Hot Boss, Wicked Nights

‘Smiley?’

‘That pink hairy sunflower thing she keeps on her desk.’

The lump rose to his throat, choking off his air. He had to swallow hard to regain what little he suddenly had left of his composure. ‘No. I didn’t sack her.’

A framed photograph. She’d left him a photograph of the two of them sharing a cocktail at a Balinese nightclub. He picked it up and what he saw made his chest tighten, his hands tremble. He might not have seen it at the time but there were stars in Kate’s eyes. More—much more—there were stars in his. Anyone who looked could see he was in love. Entranced. Besotted. Hopelessly in love. With Kate.

What a blind idiot he’d been. He caressed her image with his thumb. ‘We can still have it, Kate.’

Setting it down, he yanked off his tie, tossed it on the desk and dug out his car keys. Urgency pumped through his veins. He had to find her—

‘You’re Damon Gillespie?’

A woman stood at his door, barring his way. Medium height, black hair, a firestorm in her dark eyes.

He skirted the desk. Impatience snapped at his heels. ‘Yes.’

‘Wherever you’re going, you’ll hear me out first.’ She stepped all the way in, closed the door. ‘I’m Rosa Fielding.’ She kept walking until she reached him, drilled his chest with a purple-lacquered fingernail. ‘You hurt my big sister, you deal with me.’

Damon’s brow rose. ‘So the whole family’s in on this.’

‘That’s what families do, Mr Gillespie. It’s what we do for people we love—support them any way we can. But I might forgive you because Kate filled me in on your background and maybe you don’t recognise love when it’s right in front of you. You may not understand how it feels to—’

‘Okay.’ He gestured with an unsteady hand. ‘Why don’t you take a seat—?’

‘I’d rather stand, thanks. This won’t take long.’

He, on the other hand, didn’t want to stand. He felt as if he’d been strung up and hung out. Hitching his butt on the edge of the desk, he ran damp palms down the front of his trousers.

‘Kate’s been a loyal employee here for years,’ Rosa went on. ‘Your uncle promised her the manager’s position from this month and now she’s throwing it away.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘She’s considering another job. It might take her years to work her way up the ladder again.’

Rosa’s words hit him like a hammer. Kate couldn’t leave Ultimate Journey; they needed her. He needed her. So why was he saying, ‘An agent with her skills and experience will walk straight into a good position.’

Her eyes flashed. ‘You don’t care if she leaves?’

‘Of course I care.’ His voice roughened as emotion battered at him. ‘But if that’s what Kate wants, then she should go for it. I want her to be happy.’ What was left of his strength seemed to drain out of him.

‘Changing jobs won’t make her happy,’ Rosa said more gently. She picked up the photo on his desk, studied it a moment. ‘She looks happy here. So do you.’ She nodded and thrust the photo at his chest. ‘I’d get a move on before it’s too late.’

Kate’s car was missing at her apartment. Thirty minutes later he drove past her parents’ house. No sign of her there either. He drummed impatient fingers on the wheel. Where was she? Which agency was she considering? He’d go back to her apartment and resign himself to waiting on her front doorstep. Except he’d never been a man who could sit around and wait.

He passed Ultimate Journey again on the off chance that she’d come back. No luck. He rubbed the tension at the back of his neck and found himself driving past the agency they’d staked out not so long ago.

A car similar to Kate’s was parked nearby. He skidded to a stop, ignoring the blast from the car behind him as he scanned the area, his heart jumping into his throat when he saw a lone figure sitting on a swing in the playground. A woman in jeans and jumper with jet-black hair…

* * *

‘You are aware you’re required to give two weeks’ notice before you leave, aren’t you?’ Kate’s heart leapt at the familiar low-timbred voice as Damon sat down on the swing next to hers. Relief at seeing him whole and unharmed pumped through her, turning her limbs to liquid.

Not that she looked—it was enough he was there. Remember what he’s been doing. Reckless and irresponsible. You can’t live with that. ‘I’m aware of the requirements. I’m choosing to ignore them. So sue me.’ She pushed the point of her shoe into the bark chips and set herself swinging.