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“How did I know?” he asked, finishing the question for me. “Well, first off, because you smell like a brewery.”
I didn’t know first-hand what a brewery smelled like, but if it was a place that handled the making of beer, then yes, I did in fact smell like one. It was unpleasant to say the least, and if I didn’t wash the scent off soon, I was afraid I’d be sick.
“The bloodshot eyes, greenish tint to your skin, and all-around general disarray were also indicators.”
“Laeth, I’m so sorry,” I repeated, unable to think of anything else to say that might make the whole situation any better. “You have my word, this won’t happen again. I know you’re mad, andyou have every right, but please don’t fire me. I really need this job.”
He was on the move then, his motion so fast it gave me a start when he wrapped his fingers around my arm and used a gentle yet firm hold to pull me back down the hallway I’d just come from.
“Laeth, what are you—?”
“Quiet,” he clipped, then jerked to a stop a few inches from my bedroom door. In one blink, he had my back pressed against the wall as he hovered over me, barely an inch of space between us. His hands were braced on either side of my head, giving me nowhere to go.
My breath hitched at his closeness, the scent of sunshine and outdoors andLaethoverwhelming my senses. That spark that had been missing last night between Holt and me shot through my entire body right then, so strong I was shocked that rays of light weren’t coming from the tips of my fingers and toes. He wasn’t eventouchingme, and I felt the current rushing through my skin. “Is that what you think of me?”
My gaze darted between his eyes. “I—what?”
“You really think I’d fire you for getting shitfaced and being hungover one morning?”
“I-I don’t know,” I said on a breath, then jerked back in surprise by the flash of hurt that skated across his face, as though I’d just insulted him somehow.
“That’s bullshit,” he hissed, leaning in even closer. “You know me better than that.”
I felt my blood start to sizzle, my own anger rising, despite the dull pounding behind my eyeballs. “I thought I did, but apparently, I was wrong. I am just the nanny, after all,” I snapped. My response may have been snide and more than a little childish, but I wasn’t exactly feeling like myself at the moment.
A noise that sounded an awful lot like a growl rumbled in his chest, making my nipples tighten beneath my flimsy nightshirt. I could only hope he didn’t look down, because my traitorous body was still struggling to get the memo that nothing was ever going to happen between us.
“I’ve been trying to apologize about that for days, but you won’t let me,” he barked. “You’ve been too busy pouting in your room, licking your wounds.”
My back shot straight, steel coating my spine. “Pouting? I whisper-yelled, forcing myself to keep it down so Cash wouldn’t overhear us arguing. “I haven’t been pouting, you condescending—”
“What?” he pressed when I cut myself off, a wry smirk tugging at his lips. “Condescending what? Finish what you were going to say.”
I leaned forward, lowering my voice. “You condescendingasshole,” I hissed, my very first curse word sliding past my lips. “You’re an asshole. There. I said it. Are you happy now?”
“Very,” he said on a full-blown smile. “Tell me that didn’t feel really fucking good to say.”
I curled my lips between my teeth, refusing to give him what he wanted. Because thatdidfeel good to say, and I would have been lying if I said otherwise.
He let out a huff of frustration when he realized I wasn’t going to say a word. He pushed off the wall, the space between us suddenly feeling cold. “I have to get to work, but you and I will be having a talk tonight,” he declared, pointing his finger at me. “Don’t even think about trying to hide in your room. I’ll take the goddamn door off the hinges if I have to.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. Not only to hide the fact that my nipples were still hard enough to cut glass, but also as a way to protect myself from this man who was under my skin so deep, he was in my blood. “You already indicated you weren’tgoing to fire me. As far as I’m concerned, there’s nothing else to discuss.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Bambi. You’ve got some explaining to do.”
My mouth gaped open. “About what?” I squeaked.
He was back in my space, crowding so close he was all I could see as he gritted out, “About the fact you fucked up last night and gave that shithead Holt a kiss that was supposed to bemine.”
My eyes grew to the size of saucers. All the air whooshed from my lungs as he took a step back, his eyes doing a scan of me from top to toe, sending a shiver coursing through my whole body and arousal flooding my panties.
“I’m done with this fucking game we’ve been playing. That shit ends today.” On that declaration, he turned on his booted foot and started down the hall. But before he could disappear around the corner, he stopped one last time and spoke over his shoulder. “And Bambi, don’t even think of trying to hide from me. I’ll have no problem finding you.”
What in the world was wrong with me that I thought that threat sounded incredibly hot?
Chapter
Twenty-Four
