A Sensational Touch Read online

  D. E. Brown

  A Sensational Touch

  Harlequin Blaze

  To all my romance friends and fans!

  BookRix GmbH & Co. KG

  80331 Munich

  Chapter One

  Jesse breathed in the warm summer air as she stepped out of her house to get her newspaper from the porch. Her neighbor across the street in a two storied yellow house waved at her before she went into the house. Jesse went into her kitchen and put on some coffee before sitting at the table and going through the newspaper. She jumped when her house phone on the wall right of her refrigerator began to ring. She stood and answered it, expecting it to be her mother or sister calling to ask for a favor, it was Modeling Corp. Jesse had done an application to work for Modeling Corp when they actually wanted her to come in for an interview.

  She hang up and gathered her coffee to head out to the bus station to catch the next 16 to Modeling Corp. Jesse bumped into Michelle Little on her way there, a red head short woman with a fiery attitude. Michelle grinned at her, considering they were both 5'6 and have nothing in common, yet Michelle had been her best friend since middle school. "Hey girlie, where you headed?" Michelle asked her. Jesse threw away what was left of her coffe before answering her friend, "an interview at Modeling Corp." She said.

  Michelle's eyes went all huge, apparently she heard of the magazine comapany, they were the best in New York City, big on fashion and passion. "Oh boy, did you know that the man that owns that company was cold-hearted?" Michelle asked shaking her head in horror. Jesse didn't care what she heard about the billionaire that owned the company, all she cared about was getting a job at the firm and build up to becoming a model, starting as an assistant. It had always been her dream to strut down an aisle with the best clothes designed by famous fashion designers.

  "I heard a few stories." She admitted quietly, if anything the thought did not scare her from reaching her dreams. Michelle just stared at her, "and yet you still want to model there? Are you insane?" She asked. Jesse shook her head and pouted thoughtfully before answering, " no, just confident." Right when she answered the bus was pulling up and Michell gave her a hug before running across the street to Hayley's Diner. Jesse used her bus pass and took a seat at the front, she was never a back person, she liked being noticed.

  It was a long ride to Modeling Corp, when she got there she was two minutes late, but they still accepted her. She walked up to the receptionest seated to the front of the building, The blonde's piercing blue eyes gave her a once over before asking, "may I help you?" She asked. Jesse was not bothered by her scrutiny, as a matter of fact, she challenged the receptionest with a calm gaze. The woman's gaze wavered and Jesse smiled satisfied, "yes I have an interview with the owner of the company." She said.

  The woman was typing on the computer, "the job as the assistant, right?" The woman asked not once looking up, "Yes." Jesse answered. The woman pointed to her left at the end of a hall where a set of black doubled doors sat at the end. Above was a sign that said conference room, she took a deep breath and found her self walking towards the doubled doors that held her fate behind them.

  Paul sat at the end of the table leaning back in his chair as he watched the gorgeous woman seated before him. For the third time he wondered why she didn't sign up for a modeling career instead of a lowly assistant. She had her hands placed in her lap and she kept his gaze with confidence, answering his questions with a short yet perfect answer. She was exactly what he looked for, it seemed that she matched him in every way, she was headstrong and meaningful on what her dreams was by actually working here at Modeling Corp.

  "Well Ms. Road I'm proud to finally say that you are hired." He said leaning forward, he waited for an unexeptable outburst that would ruin her chance, but it never came. She just stood, shook his hand, and walked out, her hips swaying as she walked. Paul was impressed by her preformance and felt a twitch at the side of his mouth when before the doors closed she did a little yelp of happiness.

  Paul had seen her records before hiring her, they were clean, although there was a gap in her teenaged life, which he planned to find out why one was there. He stood and left the conference to go to the elevator on the right side of the receptionest. Lillian grinned at him, "she seems great." She said before he got onto the elevator. Which she was right, despite the gap, Jesse Road would be a great assistant, he could just feel it.

