Christmas with the Boss
Page 9
He grabbed her hand and held it firm while she stared up at him. He was unshaven and the darkness of the stubble gave him a dangerous look. His black hair was longer than it had been when she’d lived with him; the short back and sides were gone, now the ends curled sexily on the back of his neck well past his collar length.
If he’d been wearing a collar. Her eyes dropped from the hard chiselled planes of his face to his shoulders. Regan’s gaze followed the path of the water droplets running from the wet strands of his hair down onto his bare chest
“When I walked into the marina bar, you were almost comatose, and hanging off a guy, who—shall I say—has a less than savoury reputation here on the coast.”
“Read my lips. I only had one drink.” As soon as she said it, Rod dropped his eyes to her lips. He lifted his hand, and the rough pad of his thumb traced a path across her bottom lip.
“Don’t.” Regan tried to make her voice hard, but his touch instantly brought her undone. It always had. “Don’t touch me.”
“I suppose you’re going to try and tell me that old chestnut again. Someone spiked your drink?” He dropped his hand, and Regan let out the breath she’d been holding. “Wears a bit thin after a couple of times, Regs. Just admit it for once. You need to grow up, cut the drinking and stop sleeping around. What are you now? Twenty-seven?”
Crack! She couldn’t help it.
And he knows full well how old I am. Three years younger than Rod—to the day— they shared a birthday. His lips narrowed and she watched as his skin reddened where her palm had connected with his stubbled cheek. She ignored the smell of the citrus cologne she’d loved that was not only wafting over to her, but on her hand where it had connected with his face. Pushed away the thought of nuzzling her lips into his neck. She took refuge in anger.
“Always holier than thou. Don’t you dare judge me! You know nothing about me and you never did.” Her voice was icy despite the heat that surged through her blood.
“Oh, but I do. I know every inch of you. Remember? Every beautiful inch.” Thoughts of her pounding head, her roiling stomach were overshadowed by the white hot anger filling her when Rod’s hand landed on her leg and his fingers slowly caressed the skin of her inner thigh. Her skin twitched traitorously beneath his hand.
“You want a good time? You don’t need to pick up anyone in a bar. I’m here in Cairns for another day or so.”
And I thought I’d loved him once. Disgust with herself and her weakness for this man filled Regan as she shook her head from side to side. “Stop it.” She pushed his hand away impatiently and stood, but the thudding pain in her head came roaring back. Putting her hand to her eyes, she managed to speak. Barely. “Where are my clothes?”
“Over the back of the chair by the window.”
Strong fingers grabbed her waist. Rod held her steady before she could step away, and a shiver ran down her back. The chill of the air conditioning raised goose bumps on her skin and her nipples pebbled from the cold. Placing a hand on each silk-clad hip, he turned her around. His face was only inches from her breasts as she stood in front of him. Her nipples tightened— not from the cold this time—and Regan let out a small sound of distress.
“Lie down and I’ll get you some Tylenol. You look like you need it,” he said.
Thank God he’d misunderstood the reason for her distress.
Rod dropped his hands. He stood and left her without a backward glance. Regan could hear him in the bathroom as she sank back onto the soft mattress.
Laying there with her eyes open, she stared at the ceiling until he returned with two capsules and a large glass of water. She sat up again and took them from him without a word, before draining the water in one hit. It was like bliss to her parched throat. As soon as she’d finished, she shoved the glass back at him, rolled over and put her feet to the floor ignoring the hammers still pounding in her head. When the giddy feeling eased, she pushed herself to her feet and crossed the room to the window where her red dress was draped loosely over the back of the chair.
“Where’s my purse?” Regan lifted the cushion and felt around the soft chair, before reaching down to the floor and picking up her strappy heels.
No purse. She spun around. “Where did you put my purse, Rod?”
“You didn’t have one. I couldn’t even check for a hotel key. Otherwise I would have taken you to your own room.” His eyes narrowed. “Unless you live in Cairns now in your own place?”
“It’s none of your business where I live. Now where the fuck did you put my purse?”
“Still got that potty mouth too, I see?”
“Oh, grow up and stop playing games. Give me the rest of my things. I’ll get changed and take my cheap body and potty mouth out of your saintly world.”
“Never a cheap body, Regs.” Rod lifted his arm and ran his hand through his hair and the towel slipped a little. Regan kept her eyes fixed firmly above his waist.
“I’m telling the truth. You didn’t have one. Sweetheart, I carried you in.” He pointed to the dress she now clutched in front of her breasts. “One slinky red dress that I had hell’s own trouble getting off you.” He flicked his glance lower and pointed to the shoes in her hand. “One pair of shoes and no purse. And the sexy red thong and bra. Still like expensive underwear, I see.”
Regan groaned and covered her eyes. Prickly heat ran through her at the thought of Rod carrying her in, and undressing her while she was out like a light.
My credit cards, my cash. Everything she owned had been in that purse because she’d not wanted to leave it in the cheap hotel with the cardboard-thin doors. The only thing she’d left behind was her cell phone hidden in the lining of her case. She’d had no one to ring in Cairns so she’d left it behind. Life was a bit lonely these days but that still didn’t mean she was going to welcome Rod Carruthers back into her life with open arms. Hell would freeze over first.
“What time is it?” She had to get out of here. Luckily she’d left her key at the hotel desk because it wouldn’t fit in her purse.
“Almost noon. You’ve slept over twelve hours. I was giving you till noon before I woke you.”
“Holy hell.” Regan jumped out of the bed and scurried barefooted to the bathroom door, clutching her dress over her breasts. She couldn’t be late for her appointment. Her future depended on it.
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About the Author
#1 bestselling author in Amazon Romance series.
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Author of the Year 2014 Ausrom Readers' Choice
Annie lives in Australia, on the beautiful north coast of New South Wales. She sits in her writing chair and looks out over the tranquil Pacific Ocean. She has fulfilled her lifelong dream of becoming an author, and is producing books at a prolific rate.
She writes contemporary romance and loves telling the stories that always have a happily ever after. She lives with her very own hero of many years and they share their home with "Bob" the dog, and two white cats, who hide when the grandchildren come to visit.
Stay up to date with her latest releases at her website: http://www.annieseatonromance.com/my-books.html
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