Page 13 of Sexy Bad Boss

“Is there anything else you need?” I fluff the edges of his pillows to give my hands something to do while I take inventory of his injuries. His ankle is bandaged and splinted, and there’s the wrist and a few bumps and bruises, but nothing as bad as I imagined last night when we waited for the ambulance.

“Yes, actually.” He tries to prop himself up, but the laptop slips and he gives up before it can fall to the floor. “Could you jog my memory about what happened last night? I’d really like to know. Especially since you’re resigning and I can’t account for how that could possibly be what you want.”

On my way over I considered what I would tell him. But it’s still a difficult conversation to have. I stare at the dark locks of his hair against the pillow. Some of it is curling untidily at the ends because he’s already spent more time off his feet than is normal. I still my hand, catch my breath and resist the urge to stroke my fingers through it. “It’s not that I haven’t loved working with you. I’ve learned so much about business from my time at Frost Inc. But I can’t say it’s what I want to do with the rest of my life. I’ve given you and the company five years. It’s a long time.”

“I know that, but I thought you were happy.” He closes the lid on his laptop with a click, and I move to take it from his lap. He catches my hand and traps it near his groin. Eye to eye, he asks, “Is it about the money? I know I pay you more than the average salary.”

“No. It’s not about the money.” I try to ease my hand from his, but he doesn’t let go, and when I drop my gaze from his face to avoid the way he’s peering at me and trying to read my mind, I can’t help but stare at his fingers engulfing my wrist, the subtle difference in how tan he is compared to my own paler complexion and how close my fingers are to the waistband of those godawful golf pants that do not detract from his physique.

I look up to stop the saliva from pooling in my mouth, only to get caught up in his blue eyes. Crystal clear lakes with dark pupils.

His nostrils flare a little. “I’d be willing to give you a raise. You’re worth it.”

Oh Christ, for a second I imagined that raise was going to happen under my hand and have nothing to do with work and money. “It’s not about the amount I earn. It’s about finding the time to do the things I want to do. I want to work on my baking skills.”

“You’re already great. Those cookies you bring to the office—”

“And there are other things I want to do too, like travel and get to the bottom of my never-ending to-do list. Have time to date.”

“You want to date? Has my mother been getting in your ear too?” His gaze is calculating, logical. Sitting back, he grimaces. “You still don’t need to quit to do those things. I can give you more time off. Maybe not have you constantly on call.”

“We both know how that will end. You need someone who is always available, and I can never say no to you.”

“You can. You did so this morning.”

“Because I’ve already given notice.” I shake my head. “It wouldn’t work. That’s all there is to it.”

“So that’s it then? There’s nothing I can do to persuade you?”

“Nothing,” I echo as I put the laptop down on the coffee table and stride across the room toward the entryway. I may as well take my things upstairs while James rests. No doubt this afternoon he will want to get to work, but I need a couple hours’ sleep if I am going to have any chance of working out what my next step to seducing him is. I’m pretty sure falling asleep face down in his lap isn’t going to achieve the results I’m after.

“Myra?” he calls to me, and I halt in the doorway.

“Yes, James.”

“Just so you know.” Pillows crinkle and the sofa groans as he adjusts his position. “I’m not giving up.”

“And I’m not changing my mind.”

“Everyone has their price,” he tells me. “I am going to work out yours.”

I pick up my suitcase from near the door and drag it toward the stairs. The only thing I’ll settle for is him. When he works that out, we’ll see if we have something to negotiate.