The Boss (Managing the Bosses 1)

Alex pulled into the garage of his house. Jamie stared quietly out the window as the garage door closed. He turned the car off and sat quietly beside her for a moment. "I'd feel better if we head inside my place instead of yours. I can go and grab you a change of clothes if you’d like."

Jamie nodded. “I forgot to get your dry cleaning. We could have picked it up on the way home.”

“Don’t worry about my clothes. I’ve got plenty upstairs.” He opened the car door. “Come on, let’s get you inside.” He came around and opened her door and politely, with the perfect amount of space, walked beside her and helped her inside his house.

Not once did he take his hand off of the small of her back, as if he needed reassurance that she was still there. They came through the garage into the kitchen. It was set up similar to her apartment below. A lot of space and light colors. Everything was beautiful and tasteful. The full kitchen had sparkling granite tops, a state of the art refrigerator and stove with hardwood cupboards.

Alex led her through the kitchen to the living room that was furnished with leather couches, a flat screen TV and paintings and photographs of all styles on the walls. Next to the fireplace was a spiral staircase. It had to be the most luxurious house she had ever been in. She could just imagine his bedroom had the same masculinity as the rest of the place.

Alex took no notice of her amazement, or didn't say anything about it as he led her over to one of the leather couches. "Sit down. I'll go make tea."

"There really isn't any need," she said. "I'm fine now. I promise." She did feel a lot better now. She just wished for a stiff drink to erase the awful taste in her

mouth.

"Even if you are, I'm not." He strode over to the kitchen and filled a tea kettle with water. "And I know you're not, Jamie. You haven't stopped trembling."

Jamie balled her hands into fists to stop the trembling. "I'm fine," she said. "Just a little shaken up."

"Which means you're not fine." After turning the stove on, he came back and sat down, looking over her with a furrowed brow. His fingers brushed against the bruises forming on her arms. "Does anything hurt?" he asked softly.

Jamie shook her head, unable to talk with him touching her so gently. How did he make her mind go completely blank with just a touch?

"I wish there was some way I could make the bruises go away," he said. “What the hell was that idiot thinking?”

"They'll heal," she stuttered. Damn it, why couldn't she ever think around him?

"I'm so sorry," he whispered.

He leaned closer to her, need and concern warring in his eyes.

Jamie bit her lip as her breathing escalated, but not because she was scared. Just the opposite. She should so not be thinking about him kissing her at the moment. It was wrong, on too many levels.

The tea kettle started whistling and Alex got up quickly to turn it off. "What type of tea do you like?"

"Do you have peppermint?" she asked, fanning herself.

"Definitely," he said. He opened a cupboard and Jamie caught a glimpse of rows and rows of tea. He smiled when he saw her look. “I like tea.” He shrugged. “It’s one of those few facts that everyone knows about me, so they always give me tea gift sets when they need to buy me a present.”

“I see,” she said, trying not to laugh. “Well, there are definitely worse presents to get.” She looked at a photograph on the wall. Alex was in it with another man who had the same eyes and nose as him, as well as an older couple. “Is that your family?”

He followed her gaze. “Yes.”

“They all look very kind.” Really? That’s your comment about them? She swallowed, trying to push her embarrassment down.

"They are." A shadow passed over his face.

Apparently Alex Reid had secrets too.

He handed her one of the tea mugs and the relaxing scent of peppermint wafted up from the cup.

"Thank you," Jamie said automatically.

He sat down beside her, staring at his own mug. "You know you can't just keep changing the subject, Jamie. I realize I have no jurisdiction over your personal life, but I’m still concerned.”

“I’m fine.”

“You need to warn Christine, then."