From Boss to Bridegroom by Victoria Pade Page A

post-safarigathering place with an enormous oval table and twelve high-backed chairs.
    From there Lucy found the kitchen, a wide-open area of streamlined stainless steel appliances and white tile so pristine and bright it nearly hurt her eyes.
    Since that seemed to be it for that side of the apartment she retraced her path to the entryway and explored the opposite half, where Rand’s home office was the first room she encountered. Also stark and spare, also black, white, chrome and glass, it was fully equipped with two computers, a printer, a fax machine, a paper shredder, a multi-functional telephone, a copy machine and file cabinets.
    The master bedroom was just past that and since Rand had yet to come upstairs she went in without knocking. The room was slightly cozier, complete with an enormous king-size bed that sat low to the ground on a black Persian rug. There were two bureaus and a wall-length tropical fish tank, along with two more leather chairs and a large entertainment center that faced the bed.
    Rand arrived just as Lucy was turning down his bed so he could get right into it.
    â€œI have an electric razor in the medicine cabinet in the bathroom. If you’d get it for me, please?” he said as he eased himself out of his coat. “I don’t think I’m going to get farther than the bed for now.”
    Clearly the trip from the hospital had taken its toll and Lucy wondered why he hadn’t had Frank comeup to help him undress. She certainly hoped he didn’t expect her to perform that service.
    Then, as if reading her mind, he said, “I thought I could manage to get out of my own clothes so I sent Frank to pick up some food. I don’t know about you but I’m starving. I hope you like Chinese. Then he’ll wait downstairs to take you home when you’re ready.”
    â€œYes, I like Chinese food, but couldn’t Frank join us? I hate to have him just waiting for me downstairs.”
    â€œI invited him but he’s bringing food for himself and the doorman, too. They have plans for a game of rummy.”
    Lucy nodded and then said, “The shaver,” to let him know she hadn’t forgotten.
    She was only too happy for the chance to go into the bathroom she’d barely glimpsed through the open door because even just that glimpse was enough to let her know it was spectacular. And it was. It was a large gray and white marble cove with a skylight for a ceiling. A free-standing sink stood below stair-step shelves of the marble that formed the shower, wainscoted the walls and provided four steps up to the sunken bathtub that nestled amid three stained glass windows that were works of abstract art all to themselves.
    The medicine cabinet was recessed into the wall above the sink and Lucy had no problem locating Rand’s electric razor. When she returned to thebedroom with it she found him struggling to remove his shirt, his face a grimace of pain before he realized she was there to watch. Then his expression just turned to stone.
    But it was too late for him to hide the agony he was in and Lucy couldn’t pretend she hadn’t seen it. She also couldn’t stand by without offering aid.
    So much for not helping him undress.
    â€œWhy don’t you let me help you with that,” she said, setting the razor on the black enamel table beside his bed.
    â€œThanks.”
    Lucy went up behind him and slid the shirt free, trying as she did not to feast on the sight of his broad, straight back once it was exposed to her. But it wasn’t easy to overlook rippling muscles that narrowed to a compact waist, all encased in sleek, smooth skin. Especially when she had the inordinate urge to press her palms to the wide expanse and test the texture to see if it really was satin over steel the way it looked.
    â€œCan I persuade you to apply that ointment the hospital sent home with me? There’s no way I can do it myself,” he said, obviously unaware of what