Taming Her Billionaire Boss

by Maxine Sullivan

  “Are you okay, Samantha?”

  She managed a smile. “Apart from a small headache, I’m fine.”

  Melissa’s piercing blue eyes suddenly seemed so like Blake’s. “I hear you’re leaving us soon?”

  This was why the other woman had got the men out of the way. Melissa wanted to question her.

  Samantha tried to look at peace with her decision. “Yes, it’s time to move on to new pastures.”

  “Blake will miss you.”

  “So everyone keeps telling me,” Samantha said wryly, but was grateful that Shane came back in right then to ask Melissa a question about how hot she wanted her drink. Once he left again Samantha changed the conversation to the ranch where Shane had grown up. Melissa was more than happy to talk about her fiancé.

  The other couple stayed for a while, until Blake shooed them out, reminding them that a certain person needed to rest up.

  “Right,” Blake said, once they’d gone. “I’ll get some more work out of the way, then how does an omelet sound for dinner? I don’t think you should eat anything too heavy, just in case. It’s not a good thing to have a full stomach.”

  She looked at him in mild amusement. “Is this Doctor Jarrod speaking?”

  He didn’t seem to find that funny. “Yes, so take note.”

  “I would, only you won’t let me work,” she quipped.

  “Funny,” he muttered, then went back to his paperwork. She sighed. He was taking it all so seriously, and while that was sweet of him, it wasn’t necessary.

  After that, Samantha was itching to get up and move around but knew it was best she take things easy. For something to do while she was waiting for Blake to finish working, she popped a movie in the DVD and began watching it with earphones so that she didn’t disturb him. It was a romantic comedy she hadn’t seen before and it made her giggle. She didn’t realize she’d been laughing loudly until suddenly she became aware of Blake standing near the couch.

  She paused the movie and looked up at him as she pulled out her earbuds. “I’m sorry. Is this interrupting your work?”

  “No.” He went still. “It’s good to hear you laugh. You don’t do it often enough.”

  Her pulse was skipping beats. “The job isn’t exactly a laugh a minute,” she joked. Then realized how that might sound. “That came out wrong. I didn’t mean—”

  “I know what you meant,” he said easily enough as he leaned over and pulled the earplug cord out of the television. Picking up the remote, he turned the movie back on, only instead of going back to his work he sat down on the other chair.

  She blinked in mild surprise, then tried to concentrate as he began watching the movie with her. He’d only missed about fifteen minutes of the story, so they both watched it together. It was amusing enough that she could feel herself relax, and when it was finished even Blake looked relaxed. She was glad about that. He worked too hard at times, and took his responsibilities too seriously.

  Later, in spite of him telling her to stay on the couch, she followed him into the kitchen where he was going to prepare dinner. “I need to walk. My legs are getting numb.”

  His brows immediately drew together on full medical alert. “They feel numb? Are you getting any pins and needles? Is it hard to walk or are—”

  “Blake, I was merely trying to say I wanted to move around,” she cut across him, somewhat bemused by his agitation.

  He grimaced. “Okay, so that was a mild over-reaction.”

  “Mild?” she teased.

  He gave a self-deprecating smile, then jerked his head toward the bench. “Go sit over there and take it easy.”

  She ignored that and turned toward the cupboard. “I’ll put out the place mats and cutlery first. We can eat in here.”

  He must have known it was a waste of time to argue because he nodded, then went back to preparing the omelet. It was a strange feeling watching him cook for her. It would be another memory to take away when she left.

  Soon they were sitting down on the tall stools to eat and the next hour flew by as they chatted. As if they both didn’t want to ruin the moment, neither of them spoke about her leaving.

  Then he mentioned Donald Jarrod in passing, and that made her think. Blake had never spoken about his father while they were in Vegas, but now they were in Aspen she’d managed to put two and two together. “Your dad was pretty hard on you, wasn’t he?”

  He tensed even as he gave a light shrug. “After my mother died, he was hard on all his children.”

  She considered him. “But harder on you.”

  A flash of surprise crossed his face. “Yes. How did you know?”

  “You were the eldest. He seems to have been a man who had set ideas about the order of things and didn’t give an inch.”

  “He was. Very much so.”

  “Tell me more.”

  He paused and for a moment she didn’t think he would tell her. Then, “Guy was only younger by a few minutes but it could have been years in my father’s eyes. I was the oldest, so it was up to me to make sure I took responsibility for everything. None of us ever really got to play while growing up, but I suppose I got even less time than the rest.”

  The thought upset her. “That’s sad.”

  He shrugged. “My father actually did us a favor. We grew up being very independent. We don’t need anyone.”

  She could see that. And that was even sadder, but she didn’t say so. She tilted her head. “It still would’ve been hard losing your mother like that when you were just a small boy. And then having your father distance himself would have made it far worse. Children don’t understand why love has been withdrawn. They just know.”

  His expression suddenly bordered on mockery and she knew she’d touched a nerve. “And you understand the way a child’s mind works when he loses a parent, do you?”

  She pulled a face. He knew very well both her parents were alive. “Well, no, but—”

  “I rest my case.”