  As soon as he got into his office a call from his ex-wife came in, "Katie what is it?" He asked softly when he picked up the phone. Kaitlen Monroe is a woman with a warm heart, she was always considerate of others, but they soon realized that there had never been anything but friendship between them, so their marriage ended. Katie ended up marrying his brother Tyler and now they had a little boy named Greg, who happens to be Paul's favorite and only nephew.

  "Just wanted to know if you ever found that assistant you needed?" She asked. He smiled, it was always said that he saved his smiles for his loved ones, which just might be true, "yeah, how's little man?" He said. There was a small thud in the background, then laughter, "he just found himself a new toy." She answered. He grinned, Greg was a bit like his mother and was always taking in strays, and he was only six. "So who's your new assistant?" She asked. Paul sat at his desk and began to come up with ideas on sexiest woman alive, he pulled out a picture of Jesse which was among other women and sat it in a pile of sexy women. "Jesse Road," He said, "she might be my assistant, but let me tell you that she would not be doing this job for long the way she looks."

  There was a pause, "you hired that girl from our high scool?" Katie asked in surprise. Paul paused a little confused, "Jesse went to our high school?" He asked right back. Katie started laughing, "yeah, as a matter of fact she was three grades lower than us, a twig with braces the last time I seen her." Kattie said.

  Paul stared at Jesse's photo and had a hard time actually seeing her being skinny with braces, "well, whatever she did to look like a goddess now, I really would like to know." He said. Katie was quiet again, "I'm not so sure you and I are talking about the same person, Jesse Road was an ugly duckling in high school I highly doubt there's anything that could change that." She said. No matter how many different ways he tried to make that sound nice, it just came up harsh at the end, Katie knew this girl personally the way she put it.

  "What was she to you?" He asked softly, he could just picture the look of shock on his sister's face, "Jesse is Michael's sister also my best friend." Katie answered. Paul nodded, it was just as he expected, they were talking about the same Jesse Road, who happens to have a brother named Michael Road, now a star fotball player. Michael had been his friend in high school, while Michael had been the first string quarter back on the football team, Paul had been second string, the next best.

  He vaguely remembered Michael's freshman sister that came to every one of their games, if he thought back he never really noticed her, so he hadn't really seen her or how she looked. He do remember braces and glasses, though, so how was it that she didn't have glasses now? The world sure was small, funny that ugly duckling, so Katie says, became this super hot and curvey woman with long dark brown hair.

  He got off the phone with Katie and went back to his work, he frowned down at the ideas jotted down from one of the magazine writers, Dan Hansel. The man had an overactive imagination and right now this trait wasn't doing so good on "Female with the best eyes." He thought back to Jesse, she had some amazing earthy green eyes. Then again she had an amazing everything, if only he could give up his rule of allowing an ametur to model he would.

  He picked up his phone again, "your assistant is on her way up." Lily said and hang up, he leaned back in his chair, and in came Jesse. She had gone home to change in something that was suppose
to look professional but ended up taking a provacative turn. He gulped at the sight of her in the blue suit that hugged all her curves in the right places, her cleavage showed enough to notice and her ass was plump and luciously round. His gaze did a dramatic once over, down to legs that ran on forever and bared shapely calves that was impressive on this woman alone. She had decided to sit her hair in a loose and sexy bun on top of her head, letting a few loose strands of her hair curl in her face and caress her cheeks. She finished in some blue fashionable heels that showed off what looks like small delicate feet with blood red nail polish on her toe nails.

  "Good evening, Mr. Keller, I'm ready to start." She said, Paul cleared his throat to regain his cool, "yes, I need you to take this down to Hansel, you do know where the editor building is right?" he asked. She nodded, if anything Grechen had done her job and already showed Jesse around, the woman was always good at what she does. Jesse took the folder of all the sexy women canidates and left his office, what she didn't know was that she was among these canidates, he just couldn't resist.

