Page 4 of Sexy Bad Boss

“A woman?”

“Right. Exactly.”

“I can’t believe I stuck by your side for so long.” I shake my head. “You are never going to see me as anything but your employee, are you?”

“How many martinis did you have tonight?”

“Clearly not enough.”

“Look, how about we call it a night. I’ll drop you at home. Perhaps this will all go away when your head is not filled with weddings and soaked in gin.”

“I think we’re past that.” I yank my hand free of his hold and turn my back on him. My chest heaves while I try to get my emotions under control. There’s no reason to stay, to keep torturing myself, and every reason to go. “I quit, James. I’m resigning.”

“What?”

I’ve thought about quitting so many times over the last few days, but I didn’t think I’d actually have the guts to go through with it. “I’m resigning.”

“You can’t resign,” he argues, grabbing my shoulder and making me face him. “The company needs you. I need you.”

“It’s not enough anymore.”

“You’re irreplaceable. You know that. How will I ever find someone to take on your role at Frost Inc.?”

“I imagine quite easily.”

“What can I do to change your mind?” he asks, stepping back and reaching into his pocket for his phone. “Anything you need? Is it more money that you want?”

He still doesn’t get it, and I don’t know if he simply can’t process that I kissed him because I want more than to work for him or if he’s ignoring it because there’s nothing between us. “I’ve been offered a job. At the Royal Cookie Co. In London. It’ll be a step sideways, but I’m going to take it.”

“But you hate pissing England. Isn’t that what you always say?”

“Yes.” It’s true. I haven’t been back in almost twenty years, but I gave James five years of my life for nothing, it seems. Giving England a few years while I follow my passion for baking seems like a small price to pay. “It’ll be worth it to learn from the best.”

“I don’t want you to leave,” he says. “What happened tonight. This thing...” There’s a second where everything seems to be perfectly still. And then, like dominoes falling, James lets out a yelp as he stumbles backward. Losing his balance, he topples against the railing, which isn’t quite high enough for a man of his stature.

I leap forward, reaching for him, trying to get a hold on his suit jacket, his shirt, his hand, anything. But I’m not quick enough, and with the railing at his lower back, he’s like an upended see-saw, balanced for a split second before falling toward the lawn below.

My heart is in my mouth, my pulse racing frantically as I take the steps two at a time. Somehow, I don’t break an ankle or my neck in my heels, but can James be so lucky? I pull my phone from my clutch before I reach him, where I fall to my knees. The grass tickles my bare legs.

“James? James, are you all right?”

“What? What happened?” he asks, breathing raggedly.

“Don’t move.” I touch his face. It’s the only part of him I can tell isn’t hurt. “I’ll call an ambulance.”

“I’m fine,” he argues. “Let me just sit up.”

I scan his body. I’m not sure what damage he’s done, but the deck is a fair distance off the ground, and I am not taking any chances. “You fell from the deck. You’re not moving until the EMTs are here.”

“But—”

“It’s not negotiable, James.” I focus on the emergency services operator on the phone.

“Where is everyone?” he asks while we wait for the ambulance. “Where’s Paynter and Chloe?”

“They all left. We were about to lock up the house. Don’t you remember?”

He scrunches his brow in concentration and lets out a groan. “I’m not sure. How’d I fall anyway?”