Rugged Boss

by Liz Fox

  “That’s right. I don’t want to get in trouble with the boss.”

  If only she knew… Together, she and I are going to break all the rules.

  Chapter 3

  Tess

  “Hey, honey. How was your first day of work?” My mother sits on the sofa in the living room with the television on. Not really watching it, but not not watching it either. If she isn’t caring for my stepfather, Sal, that’s where you can find her.

  “It was fine, Mom.” I walk behind her and give her a hug from the back. “How is Sal?” I learned fairly quickly when I moved back that asking my mom how she is leads to no good outcome. Which is fair. She’s watching her husband pass away. The fact that she’s functioning at all means she's a badass.

  “He’s sleeping right now.”

  “I’ll go say hi after I get settled. What do you want for dinner tonight? I can go get one of those salads from Tres Coyotes.”

  “That sounds good.” My mother’s voice pretty much constantly maintains an even, pleasant tone these days. Like she’s carrying everything inside so she doesn’t break down.

  “Alright. I’ll call in the order and pick it up around six.”

  I stop by the hospice bed to check on Sal. He’s sleeping, so I don’t say anything. It’s hard to see him there, unable to move or talk. He has a cancerous brain tumor, and it’s eating away at his motor functions. It’s heartbreaking to see this strong man brought so low. His intelligence and reasoning are still completely there. You can see it in his eyes. But in the last couple weeks, he lost the ability to communicate—no speaking, no writing, no hand signals. Just a pleading look in his eyes for someone to understand him.

  Wiping a tear from my eye, I head to my bedroom and get changed into some sweats and a t-shirt. Life is so overwhelming sometimes. I think about finishing the book I’m reading about a woman who talks to cats and partners with them to solve murders. It’s a good story, but instead of reading, I end up lying on my bed, staring at the ceiling.

  You know what would make this better? A kitten. The house is so quiet—too quiet. A kitten would liven everything up. Plus, there’s nothing cuter than a full kitten belly.

  I’ve been here for about two weeks, and I’m glad I came when I did. There wasn’t any food in the fridge. It had gotten to the point where Mom couldn’t leave Sal alone, therefore no one could go grocery shopping or run errands.

  That’s when I decided to quit school and move back. My education would always be there, but my stepfather wouldn’t.

  At least I found a job I enjoy. It’s the one bright spot in this whole terrible situation. Well, my job and Rand. He’s hot, he rescued me, and he makes me feel beautiful. When he came to my office this morning wearing jeans and a navy blue button down, I might have creamed my panties. Damn, his shoulders and biceps know how to stretch the seams of a shirt. He looked so good I had to keep myself from reaching over and unbuttoning until my eyes and hands got to explore his muscled torso.

  My eyes drift close, enjoying the fantasy. That’s most likely all it is. He’s probably just being friendly. We barely met a week ago and now we work together. Come to think of it, it’s a bit weird that we haven’t talked about his job yet. On the other hand, it isn’t like we’ve known each other long. Long enough to get in trouble. You know what they say about dating at work, though—don’t do it.

  But I’m not sure I could stop myself, or if I would even want to. My life is full of crappy, difficult things right now. Rand feels like a warm blanket on a cold day. Not just his sexy body, though that heats me up just fine. It’s also his kindness and the way I feel safe with him. With everything going on, I could easily become addicted to the sense of strength and caring he brings into my life.

  Putting thoughts of Rand aside for the moment, I make the call to Tres Coyotes and order our salad. Normally, I wouldn’t be hyped for a salad, but this place knows how to do it right—chicken, chipotle dressing, black beans, jicama—it’s so good. Plus, we’ve been eating there for years. The salad itself provides some comfort, and at this point I think my mom will take anything she can get.

  A few hours later, we’ve finished eating.

  “Do you want me to stay with him tonight?” I ask. Sal has a hospice bed on the main floor. We put a twin mattress on the floor next to the bed for one of us to sleep on. He’s bad enough that someone needs to be with him twenty-four seven. One of our priorities is that we don’t want him to die alone.

