This one is for the Summer Lovin Contest. As always, your votes and comments would be much appreciated. And I would like to thank No1Ukno for his invaluable help with editing this story.
AUBREY
Normally so vital and upbeat, I'd never seen my boss Owen looking so dejected, as one text after another kept showing up on his phone. Everyone decided with how hard it was coming down, especially with the highway being closed due to flooding, that there was no point in coming anymore. They all said they were sorry, but they were turning around and going home.
Owen showed me the last text, shook his head and muttered, "Can you believe this? The weather forecast said there was only a chance of rain for the whole weekend, and now we've got this storm sitting over us."
He looked so disappointed I wanted to wrap him in my arms and give him a hug. I knew this was the highlight of his summer, having all his staff up at his cottage to show us a good time.
With a resigned shrug, he looked over at me. "Guess it'll be just the two of us, Aubrey. And I hope you like steak, because I've got forty T-bones, along with a few dozen chicken breasts and a whole salmon sitting in my fridge."
"Well, I could wrap it all up and freeze it," I suggested, hoping that would be one thing off his mind.
He shook his head, and turned his gaze back out on the lake, heaving a sigh as he watched the rain starting to come down even heavier than before. "I guess we'll have to, till I can find a way to donate it to a shelter or a foodbank. And you're taking some home, too.
"But it isn't about the food. I was just really looking forward to kicking back with everyone, especially since we only do this once a year. And today was the only day everyone said they could make it. I even got an extra jet-ski, so there'd be enough to go around. I figured Tim's son Braden would be old enough now to take one out on the lake with his Dad."
Owen had to be the best boss ever. Every summer he'd invite his staff up to his cottage on Lake Rosseau to thank us all for being so dedicated.
Christmas was the same. After we'd celebrated with a big office party, just for the staff, he'd have another catered bash at his place in the city on the Sunday before, for all the families. Owen loved to play Santa and hand out specially chosen gifts, just for the fun of seeing the kids' faces light up when they'd tear off the wrapping paper and squeal over whatever he'd picked out for them.
As I studied his handsome profile, I often think he would have made a great father. But sadly, his first wife died when they'd barely been married a year, and they never had time to start a family.
Then a couple of years ago, he took a chance and married his gold-digging, second wife Stacey -- the bitch that tried to take him for every cent he had when she decided after only two years together that she wanted a divorce.
Of course Owen found out that she had someone on the side the whole time, but it still cost him a small fortune in legal fees to finally see the last of her.
After what he'd gone through with Stacey, from what he'd said, he didn't really think he was the type for a long-term commitment. Which I thought was really sad, because he's got so much to offer, and has to have the biggest heart of anyone I know.
The way he looked at me with those big, long-lashed blue eyes that always had the power to melt me; though he might be about to turn fifty next month, there was no getting around it, he still had it going on.
With such thick, lush dark hair, and just a hint of gray at the temples, tall and lean, with rock hard abs, he was in better shape than most guys I'd dated half his age.
I know a few of the girls in the office loved to joke about getting him drunk and having their way with him; they all thought he was such a hottie. But I never dared join in, mostly because I'd secretly been crushing on him pretty much from the day I started as his executive assistant. No way did I want him to hear through the grapevine that his right hand lady spent her days fantasizing about seeing him slip out of his suit and tie, so she could trace her tongue over every last muscle in his body. Especially the one that I knew was a really good size, just from the outline in his pants.
"So, looks like we're stuck here together," he said, drawing my attention away from my naughty thoughts, back to what was going on outside. I began to realize just how hard it was starting to come down, even up here in cottage country, as the sky turned almost black with the threat of thunder rumbling off in the distance.
"Well, at least we won't starve," I said, thinking about the ton of food he'd brought, expecting a crowd.
Owen chuckled, finally breaking into a smile. "No, that we won't. But I don't think I'll ever want to look at another steak once this weekend's over."
Holy crap, did he just say
weekend
? Then it dawned on me; if no one could drive up here, then we'd have no way of getting home. So, it would be just the two of us until the storm passed, and the roads were open again. According to the last thing we'd heard on the radio as we were pulling into the driveway, there were storm warnings now for the entire weekend.
What a thought, being stranded for days with my hunky boss at his beautiful cottage, forced to stay inside and find ways to entertain ourselves.
Smirking to myself, I could think of a few, but then I
would
have to strip him out of his clothes.
Owen had picked me up at my apartment bright and early in the morning, so I could help him get everything ready for when the rest of them arrived. Now I was glad I'd put a change of clothes in my carry-all, along with my bikini, so at least I wouldn't be stuck in my shorts and T-shirt all weekend, having to wear the same pair of panties.