Page 68 of Boss from Hell
Iunpacked, then ran a hot bath and hung my dress over the steam to make sure it didn’t have any wrinkles in it. As I was unwrapping my shoes, there was a knock on the door. I opened it to a maid carrying a tray with finger sandwiches, a jug of orange juice and two glasses.
After she was gone, I stood at the window looking out at the stunning beauty eating a delicious cucumber sandwich and washing it down with a cool sip of sweet juice.
I decided not to let patronizing Mrs. Frost upset me. After all, it was only one night I’d be staying under her roof. And for one night I could hold my own. My armor was my Lady Diana’s revenge dress and my classy crocodile skin shoes.
I hurried to the bathroom with my makeup kit. After washing my face, I spent the next half hour applying makeup and getting dressed. When I was ready I looked at my reflection critically in the long bathroom mirror. I was pleased to note I didn’t look half-bad.
But it dawned on me that my looks didn’t matter.
As far as Mrs. Frost was concerned, I was trash, and no amount of makeup, expensive clothes and shoes would changeher mind, so I might as well forget about trying to impress any of them and just enjoy my time with Max.
The door opened and Max came in.
I walked to the bathroom door and to my surprise, realized that he must have gone to his old room and changed there because he was already dressed in his tux. And he looked magnificent.
I couldn’t take my eyes off him.
His translucent gaze rippled down the lines of my body voraciously, with unhidden admiration. This was it, I told myself. This was all that was important to me. I didn’t need anyone else’s approval.
“You look amazing,” he whispered.
With a laugh, I took a step back and said in a faux severe voice, “Don’t you dare. I know what that look means, Max Frost. It took me more than half an hour to get myself looking like this.”
He raised his hands in the air in mock surrender. “I won’t touch you I promise, but it’s tempting. Very tempting. Fortunately for you, my father is downstairs waiting to meet you.”
New anxiety coiled itself like a snake in my stomach. I took a deep breath and reminded myself that it didn’t matter what anyone else thought. The hungry look in Max’s eyes a few seconds ago was enough.
“I’m looking forward to meeting him too,” I said courteously. “But I have to say your mother didn’t look too happy to see me here.”
Max’s features hardened. “I told you, leave her to me. Come and meet my father. His reception will be different.”
“Why is that?”
“My father is deep. You will never know what he truly thinks of you. You know only that he is the most charming man you’ll ever come across… until you feel the knife in your back.”
“Well,’ I gasped. “That’s some introduction. I can’t wait to meet your father.”
He smiled.
I picked up my purse and walked towards him.
“By the way did I tell you how good you look?” I said as I passed by him.
He shut the door and fell into step beside me. “No. How good do I look?”
I touched his arm. “Good enough that I want to ride you for hours.”
“Can you hold that thought until later tonight?”
“Yes,” I replied serenely.
Max’s father was a tall, heavy man with the same good looks as his son, but his eyes danced with humor and grace. Unlike his brusque son, he was charismatic in a way I had never encountered before. His eyes caressed you, not in a sexual way, but in a way that told you he thought you were not only the most beautiful woman in the room but also the most important. Even though Max had warned me what he was like, I felt myself automatically relaxing and liking him as we shook hands.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lillian,” he drawled, holding my hand. “You must be a very special young lady seeing as Max brought you home. He has never brought anyone home before to my recollection.”
Warmth spread over me but it didn’t last. Max’s mother strolled in saying, “Paige spent a night here.”
“I’m not sure that counts, seeing as I wasn’t home,” Max pointed out.