The Bachelor Boss. Julianna Morris

of the company’s first building…a grim place everyone called the crypt. He’d gotten frustrated waiting for data on an old merger and gone down to get the file himself.

      Then he’d seen Libby.

      She was reaching up, pushing a teetering box back on a high shelf. Her sweater had pulled tight, defining her body and instantly setting him on fire. She’d glanced in his direction, lost her battle with the box, and was showered with dusty files. Instead of getting angry or embarrassed, she just laughed, her green eyes sparkling like jewels and her long hair falling down her back in a silken torrent of brown and gold and red.

      God, he’d loved that laugh.

      Unselfconscious, charming, convincing him she was a whole lot more experienced than was really the case.

      Neil hesitated, then ran a finger into his collar and tugged on his tie. “By the way, my mother called and suggested I bring you to my nieces’ birthday party.”

      Libby’s mouth dropped open.

      A children’s party?

      Wasn’t that too prosaic and normal for Neil? Over the years she’d heard Kane talk endlessly about the family; he was devoted to them. Neil seemed fond of his siblings, too, but she’d never imagined him attending a birthday celebration for two four-year-old girls.

      “Thanks, but I’ve got work to do.” She would have enjoyed the party and visiting with the rest of the O’Rourke family, but going anywhere with Neil wasn’t the best idea—even though she wanted to kick him for looking so relieved at her refusal.

      “I’m sure you’ve already put in enough hours.”

      “Actually, I have…plans. For the evening.” It wasn’t a lie. She did have plans—laundry, vacuuming, and dosing the cat for fleas. Lately it felt like too much effort going on dates that never seemed to lead anywhere.

      “All right. By the way, thanks for the report,” he said, holding up a sheaf of papers. “I’ll go over it this weekend, then we’ll talk again Monday.”

      It wasn’t until after he’d left that Libby let out the breath she’d been holding.

      She could always ask Kane to forget her promotion. He might even be relieved he didn’t have to find a new administrative officer. She’d only had the position for a short while, so it wasn’t like she was bored with her work or anything.

      No.

      Her chin lifted stubbornly.

      She wouldn’t let Neil O’Rourke have the satisfaction of thinking he’d driven her away. And she’d make a darned good vice president, no matter what he might think.