Page 80 of Grumpy Boss in Love

Her expression softened into a sweet smile. “I want to stay close to you too,” she said, wrapping her legs around my waist. Her arms wound around my neck, and she held on tight… a little too tight. Although we were in the shallow end of the pool, I think she was still traumatized after the incident at Meadowbrook.

Just as I leaned in to capture her mouth, she said, “But…”

“There shouldn’t be a but. Take the job. It’s yours.”

“You think I don’t know you’re the reason why I was offered a position?”

I froze. Shit. I hoped she didn’t find out until after she’d taken the job and settled in.

“Caroline hates me,” she added. “She would have ensured I wasn’t one of the two interns hired. The only person who has the power to overrule her decision is you. I can’t believe you did that. And without asking me.” She huffed and released me, which said a lot about how angry she was. She was willing to swallow her fear and wade across the pool on her own.

“Ruby,” I sighed. “Wait. Let’s talk about this.”

As she stomped up the steps, she glared at me over her shoulder. “I don’t want the job just because you’re my boyfriend, Elliot. I wanted to get it on my own merit. When I saw that it might not be possible because of Caroline, I accepted that I’d have to find a job elsewhere.”

“You’re more than qualified,” I said, following her out of the pool. “I did what I did because of Caroline. I know she has a problem with you, and I didn’t think it was fair that you didn’t get what belonged to you because of petty jealousy. Since I couldn’t fire her for that, I did the only thing I could. I demand that you be hired. I’m sorry if I overstepped.”

She stopped her angry walking and turned around with a deep sigh. “I know. I’m not mad at you for that. It’s just…” She sighed again. “You mentioned wanting to go public with our relationship after you seal the deal with the Wilsons next week.”

I was serious about us, and I didn’t want to hide her,us, from my family and the world anymore. It was ridiculous, but I knew that as soon as Ruby was seen on my arm at events more than once, the masses would notice and start asking who she was.

However, I figured that I should get my business with the Wilsons finished, let some time blow off, and then go public. People would dig and find out about our marriage. But who would know that it was one of convenience? I’d just let everyone think we’d gotten married in secret after dating, and we simply wanted to avoid the media circus.

She ducked her head. “Everyone at the company might hold it over my head that I got the job because I’m sleeping with you.”

She’s expressed fear about being labeled as that type before her career even started. I felt awful.

“I know, and I respect it. I shouldn’t have interfered. Whatever decision you make, you’ve got my support.” I knew she might choose to work elsewhere, and I hated it, but I had to accept it.

“Thanks.”

“Are we okay?”

She smiled. “You’re forgiven, and we’re fine.”

I stared at her, the wordsI love youon the tip of my tongue, but I held them back. Setting the scene for the big announcement was important, right? I had to take her somewhere fancy, buy flowers, and maybe diamonds. It would be my first time uttering those words to a lover. It had to be perfect.

I responded with, “Good,” and then I kissed her.

31

RUBY

Irolled over and flung out a hand, immediately searching for Elliot. I’d gotten comfortable with him. I was so hooked that I sought him even in my semi-unconscious state. I’d even given in and accepted a job at his company. Maybe it was because we were in the honeymoon stage of our relationship, but I wanted to spend as much time with him as possible, even if it was just getting a glimpse of him at work.

Feeling that his space was empty, I woke up feeling a tad disappointed. I bet he was in his home office working when it was supposed to be his day off. It was hard for the CEO to get a proper day off it seemed. Someone was always calling or emailing him about something.

As I stretched, the aftereffects of our eventful night hit me full force. I was deliciously sore everywhere, and my ass cheeks were still tender. As Elliot also got more comfortable with me, he loosened up each time, gradually allowing me to see the deeper levels of his sexual kinks.

I gathered he was afraid he’d scare me off or something. Not a chance. His kinks had quickly become my enjoyment. What a fascinatingly erotic creature he was. It was a shocking revelation because the Elliot I had met was so reserved and wound up tighter than a spring. But in our moments together, I glimpsed a different side of him, a side that ignited newfound passions within me.

Rolling out of bed, I made a quick trip to the bathroom and got dressed. Since it was likely that Elliot had gotten reeled into work, it was up to me to make breakfast and help him relax after. He always got so tense after dealing with business.

I’d already had the coffee made by the time I heard Elliot arrive. Eyes on my task, I greeted. “Hey. Did you get roped into work? I’ve got your boring black coffee ready, and breakfast is coming up.”

He didn’t laugh or deliver a comeback about my boring coffee diss, so I turned to glance at him. His stormy expression made me frown. Whatever work he got pulled into must have had him stressed because he’d entered Commander Curmudgeon mode with a scowl that was off the meter severe.

“Everything okay?” I asked, watching him warily as he slowly walked around the island toward me.