  Chapter Two

  It had been a long day at work, Paul was locking up right after Jesse had come out. His cell rang on his way to his Bugatti Veyron, he answered it, taking a notice when he spotted Jesse walking up to the smallest car he ever seen. "Hello?" He answered, The voice on the other end was his father calling about Katie. The man had been bugging him since the divorce on getting a new wife, since he ruined his chance with Katie.

  At least to his father he ruined a chance that Paul never had, he married her, he divorced her, what was done was done. They had agreed that there was just no point in furthering their six month marriage and after that they agreed they were better off as friends. He almost got into the car when he heard the ugliest sound of a beetle trying to turn over. He backed away from his car and without saying anything he hang up on his father. Jesse was trying to start that ugly Volks Wagon of hers but it wass refusing to start. He loosened his tie before walking up to her car and knocking on her window, she jumped and then rolled down her window glaring at him.

  "What were you trying to do, give me a heart attack?" She asked in a high voice, he raised an eyebrow at her, she kept her glare though, she was not backing down, he was impressed how she was the only one he knew of, except Katie, that dared talk to him like that. Maybe because she didn't understood how he worked, keeping his cold-hearted persona was a must, he had to so he could keep women from falling in love with him. "Not in the least, but if you want my help, I would try talking to me with little less voice." he said.

  Jesse only frowned at him and tried to make her car turnover again, "well excuse me for not being like every other person who probably bow down to your every wish, but I don't need your help, you could try a different tatic though." She pointed out. She had to be at least twenty-three or four, and the fact that she got snappy with him more amused him than pissed him off. "And what tatic would that be?" He asked. Jesse smiled sweetly, "act like my boss only when we are at the company, not right now." She said.

  Paul never heard anyone talk to him like this in a long time, he leaned closer to her and calmly spoke, "you are absolutely right, to start over, let me give you a ride home." He said. Why was he being nice, he couldn't answer that himself if he had wanted to, he shook his head trying to forget about it. Jesse seemed to be pondering that question, "what about my car?" She asked frowning, Paul stared at her little ugly beetle and shook his head, "I'll get you a new car." He said.

  Her eyes went all huge, and he had a feeling that she did not like that idea, most women would be exstatic with such an idea. Not Jesse, his new assisstant was way different than the women he was used to, as beautiful as Jesse was, there was no way Paul was not going to try and seduce her. His mind already made up, Paul helped Jesse out the car and they got into his, "where do you live?" He asked her.

  Her mouth thinned before answering, "Park Veiw, in the small blue house at the bottom of that hill." She answered. He frowned knowing the exact house she spoke of, it was more like a cottage than a regular sized house. His assisstant was not going to be living in such a dire situation, he refused to have her being talked about for her living situation.

  He kept his mouth shut but not forever, soon, that hot temper of hers will pay its depts. Paul pulled in front of her house/cottage and before she stepped out he grabbed her arm, "I'm coming to pick you up for work at eight, be ready." He ordered. She opened her mouth to protest, he cut her off easily by raising his other hand to silence her. "Just do it, you have no other way to get to work but the bus and I'm not having it."

  Paul let her go and she climbed out of his car and slammed his door closed before stomping up to her house and going inside slamming her door closed. He would have to remind her to lock her door when she's not there, he had a feeling that it's never locked. He pulled off and went home himself entering his penthouse and feeding his dog, Hanna, a golden retriever before going into his room to the balcony.

  He glanced out to the ocean and was humbled when he felt arms suddenly wrap around him, "had a rough day today?" His sister asked him. He turned and hugged her close and kissing her cheek, "nah, it was pretty okay, got myself a new assistant, so tell me how long you been in my house, and how'd you get in?" He asked her. Nicole turned from him and padded to his bed and sat down, "I'm not telling not one of my secrets, just be happy that I'm here."

