Page 71 of Grumpy Boss in Love
“Sounds like she’s making your life a living hell.”
“So?”
“I…”
I waited with bated breath to hear him confess something, anything that could help me gauge how he felt about me.
27
RUBY
After an excruciating period of silence, Elliot finally finished, “I care about my employees’ happiness here.”
Commendable, but not what I had hoped to hear. Disappointment pricked me in the chest. “Right.” I shifted on the desk. “Well, the marketing manager picking on me is no grounds for a firing, and you know that. She hasn’t crossed any major HR line, and I’ll be fine. I’ve got thick skin.”
“Says the woman who cries while watching Telenovelas.”
“Hey, I told you to forget you saw me tear up over that scene!” I hissed and pointed at him threateningly. “And I can be sensitive and tough at the same time.” I paused and my eyeballs swiveled around. “Wait, is that an oxymoron?”
Elliot’s shoulders shook, and then his laughter boomed. It caught me off guard because although he’d lightened up lately, I wasn’t accustomed to it coming out so readily. Watching him, I couldn’t stop my smile from blossoming.
“Shut up,” I grumbled, which made him laugh harder.
My teeth sank into my lower lip to hide the smile that wanted to surface. Hopefully, after he had his laugh, we’d drop the subject of Caroline.
“You’re by far the most interesting woman I’ve ever met, Ruby Bennet,” Elliot said when he sobered. “Your dimensions are so… complex.” His gaze moved over my face as he murmured, “Fascinating.”
I wasn’t sure if Elliot intended for me to see the affection in his eyes, but I did, and I was happy. He thought I was fascinating. It wasn’t a declaration of love, but I’d take it. Warmth spread through me, and my eyelashes lowered to hide the satisfaction I knew gleamed in my eyes.
“Ruby Bennet, complex dimensions… fascinating,” I snorted with amusement. “Think that will fit on a birthday cake?”
Elliot lifted an eyebrow. “Birthday cake?”
“Yeah. My birthday is next Sunday. The big 2-4. I’ll be ordering a cake, then I’m going to stuff my face with it alone in my apartment.” My lips quirked into a wry smile. “You’re welcome to join the grand festivities.”
Elliot studied me in silence for a moment. “I’ll be in London next weekend.”
“Oh.” I shrugged. “I’ll save you a slice.”
“Come with me.”
I almost tumbled off the desk because of the force with which my head snapped around to gawk at him. “What? Go with you to… seriously?”
“Yes,” he said. “It’s a business trip, but I want you to come with me because I don’t want to miss your birthday.”
“Oh…” I said lamely. “I mean, no. I can’t go to London with you. For one, I can’t afford a trip right now, and don’t you think it’s inappropriate? What if people?—?”
“I’m taking you, so quit with the money talk.”
I frowned and opened my mouth to respond but Elliot hit me with a severe look and bit out, “Not. A. Word. about being my sugar baby.”
My lips folded to keep my laugh in. “You really took that to heart, huh?”
“Because it’s ridiculous,” he grumbled. “Now just say you’ll come with me and let that be the end of it.”
I sighed, “Elliot…”
“I’m not just inviting you because it’s your birthday, Ruby. I want to spend more time with you. I want…” Elliot took a deep breath, pushed his laptop aside, took off his glasses, and scrubbed a hand over his face. He looked a little terrified as our eyes met. “I want to date you.”