  “No, I got it tonight, honey. You go ahead and get a good night’s sleep. You’ve got another day at your new job tomorrow.”

  “Thanks, Mom.” We put the dishes away and I give her a long hug. “Good night.”

  ◆◆◆

  The next few days at work have a similar pattern. I get to work at nine, Rand comes by to say hi and invite me to lunch, and I accept. I always accept. Once I decided to allow myself the pleasure of his company, I went all in. Just like I’m doing with my job. The work isn’t fancy—mostly rescheduling projects and making sure everything is organized and on time. But it’s interesting to see how big construction projects happen from the inside.

  Now, it’s Wednesday. Rand and I are returning from lunch. His hand is on my lower back and it’s sending tingles up my spine. Again. I’m quietly shivering as we wait for the elevator together.

  “Tess, I’ve been meaning to ask you.” I look up and notice we’re standing much closer than is appropriate for colleagues. Not that I mind. “Would you like to go to a job site with me tomorrow? I could introduce you to one of the architects.”

  “What? Are you serious? Of course I’d love to go with you.” This job keeps getting better and better. If I had to quit school and live at home to help my family, at least some good is coming of it. “I’ll need to approve it with my supervisor.”

  “Don’t worry about that. I’ll get it taken care of.” We enter the elevator and push the buttons for our floors.

  “Wow. Thanks, Rand. Is there anything special I need to wear?” If it’s a job site, I don’t want to be tripping over a ridiculous pair of stilettos.

  Rand’s eyes grow heavy and heated as he looks me over. “You always look good, fighter. But go ahead and make sure you wear some sneakers tomorrow.”

  The doors open on my floor. I’m practically skipping with excitement as I exit the elevator. “See you tomorrow, Rand!” I glance back just before the doors close, his fiery gaze sending a different kind of anticipation shooting through my body. Tomorrow is going to be a good day, indeed.

  Chapter 4

  Rand

  “This is the Hawthorne job.” I park my truck at the construction site. Tess sits in my passenger seat, wearing a teal colored t-shirt that brings out the blue in her eyes. “Do you need help getting out?”

  I’m desperate to put my hands on her. To feel those luscious curves against my body. Apparently, Tess doesn’t notice because she winks at me as she opens the door and hops out of the truck. “I got this.”

  When I first picked her up at the office and saw her happy yellow skirt, I thought two things—first, she looks gorgeous and I can’t wait to see what’s underneath. Second, she forgot about our field trip. A jobsite isn’t a place for a skirt and fancy shoes. But I was wrong, because a pair of bright white sneakers completed her outfit.

  Tess’ wholesome appearance makes me want to dirty her up. She’s got a vixen in her, hidden underneath all the responsibility and surviving. I know what it’s like to feel pressured—whether it’s to succeed, to help out, to make sacrifices for someone else’s benefit—the pressure feels the same. If you don’t find a healthy way to release the pressure—well, something is going to explode. I’m thinking I want to be there when Tess needs some help relieving the pressure.

  But not right now, because my woman is waiting for me to show her around the site and introduce her to my main architect, Thayer. I join her in front of the truck and offer my arm. She takes it, a twinkle in her bright blue eyes.

  “F
irst, let me introduce you to the architect. You can chat with him while I check in with the supervisor. And then I’ll show you around.”

  “Sounds perfect.”

  We walk over the dusty ground toward a pair of trailers that live on-site until the project is complete. I notice Thayer talking with Scott, the supervisor of the project, in front of one of the trailers.

  “Hey, Thayer. Scott. You got a minute?” I ask when we’re a few feet away.

  “Sure, Rand. What’s up?” Thayer nods, inviting me to join them.

  “Thayer, I wanted to introduce you to Tess. She’s working for the company in admin right now, but she’s getting her degree in architecture from Fairview College.” She steps forward and offers her hand. “Tess, this is Thayer. He’s the lead architect on this project. I’m sure he’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have.”