  Chapter Three

  First day at her job and she already knew one thing about her boss; he was absolutely insane, and infuriating. How dare he think that he had any type of control over her outside the office? No way was she letting him take over her life already, she just met the cold-hearted bastard. She took deep breaths, she wanted this job more than anything, there was no way she was letting her boss get to her.

  It was time to suck it up and do her job as Paul Keller's assistant, no matter how much she didn't want him trying to take over her life, she didn't want to lose her job. Jesse sighed as she plopped down on her couch and flipped on the television set to the news. Her phone rung and she debated on rather or not she should answer it, she finally picked it up, "hello?" She answered.

  "Hey is this Jesse?" The woman's voice asked, Jesse sat up a bit, "yes who is this?"

  "Katie Monroe, we've been best friends in high school."

  "Oh yes, hi Katie, what's with the sudden call after five years." Jesse asked not tying to be rude, but it was a bit weird for an old friend from highschool to actually call. Katie had been vey nice to her even though her popular friends were really mean, she stood up for her, then they realized how much they had in common.

  "I know it's been so long Jesse, I was hoping if we can get together and catch up on old times, when Paul mentioned you I was shocked to hear your name, I got to see this new you he brags about." Katie said. Jesse sighed, she have no clue how Paul knew Katie but it was nice to be invited someplace, "okay, I guess." She agreed.

  "How about now, I'm already waiting for you outside your door, Jesse hung up and went to answer her door, it was nine at night, and how did Katie know where she lived? Katie stood there right outside her door and her whole face lit up when she see her. "OMG, I didn't believe it possible but Paul was telling the truth! I'm so jealous, I gain baby weight, and you well, you grow tits, ass, and lucious curves, you have to tell me your secret."

  Jesse rolled her eyes and let Katie in, 'there isn't one, I just grew up, once i hit twenty I started filling in," Jesse said. Katie shook her head and plopped down on her couch, "talk about late bloomer, just think how many boys would have been crawling all over you when you were sixteen if you sprouted then."

  Katie jumped up suddenly, "I just had a great idea, we should totatlly go see Darren and Grace, they married you know, and have three kids. Can you see Grace having kids, you could have sworn she was allergic." Jesse couldn't help but snicker at this. Grace had been one of the popular girls that Katie had once hang out with, she'd been the top bitch of the three, she could only imagine how s
he looked and acted now.

  "I will have to warn you she's still a mayjor bitch, and still looks great, can't say the same about Raven, though." Katie added. Jesse an Katie headed out to Katie's car and drove to Grace's house, both going up in time for Darren to step out. "Holy crap Katie, is that you, haven't seen you for two weeks., who's the babe?" He asked eyeing her s if she was a large chocolate bar. Katie rolled her eyes, "still a cheating pig, I see, nothings changed."

  "Don't tell my wife, you have to understand, she drives me nuts, so who is she?"

  "This is Jesse Road, Darren. She went to highschool with us."

  "You mean Twig Braces?! All be damned girl you are fucking hot."

  "What's the meaning of this? Who's at the door Darren?" Grace asked coming to the door with a frown, then her face sprouted to a grin. "Katie darling, you came and visited and you brought a friend, omg! Is that you Jesse?" She asked. "Yes, hello Grace."

  "If I knew you would look like a goddess later I would have made you a very close friend." She said grinning.

  "You don't seem that bitchy to me." Jesse said, Grace raised an eyebrow, "I can be, just not as bad as Raven, she's rich now, you know, famous pop singer. She forgotten all about her friends."

  "Well it was nice meeting you guys but I have to get home, thanks Katie, can you take me home now." Jesse asked. Katie nodded and took her home dropping her off, Jesse waved and watched Katie pull off, then she went inside and closed the door.

  Chapter Four

  Paul woke with a sense of determination, he would make Jesse a model if it was the last thing he'd do that was for sure. He took a shower and headed out to pick Jesse up, she had no clue he was coming. Paul pulled in front of her house right when she was going to climb in that awful car of hers. The look of shock on her face when she watched him step out from the limo made him want to grin.