Her Collateral Bride: A Lesbian Age Gap Romance

No, not just scowling. She looked like she was going to

bring down the wrath of hell onto Haley’s head.

“To add to all your offenses, you’re a snoop too, I see. Are

you actually here as a spy for your dad? Too bad I don’t keep

any vital information lying around. I know better, even if it’s

just to take a twenty-minute fresh air break.”

“I-I-I’m s-sorry.” Haley’s teeth chattered.

Claire cocked her head. She didn’t offer a hand. “Stand up,”

she ordered curtly. When Haley didn’t move, she ground out

the next command. “Now.”

That word fired Haley’s blood. She was now as hot as her

face was. She was so tired of blushing all the time. Of being

more than embarrassed. She was mortified at all of this, and

she’d just messed up again. She’d never been in trouble so

many times in her life and the feeling made her stomach

churn.

In her haste to get up, Haley bumped her elbow and her

knee on the bottom of the desk somehow. “Ouch!”

“You’re a clumsy little thing, aren’t you?” Claire was being

unmerciful. Worse, she was enjoying herself.

“I did knock,” Haley said in her defense. “I did. Twice. I

tried the handle, and it was open. I figured you’d be right back

so I thought I would wait.” Not the whole truth. Not really a

lie either.

“And you thought you’d just take the liberty of perusing

through my work while you waited? You couldn’t just sit like

a good little girl and keep your hands to yourself?”

Haley wet her bottom lip with her tongue without noticing

it. Her mouth was so painfully dry, probably because the rest

of her was on fire with humiliation. “I…” Claire’s eyes settled