  “Always happy to help a beautiful woman.” Thayer takes her hand and raises it to his lips. With anyone else it would be ridiculous, but Thayer has always been able to lay on the charm in a way that doesn’t feel sleazy—or so I’m told. It doesn’t help that he’s tall, blond, and has been mistaken for the actor that plays Thor in those superhero movies.

  It seems Tess isn’t immune to his flirtations. She blushes and darts a quick glance my way.

  My frown must be forbidding because she quickly snatches her hand back from my flirty architect.

  Thayer notices the interaction and a devious gleam enters his eyes. “Rand, didn’t you say you wanted to talk with Scott? Why don’t you do that while I get to know Tess a little better.”

  Scott walks over to me, but I’m not paying attention to him.

  I overhear Thayer as he puts a hand on Tess’ back and leads her closer to the site. “Tess, you are far too gorgeous to be stuck behind a desk at Moreau Construction headquarters. I’m so glad you came to the site. You’ve added a needed dose of beauty to my day.”

  Bastard.

  He’s laying on the charm so thick, I barely hear Scott’s update—too busy watching Thayer show off for my girl. I’ve never loved design the way Jesse loves it, or architecture the way Thayer does. For me, it’s always been about money and power. The money to escape my shitty childhood and the power to make sure I never have to go back. I grew up in a trailer park, started construction as soon as I could, and now—eighteen years later—I make fancy houses for the rich and famous.

  But I know Tess loves it. Her smile widens as she and Thayer laugh together about some building design joke. Her expression glows as she compares the blueprint to the actual construction of the house. Tess is in her element. It’s clear she loves the art… almost as much as Thayer likes getting a rise out of me.

  The son of a bitch keeps glancing at me over his shoulder, making sure I’m paying attention as he flirts with my woman. He rests his hand on her shoulder as he leans close to her, using his other hand to point at something. He’s practically hugging her, they’re so close, heads tilted together. Her honey brown locks mixing with his golden hair. Piss-colored is what it is. Horse piss hair.

  That’s enough.

  “I’ll call you about it tomorrow,” I interrupt Scott, already stalking toward Tess and my soon-to-be-ex employee.

  “This design is incredible.” I overhear Tess as she leans closer to Thayer, completely oblivious to my torment. “Whose home will it be?”

  “It’s for Maximillian Hawthorne. The guy is kind of an asshole, but he comes from money and he has good taste.”

  “Good taste and a lot of connections,” I enter the conversation, not caring if it’s rude. “That’s why we don’t talk poorly about the clients, right Thayer?” If I could shoot lasers from my eyes, my best architect would be dead. Instead I have to satisfy myself by shoving him away from Tess and wrapping my arm around her.

  “Thayer, you go ahead and get back to work. I’m going to show Tess around the property.”

  The bastard grins as I lead Tess around the building. It’s partially framed and construction guys are getting the rest of the walls up. But Max bought a few acres of land, and I’m going to make use of it.

  “Whatever you say, boss!”

  Part of me knows Thayer is just playing with me. We’ve known each other for a while and he can probably tell I’m falling for Tess. But knowing he’s teasing doesn’t stop the possessive part of me from rearing up and demanding that I stake my claim.

  “Rand, what’s going on?”

  I don’t reply yet, keeping a firm grip on her elbow as I lead her down a path into the woodlands surrounding the estate. A few moments later, we reach a small clearing. At the edge of the clearing, surrounded by shade trees, I snap.

  I stop, twisting Tess until her back is against the trunk of a tree. My hands grip her shoulders and I feel my chest heaving with the effort of holding back my most primal desires.

  “Tess.”

  She looks at me with a question in her eyes, still innocent and enthralling. Words fail me, so I claim her mouth with a scorching kiss—the way I’ve wanted to since I first saw her standing in the coffee shop.

  Tess tastes like cotton candy, and I’m instantly addicted. She opens her mouth with a gasp. I deepen the kiss, taking advantage of her surprise. Her hands slide to the back of my neck and our tongues battle, sliding against each other until it feels like I’m going to explode.

  “You’re mine.” I growl, leaving her lips so I can taste her jaw, her neck, her shoulder. Her head falls back against the tree, forcing her breasts forward. “Stay away from Thayer.”

