Beneath the Boss: Omnibus (The Complete Collection) by Lydia Rowan Read Free Book Online Page B

rich and creamy, the bacon crisp, the peas the perfect hint of freshness.
    “Umm, wow. That’s really good.”
    He nodded and started eating.
    “When did you learn to cook?” she asked after she’d swallowed at bite.
    “Here and there. I got tired of going out, so it seemed like a useful skill. And the ladies love it.” He flashed her a killer smile.
    She smiled back, but the thought of the other women he’d cooked for, no doubt after he’d fucked them senseless, made her stomach curdle.
    “Just kidding. Believe it or not, I’ve never actually cooked for anyone else. Only you.”
    He leveled a heavy look at her, waiting for her response. She didn’t know what to say, only that she couldn’t acknowledge the warm now spreading through her at the idea that she was sharing something special with him.
    She sighed, looked down, and quietly uttered, “What are we doing, Leighton?”
    “I don’t know.”
    She felt him touch her hand and looked up, certain the confusion she saw in his eyes mirrored that in her own.
    He laced his fingers through hers, the contract sending a tingle up her arm.
    “But I like it, want more of it.”
    She pulled her hand away, needed to break the contact to keep her mind on task.
    “Me too,” she admitted. “But I’m leaving, and you hate me for it.”
    The corners of his mouth tightened, the flash of anger that passed over his face undeniable, but then he relaxed and said, “True. We haven’t settled that, but right here, right now, this, us,” he waved his hand between them, “there’s something here, and I think we’ll both regret it if we don’t at least try.”
    She considered his words, wanting to believe but still unsure. Then she looked into his eyes and her doubts fell away.
    “Okay.” She smiled tentatively.
    “Eat up. You’re going to need your strength,” he said, a cocky grin playing on his lips.

Chapter Five
    T he next two days were glorious. They spent every moment together, arguing about football, napping, making love. Layla’s experience was limited, but not even her most vivid fantasies had prepared her for the reality of Leighton. He was insatiable, wrung orgasm after orgasm from her but still kept her on edge, needy and desperate for him. And she didn’t think she was alone. He was right there with her, freer and more open than she’d ever seen him. A couple of times she caught him staring off, an almost wistful look in his eye, but whenever she started to ask about it, he’d kiss her breathless.
    Still, she tried to squelch the kernel of emotion that grew in her heart with each kiss, each smile, to little avail. By Sunday night she was anxious, on edge, and Leighton had picked up on it. They were lying in bed, and he wrapped her in a deep embrace, reached up and smoothed her brow.
    “Relax. It’ll be okay.”
    She started to protest, but he silenced her with a quick kiss.
    “I can hear you thinking, and it’s way too late for that. Let’s see if I can distract you.”
    And distract her he did.
    ••••
    L eighton lay in bed, sleeping Layla a warm, solid weight against his side. He was content as he could ever remember being, but despite his attempts to reassure Layla, he couldn’t deny the fear nagging at him. The little heaven he and Layla had carved out couldn’t last, and he don’t know what would replace it come dawn.

Chapter Six
    L ayla stood in the elevator, her stomach sliding further down as the car rose up. He’d left her house earlier this morning, reality no longer content with being held at bay. He’d tried to reassure her, promised that everything would be okay, but she’d felt the strain and uncertainty in the air, and Layla could sense his struggle with what faced them. They’d agreed to keep things professional at work, but Layla was skeptical, certain that everyone would see through them, know what they’d been up to for the past couple of days.
    The elevator dinged, and Layla pulled back her shoulders and strode