern Art Museum. “Go for it,” he said, knowing she would anyway.
    “I think you should start spending your money on something that will make you happy.”
    He frowned. “I am happy.”
    Valerie shook her head firmly. “No, you’re not. And ever since you bought that painting it’s even more obvious. You get this expression on your face whenever you look at it, like…” her voice trailed off.
    “Like what?” he asked in spite of himself.
    “Like you want something you can’t have. And that’s not the look of a happy man.”
    Keith slid his hands into the pockets of his three thousand dollar suit. “I see. And your solution to this supposed problem is to throw money at it? That’s not like you. You usually encourage me to throw my money at hospitals and homeless shelters.”
    “Yes, and I’m not going to stop doing that. But it wouldn’t hurt for you to spend something on yourself.” She gestured towards the oil painting, which was a portrait of a young woman. “I was actually glad when you bought this thing, because you wanted it so much and I thought it would make you happy. But it hasn’t. So my advice is to spend a few weeks just…you know, indulging yourself. Go to Paris or London or some city you love. Spend obscene amounts of money for world-famous chefs to cook your favorite dishes. Pay high-class escorts to fulfill your wildest sexual fantasies.”
    He raised an eyebrow.
    “Okay, so I was joking about the last part. But you could indulge in a few crazy one-night stands.”
    “What makes you think I’m not doing that already?”
    Valerie rolled her eyes. “Oh, please. I’ve been your assistant for three years. I can tell when you’re getting laid. The last time was…” She frowned, thinking. “Two months ago? No—two and a half. That advertising exec, what was her name? Horrible woman. I hated her guts.”
    This conversation was starting to bug him a little. “Her name was Emily, and she wasn’t horrible.”
    “She was cold as ice and totally ambitious. The worst possible match for you. I just thank God she dropped you for that idiot senator. But whatever. I don’t really care what you do, as long as you do something. You’ve been coming to the museum every day to stare at that painting, and you’re starting to look a little…” she hesitated.
    “A little what?” he asked irritably.
    “Grim. Dark. Foreboding. And frankly, it’s getting old. I feel like I’m working for Heathcliff and Mr. Rochester and Edward Cullen all rolled up into one.”
    “Edward Cullen?”
    “Pop culture reference. He’s a vampire. He broods.”
    “So if I stop brooding, you’ll leave me alone?”
    Valerie sighed. “I just wish you’d figure out the one thing in the world that would make you absolutely, ecstatically happy—and go after it.”
    His gaze returned to the painting. “I’ll take it under advisement. Now, if you wouldn’t mind actually earning your salary, I’d appreciate it if you’d go to the auction we were discussing and bid on that first edition.”
    “Fine, fine. What are you going to do?”
    “Figure out what would make me absolutely, ecstatically happy. Which may turn out to be firing you.”
    She grinned at him. “You wouldn’t last a week without me. Later, boss.”
    He listened to the efficient clicking of Valerie’s heels as she walked across the marble floor, leaving him alone in the big gallery. He actually would have a hard time functioning without her. She was efficient and irreverent and smart as a whip, and the fact that she was a lesbian was a bonus.
    As an extremely well-heeled bachelor, he often had to deal with female employees