Page 10 of The Boss

"Nothing like that." He scratches the back of his head. "I really like you, Etta. I'm hoping you can grow to like me, too. But I realize it's going to take more than twenty-four hours – especially since it seems that I just ruined your work project.” He hesitates. "Plus, I'm older. A rancher. I have no idea what kind of man you envisioned yourself settling down with someday, but I doubt it was someone like me."

I burst out laughing, then clap my hands over my mouth. "I'm sorry," I mutter through my fingers. "I have a tendency to laugh when I'm nervous."

He nods. "It’s okay. Let it out."

I drop my hands, still giggling. "It's just… You're talking about settling down with someone you've just met." My hand waves toward the window. "Out there in the real world, women feel that men don't express their emotions or want to settle down, and don't know how to keep a nice home. Here you are with a gorgeous house, taking me in, and talking about—" I stop, still not sure I'm understanding him.

"About us being a couple? Yeah. But I think we deserve a few more days, at least. I don't want to freak you out or pressure you, beautiful."

Exhaling a slow breath, I nod. "A few more days sounds good. Let's do that."

I shriek as he grabs me around the waist, then swings me around the room.

Once we're both laughing, he sets me on my feet, kissing me mid-giggle as my body melts against his. He twists and leans against the wall, my body molding to his as he pulls me close. He's so big and warm and solid. It’s comforting. But he’s also almost savage, a wild beast barely controlling himself. I don’t know why that’s sexy, but it is. The thought invades all my senses and sweeps over me like a dense fog: Boss wants me.

I moan uncontrollably as he nudges my mouth open, his tongue playing with mine as my fingers tangle in the back of his hair. He caresses my hips and lower back, then his right palm moves around to my ribs, slowly snaking up the front of my shirt.

He pauses, both of us breathless. I realize he's waiting for me to nod. The second I do, I gasp at the sensation of him squeezing and stroking my breast through my t-shirt and bra. After a moment, I hear a faint growl, then feel his hand slip into the front of my shirt.

A deep shudder rolls through me. This feels so fast, but so right. He clearly knows where every single one of my nerve endings is as he massages gently, rolling my pebbled nipple between his thumb and forefinger until I'm trembling.

"So hot," he mutters. "Can't wait to get you home, beautiful."

"And what are you going to do with me when we get there?"

His eyes blaze. "If you kiss me one more time, I might lose my mind and try to take you to my own bed tonight."

Is that a challenge? A dare? No. Boss is being playful, making it easy for me to tell him what I want. And he's careful to do it when we're in the dining hall kitchen, not anywhere near his bedroom. He's taking every opportunity to make sure I don't feel pressured.

All it does is make me even more aroused and on fire for him.

Stretching up, I press myself firmly against his chest, kissing him as my hands slip into the back of his shirt to stroke his shoulders. "One more kiss? Like this?" I breathe.

"Now you've done it, beautiful." His hands drop to squeeze my ass as he grins, a wicked gleam in his eye. “You’ve crossed the line.”

6

BOSS

“One thing you'll learn is that we ranchers take a lot of showers,” I say with a chuckle, kicking off my boots. ‘After being with the goats, I definitely need one before bed.”

I swear there are stars in Etta’s eyes as she gazes up at me. It's the same look she's been giving me all evening as we worked late in the dining hall and my office, grabbing just a quick sandwich for dinner. She's still a bit shy, but whenever I ask her to give me a sign, it's green flags all the way.

My hands circle her waist as I look at Etta seriously in the center of the foyer. "This is where I make up some bullshit story about how there's a water shortage here in the mountains, and all women are required to shower with their men to conserve resources."

She laughs, rolling her eyes.

"You can now either slap my face for lying to you or push me away and laugh." I lean down to kiss the tip of her nose. "Or, if you do want to shower with me, I would gladly scrub every single inch of this beautiful body until you're squeaky clean."

"Squeaky clean?" Her eyes sparkle.

"The squeakiest. Since I'm a dirty man with a filthy mouth, I feel it's my duty to keep this precious body spotless while it's under my care." My hands grasp her hips, massaging firmly as I bite back a groan. "Plus, nobody can text me when I'm in the shower. You'll have my undivided attention. I'll be able to focus on every little breathy gasp."

My head dips to nibble her earlobe, which does indeed make her gasp. Then she sighs happily, clinging to me while I drop a line of kisses along her collarbone.

"This is your cue, gorgeous. Slap me and push me, or get wet and naked with me."

"Wet and naked? That doesn't sound very professional. You mentioned a part-time job and giving me references. Are you going to talk about my showering skills in your recommendations?"