Like a Boss (Boss Duet 1)

“Well, it wasn’t my fault.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

“It was all your fault, Penny.”

Her eyes narrowed, brows furrowing. “Are you fucking kidding me? You came onto me.”

Fury, red and molten, blinded me. I leaned inches from her face and whispered across her soft skin. “No other man’s girlfriend should ever want me like you do.”

Her hand connected with my face for the second time since I’d known her. She went to slap again, but I caught it right before she made contact.

“Stop.”

“Or what? This time you’ll fuck me?” she spat off.

“Watch what you say, I just might.” I dropped her hand and slammed the office door behind me as I walked away.

TWELVE

PENNY

Did I hear him right? He might fuck me?

The sound of the office door slamming echoed throughout the small office as I stood there—heart pumping, body aching, and mind sizzling out of control.

Again, I asked myself, what the hell happened?

My body was drawn to him like a magnet, yet we were still unable to get along. Why was he so stubborn? Why couldn’t he say thank you?

Last night at dinner, and even afterwards on the beach, I found myself opening up to him.

The whole time I was with Theo I’d never even checked my phone for Dex’s call. It wasn’t until I got home I saw the missed call from him.

No message, nothing. Just one missed call. One I demanded he make and then was too busy to answer.

I tried not to let it bother me as I gazed triumphantly at the menus one more time. Something I created was being implemented, and it felt fucking amazing. I wanted to make a quick call to my father and shove it in his face.

To show him I didn’t need him or his money to make my way in this world. I was doing fine without him.

I returned to the computer and finished off the rest of the menus before leaving the office.

Walking out onto the patio I was amazed at how Theo managed to bring new life to the bar.

Sure it was little things—new potted plants on the deck, new patio chairs, umbrellas, twinkling lights that glimmered along the rails, and an overall sense of pride in the employees.

Now, I hoped my plans worked. They would. I’d been doing this since I was eighteen, and being twenty-six now, I’d say I picked up a few things along the way.

I spotted Theo standing in the corner of the patio, phone pressed to his ear as he ran a hand across his jaw through his beard. Gray clouds rolled off in the distance as the first drop of rain fell from the sky. A low grumble of thunder sounded from far away as Theo thrust the phone in the pocket of his khaki pants.

A gust of air flew past me as the storm picked up and was set to hit.

“Close the umbrellas,” Theo called to Seth.

Together they worked to close the patio umbrellas before the wind picked up and tossed them. The rain fell in soft pellets at first but began to pick up in strength and ferocity.

“It’s turning into biblical rain,” Henry said, standing beside me.

As always with Florida, storms were a pain in the ass. It would rain for a few hours and then it would end until this time tomorrow when another storm would attack. I waltzed around to the opposite side of the bar and made a customer a drink.

A bourbon Manhattan. I plopped in the cherry and slid it across the oak bar as Theo walked up behind me—soaked.