  “Blake, I don’t think it’s too hard to comprehend what you must have gone through.”

  Anger flashed across his face. “Enough, Samantha. I don’t want or need your sympathy for something that happened a long time ago.”

  “But—”

  The telephone rang and he snatched it up from the wall beside him, almost barking into it. His mouth tightened. “Hang on, Erica. I’ll put her on.” He handed the phone over to Samantha.

  “I see Blake’s being his usual talkative self,” Erica mused down the line. She didn’t wait for Samantha to agree. “I heard about your accident and just wanted to see how you were doing.”

  Samantha appreciated her concern. “I’m fine, thanks, Erica.” She forced herself to sound cheery. “Blake and I just had dinner. He cooked me an omelet.”

  An eloquent silence came from Erica’s end. “A man of many talents,” she finally said. “I’d better let you go, then. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” She hung up before Samantha could respond.

  Samantha took her time placing the receiver back down, hiding her expression from him. She wouldn’t tell Blake what Erica had been thinking. That his half sister was delighted the two of them were bonding, even if Blake did sound like a grouch. “That was really nice of her to call.”

  His lips twisted. “I wonder if I have any relatives left who might like to interrupt us tonight?”

  Her brow creased with worry. “You really should give Erica a chance.”

  “To do what?”

  Anger stirred the air, though she knew it wasn’t directed at her. She tilted her head. “Do you blame Erica for your father’s affair with her mother?” she said, coming right out and saying it.

  He didn’t look pleased by her comment. “I’m not blaming Erica for what my father did. I just don’t want her coming in here and splitting up the family. I’m not convinced she’ll stay in Aspen.”

  She didn’t know how he could say that. Was he blind? “She and Christian are so in love. And she’s in love with everyone here at Jarr
od Ridge, too. Their hearts are here, Blake. They won’t leave you.”

  He swore. “I don’t give a rat’s ass if they leave or not. This isn’t about what I feel anyway. It’s about her causing problems for the family and then walking away without a care in the world.”

  “I’m sure that won’t happen. Erica isn’t like that.”

  One eyebrow shot up. “You know her so well, do you?”

  “Do you?”

  A muscle began ticking along his jaw. “Thank you for your opinion, but I don’t need it.” He pushed to his feet and began collecting the plates, taking them over to the dishwasher. “Go into the living room. I’ll bring in the coffee.”

  For a few moments she didn’t move. She watched his rigid back and felt depressed by his remoteness and abruptness. She’d pushed him hard just now and she wasn’t sure why, except that she somehow felt she was fighting not just for Erica’s sake but for Blake’s, as well. If she could at least get him to relent toward Erica then maybe when she left, her time here would have been of value. Maybe then something good would have come from all this. She sighed. Or was she simply looking for something to make herself feel good about leaving Blake?

  And that brought her back to what she’d said before about Erica leaving him. Was that the crux of the matter? It occurred to her then that Blake may have abandonment issues with his mother dying, and now that made it difficult for him to get close to his half sister. Or to get close to anyone, including herself.

  Someone rang the doorbell and Blake swore again.

  “That’ll be Joel,” Samantha reminded him. “He said he would check on me.”

  “Stay there,” he muttered and strode past her to let in the other man.

  A couple of seconds later Joel breezed into the kitchen. She noticed he took in the homey scene, but he was all professional while he checked her over and announced he was pleased.

  Then, “We have to get you better for tomorrow night,” he teased, but she saw him dart a look at Blake and she suddenly had the feeling there was more to this. He seemed to be letting Blake know he was staking a claim.

  “Tomorrow night?” Blake asked in a menacing voice.

  Joel closed up his medical bag. “Samantha and I have a date for Monday night.” He winked at her. “We’re going to the movies.”

  Samantha wanted to say she hadn’t actually accepted the invitation but the displeased look in Blake’s eyes kept her quiet.

  “Let’s see how she feels first,” Blake said grimly, then stepped back in clear indication that the doctor should precede him to the front door.

  Joel hesitated, like he wasn’t about to take orders, then he must have remembered that Blake was his boss. He inclined his head at Samantha. “I’ll call you in the morning,” he told her, picking up his bag.

  He left the room and Blake saw him out, and Samantha couldn’t help but wonder once again if Blake might be jealous of Joel. The thought made her heartbeat pick up speed. Blake had certainly wanted to kiss her back there on the mountain and surely that had to mean something.

  Didn’t it?

  All at once she needed to know what he felt for her. “Joel finds me attractive, don’t you think?” she said dreamily as Blake came back in the kitchen looking anything but relaxed.

  His eyes filled with meaning. “Sure he does,” he said cynically.

  She couldn’t let him get away with that. “What does that mean?”

  “Just that any woman with the right equipment can attract a man. And believe me, you’ve got the right equipment,” he drawled, slipping his hands into his trouser pockets, all at once looking very much in charge of himself, making her want to bring him down a peg or two.

  “Thanks for the assumption that I’m only good for sex,” she said with faint indignation.