  Instinct has taken complete control of me. I’ve never felt like this. I’ve been with beautiful women before, but none of them drove me to this level of savagery. I want to claim her, mark her, breed her. And then I want to beat the shit out of any other male who dares to look at her.

  My hands find the collar of her shirt, ready to pull it down. Mouth watering at the thought of tasting her succulent breasts, I miss it when Tess first says something.

  “Rand. Rand, wait.” Her voice is breathy, the soft exhale as she speaks shoots a direct line of fire to my already throbbing cock. I leash the beast, barely, trying to give Tess the moment she’s asking for.

  “We shouldn’t be doing this. We could get in trouble.” Her heavy-lidded gaze contradicts her words. She licks her swollen lips. The beast inside struggles to break free.

  “We won’t get in trouble.” I capture her lips again, needing to imprint her taste in my brain, and do the same for her—so she never, ever forgets who she belongs to.

  Tess pulls back. “What do you mean ‘we won’t get in trouble’? How can you know that?” Her eyes drift to the side, as if trying to catch a memory, before glaring back into mine. She moves her hands to my chest, gently pushing me away. “Wait a minute. Did Thayer call you ‘boss’?”

  My beast feels the moment slipping away and claws at my insides. My hands tingle, desperate to pull her back into my arms. But the fog of desire is clearing in her bright blue eyes, and I’m starting to feel like I might have made a mistake.

  I let her push me back, just one step. “Yes, he did.”

  Her head moves back and forth, already denying what I’m about to say.

  “My name is Rand Moreau. I own Moreau Construction.”

  Tess’ beautiful blue eyes blink in shock. I can see her thinking back over every interaction, every conversation, and a devastating pain enters her gaze.

  “So when we met at the coffee shop and I told you…” Her tone, which had been drifting into a sadness, shifts like the wind of a hurricane. Steel enters her voice as she demands, “Did you get me this job so you could fuck me?”

  Her suspicion feels like a knife in my gut. But I don’t react to pain like most people do—I don’t get hurt, I get angry.

  The steel in my voice matches hers as I lean over her, resting my elbow on the tree behind her head. “Fuck, no. you got the job because you deserved it. I just helped a little. You have a fire and a drive that I couldn’t get out of my mi
nd.” My other hand runs softly over her cheek. My voice deepens until it’s barely audible. “You’re a fighter. And you’re mine. I knew from the first moment I met you.”

  Her eyes narrow, anger gleaming within them like blue fire. “Well, you’re right about one thing. I am a fighter. And I don’t like when people lie to me. Step back, Rand.” She pushes me away again. And I let her, one last time.

  “Don’t deny you feel it too.”

  “Whatever, Rand.” Tess walks passed me, shoulders slumping slightly as she heads back to the estate. “I can’t right now. My whole life is crazy, and I can’t even process this. Please take me home.”

  Thirty minutes—and a silent drive—later, we pull into the parking lot of Moreau Construction. I grab her before she exits the truck. She doesn’t look at me, doesn’t acknowledge that I’m holding her hand, but I know she’s listening.

  “You have the rest of the day off, and I’ll leave you alone tonight. But Tess, tomorrow—tomorrow is mine.”

  Chapter 5

  Tess

  “Honey, what are you doing home so early?” My mom is sitting in her spot on the sofa watching daytime television.

  “Something happened at work and my boss gave me the rest of the day off.” I wander into the room, but don’t sit down. “How are you? How is Sal? Anything I can do for you?”

  “We’re alright. I read to him a bit this morning. I think he liked that. He’s sleeping right now.”

  “Okay, then I’m going to go upstairs for a bit.” Leaning down, I kiss the top of her head. Mom’s attention is already back on the show. I think zoning out is the only thing keeping her relatively sane at this point.

  I get it. Sometimes, I wish I could just zone out and let the world take care of itself. But that’s not happening today. Heading to my room, I prep myself for some serious decision-making. Sweats, comfy t-shirt, slipper socks—ready.