Read Online The Trouble With Coco Monroe by C. C. MacKenzie - Free Book Online
Authors: C. C. MacKenzie
Tags: Romance
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days and bad days and eventually the good days would outweigh the bad.
Unlike Becca’s late husband, the love of Jacob’s life was still very much alive.
The brisk knock on the door jolted him out of his preoccupation.
And he ordered himself to get a grip.
His personal assistant Elena popped her dark head around the door.
‘Janine Faulkner of Sweet Sensation is here for the weekly meeting. Do you want me to take it?’
He liked Janine. She was professional and excellent at her job. Plus he’d met her socially a few times at the Ferranti’s. And he very much admired the way she was courageously rebuilding her life after tragedy and her devotion to her child.
Jacob shook his head.
‘I will see her. Gracias , Elena.’
Rising, he walked around his desk as Janine entered his office.
He couldn’t help but smile at her slightly harassed expression.
She was tall, wand slim and today wore a sleeveless sheath of shot silk in ice blue. It was high at the neck and showcased her spectacular eyes and short pixie cut of blonde hair.
Rather than shaking her hand, he took it to his mouth and pressed his lips to the back of the fragrant silky skin.
The way she grinned at the old fashioned gallantry of the move made him raise a brow.
Not even a tingle of attraction from either of them.
Unlike most men Jacob didn’t take it as a hit to his ego that a beautiful woman felt nothing for him, but as a gift.
‘I’m so sorry I’m late. Car trouble.’
He waved the apology away as she sank into a fat leather chair.
Rather than sitting behind his desk, he relaxed into the chair next to hers and crossed his legs.
‘I noticed you drive a rust bucket.’
Placing her briefcase on the floor she gave him big eyes.
‘I need to give it a decent burial. Rosie’s told me to use her car while she’s away. But it’s so shiny and new and I’m terrified of driving a sport’s car with Boo in it.’
At the mention of her infant daughter, Jacob grinned. ‘And how is the bebé ?’
‘Growing like a weed. She’s so content and happy. I’m very lucky.’
Again his admiration for her only grew.
How could a woman who’d lost her new husband, found herself in debt, pregnant and alone consider herself lucky? Surely if she could overcome such a set back, build a new life and triumph, then he should be able to get over a broken heart?
Since she was still breast-feeding her baby Janine refused coffee but accepted water.
Sweet Sensations were supplying spectacular cakes for two society weddings at the hall. And they discussed logistics and on site preparation along with bookings into the following month. Janine had everything at her fingertips as could be seen by the way those fingers flew over her laptop while she spoke.
As she packed up, the thought had no more entered his head than he acted on it.
‘Why don’t I take you out to dinner this evening?’
Stunned, she stared at him and then grinned.
‘Why would an attractive bachelor want to take a single mother out for dinner?’
‘Is there a rule that says a man cannot spend time with a woman for company or as a friend?’
Crossing long legs kissed by the sun, Janine relaxed back in the chair, regarding him with serious eyes.
‘It isn’t easy moving away from family and friends, to settle in a new environment, a new country. Are you lonely?’
Was he?
‘Perhaps. I feel comfortable and at ease in your company.’ Now he frowned. ‘And in my experience a platonic friendship between a man and a woman is rare.’
She pouted in a way that made him smile.
‘Are you trying to tell me you don’t find me alluring and attractive.’
His bark of laughter had her eyes twinkling with sheer mischief.
‘Be honest, querida . You are not attracted to me either.’
For a moment she went tense and he wondered if he’d over stepped the mark.
‘You know I’m not. I don’t want to be attracted to any man.’
Now he leaned forward, took her hand.
Puzzled by the tone
Unlike Becca’s late husband, the love of Jacob’s life was still very much alive.
The brisk knock on the door jolted him out of his preoccupation.
And he ordered himself to get a grip.
His personal assistant Elena popped her dark head around the door.
‘Janine Faulkner of Sweet Sensation is here for the weekly meeting. Do you want me to take it?’
He liked Janine. She was professional and excellent at her job. Plus he’d met her socially a few times at the Ferranti’s. And he very much admired the way she was courageously rebuilding her life after tragedy and her devotion to her child.
Jacob shook his head.
‘I will see her. Gracias , Elena.’
Rising, he walked around his desk as Janine entered his office.
He couldn’t help but smile at her slightly harassed expression.
She was tall, wand slim and today wore a sleeveless sheath of shot silk in ice blue. It was high at the neck and showcased her spectacular eyes and short pixie cut of blonde hair.
Rather than shaking her hand, he took it to his mouth and pressed his lips to the back of the fragrant silky skin.
The way she grinned at the old fashioned gallantry of the move made him raise a brow.
Not even a tingle of attraction from either of them.
Unlike most men Jacob didn’t take it as a hit to his ego that a beautiful woman felt nothing for him, but as a gift.
‘I’m so sorry I’m late. Car trouble.’
He waved the apology away as she sank into a fat leather chair.
Rather than sitting behind his desk, he relaxed into the chair next to hers and crossed his legs.
‘I noticed you drive a rust bucket.’
Placing her briefcase on the floor she gave him big eyes.
‘I need to give it a decent burial. Rosie’s told me to use her car while she’s away. But it’s so shiny and new and I’m terrified of driving a sport’s car with Boo in it.’
At the mention of her infant daughter, Jacob grinned. ‘And how is the bebé ?’
‘Growing like a weed. She’s so content and happy. I’m very lucky.’
Again his admiration for her only grew.
How could a woman who’d lost her new husband, found herself in debt, pregnant and alone consider herself lucky? Surely if she could overcome such a set back, build a new life and triumph, then he should be able to get over a broken heart?
Since she was still breast-feeding her baby Janine refused coffee but accepted water.
Sweet Sensations were supplying spectacular cakes for two society weddings at the hall. And they discussed logistics and on site preparation along with bookings into the following month. Janine had everything at her fingertips as could be seen by the way those fingers flew over her laptop while she spoke.
As she packed up, the thought had no more entered his head than he acted on it.
‘Why don’t I take you out to dinner this evening?’
Stunned, she stared at him and then grinned.
‘Why would an attractive bachelor want to take a single mother out for dinner?’
‘Is there a rule that says a man cannot spend time with a woman for company or as a friend?’
Crossing long legs kissed by the sun, Janine relaxed back in the chair, regarding him with serious eyes.
‘It isn’t easy moving away from family and friends, to settle in a new environment, a new country. Are you lonely?’
Was he?
‘Perhaps. I feel comfortable and at ease in your company.’ Now he frowned. ‘And in my experience a platonic friendship between a man and a woman is rare.’
She pouted in a way that made him smile.
‘Are you trying to tell me you don’t find me alluring and attractive.’
His bark of laughter had her eyes twinkling with sheer mischief.
‘Be honest, querida . You are not attracted to me either.’
For a moment she went tense and he wondered if he’d over stepped the mark.
‘You know I’m not. I don’t want to be attracted to any man.’
Now he leaned forward, took her hand.
Puzzled by the tone