  His hands came out of his pockets and his complacency vanished. “I didn’t say that,” he retorted, then strode over to check on the coffee. He spun back around. “Dammit, what the hell are you doing with those men anyway? You don’t need them. They’re beneath you.”

  Startled, she gathered her wits about her. This was more like it. “Maybe I want them beneath me,” she joked.

  “Don’t talk like that.”

  She hid a soft gasp. It did sound like he was jealous. She needed to push more. “I don’t understand how you can say a doctor isn’t good enough for me, Blake.”

  “That’s because he’s not good enough for you.”

  Her spirits soared. “What about Ralph? You don’t even know what he does for a living.”

  “And you do?”

  She did, then realized she’d set herself up here. She had to cough before she said, “He’s a car salesman.”

  “Huh! That explains the slime rolling off him.”

  “Blake!” She hadn’t expected quite such a response. “What’s got into you?”

  His mouth drew down at the corners. “Those guys aren’t after you for your intellect.”

  She screwed up her nose. “How nice of you to point that out.”

  “You know what I’m saying.”

  Yes, she did. Unfortunately she knew it was true. And that would have been fine if she’d been the least bit interested in the other men. As it was, she still felt a little guilty using them, though no doubt they were big enough to look out for themselves.

  She tilted her head and knew she had to say this. “If I didn’t know better I’d think you were jealous.”

  “And if I am?” he challenged without warning.

  She felt giddy but she couldn’t let herself get her hopes up. “I’d have to ask why. Is it because you know I’m leaving soon and you only want what you suddenly can’t have?”

  “What the—”

  “Or is it because you might actually want me?”

  For a moment he looked like he would move in close. “You ask me that after the kiss we shared?”

  Her breath came quickly. “I—”

  And then something changed in his expression and his jaw thrust forward. “This isn’t the time to discuss it. You need your rest. You should go lie on the couch.”

  Her throat blocked with disappointment, but then understanding dawned and she realized he was pulling back for her sake. If it hadn’t been for her accident, she was sure he would be making love to her right now.

  Frustration weaved through her, despite appreciating that he was doing the right thing. “I think I’ll go read in bed. It’s getting late.” He went to come with her and she put her hand up. “No, I can manage by myself. Good night, Blake. And thanks.”

  He nodded. “Make sure you sleep in the spare bedroom. I still want you close to me.”

  She could feel heat sweeping up her face. Did he have to say it like that? “Okay.”

  He seemed mesmerized by her reddening cheeks. “I’ll be checking on you a couple of times in the night.” His voice had a gravelly edge to it now. “So I apologize in advance for disturbing you.”

  She looked away; the thought of him coming into her room during the night was enough to disturb her now.

  Then she went up to bed with stars in her eyes. And they weren’t from the hit on the head either. Unfortunately she knew he wasn’t about to take advantage of her while she was injured, and certainly not during the night when she was sure he’d remain a perfect gentleman. But he’d better watch out when she was back on her feet.

  Six

  Blake looked at the bedside clock and grunted to himself. It was almost seven o’clock and still dark outside, but he needed to get up and check on Samantha before he did anything else this morning. Today he planned on working from Pine Lodge so he could keep an eye on her, but he needed to go to the Manor and get some things out of the way first.

  He’d spent a restless night, getting up every couple of hours to check on a sleeping Samantha in the bedroom next door. Of course it was easy for her to sleep so peacefully. She didn’t have to stand over an attractive member of the opposite sex who wore satin pajamas and looked deliciously allurin
g in bed. And she didn’t have to reach out to touch that person’s shoulder to shake them awake, nor rigidly ignore the urge to slide into bed next to her warm body and pleasure her senseless.

  He would have done it, too—if he hadn’t had to wake her and ask questions to make sure she wasn’t suffering any sort of confusion. Even now the thought of her having any sort of aftereffects from the head injury still managed to clench his gut tight. He’d hated seeing her hurt. If he hadn’t been so focused on getting her away from that Ralph, then none of this would have happened.

  Not even the kiss.

  No, that kiss would have happened—if not there, then somewhere else. There was something going on between them now. It had started happening the night she’d handed him her resignation and it hadn’t let up.

  And it wasn’t one-sided either. She’d dissolved in his arms so quickly yesterday he’d thought the marrow had melted in her bones. No woman had ever reacted quite like that for him before. It certainly made a man feel good.

  Remembering the feel of her lips beneath his, he was tempted to just lie there and think about her, but he knew he’d never get out of bed if he did. And then Samantha would be bringing him breakfast in bed. The thought was more than pleasurable.

  Giving a low groan, he tossed back the covers and shoved off the mattress in his pajama bottoms, then headed for the bathroom to take a shower. But as he opened the door and went to reach for the light switch, the light flicked on anyway and Samantha came through the connecting door.

  She jumped back with a gasp. “Blake!”

  A lick of fire sizzled through his veins as his eyes slid down over her slim contours, registering that what he thought had been green satin pajamas was an emerald midthigh nightshirt. It looked so sexy on her, suiting her complexion and rich brown hair.

  He lifted his eyes back up to her face. “How’s the head?” he asked huskily.