Monroe, Marla - Hot and Bothered (Siren Publishing Classic) by Marla Monroe Read Free Book Online

fought. They were heading for a big fight that might mean the end of their relationship, and Savanna really didn’t want that to happen. They were so good together.
    Nearly an hour later, Savanna knew she couldn’t put it off any longer. She needed to call. She picked up the phone and dialed. It rang three times before Ben answered.
    “Hello?”
    “Hey, Ben. Is Karen awake yet?”
    “Uh, she’s not here.” Ben sounded tired.
    “Not there? Where is she?” Savanna asked. She had a bad feeling about this.
    “She went in to work this morning. Said she had a lot she needed to get done before in the morning.” Ben’s voice sounded a little bit piqued.
    “You guys had a fight, didn’t you?”
    “You could say that,” he said.
    “I’ll go talk to her.”
    “I wish you would. I don’t know what is going on with her anymore.” His harried voice caused Savanna to wince.
    “I’ll talk to you later, Ben.” She hung up and ran a hand through her hair.
    “Oh, Karen, what’s going on?”
    Savanna grabbed her purse and her keys off the couch and locked the door behind her. All during the short trip to where Karen worked, Savanna went over scenarios in her head of what could be going on and what she could say to her best friend to figure it all out. If things were over between her and Ben, then fine, but put an end to it and go on. Don’t just keep dragging it all out.
    She parked her car in the garage of the building where Karen worked and took the elevator up to the third floor. She didn’t bother knocking on Karen’s door. She just walked in and found her friend locked in a rather heated kiss with her boss.
    “Karen?”
    Karen squealed and pulled away from Martin Sherman.
    “What are you doing in here? This is a private office.” Martin Sherman adjusted his shirt.
    “Karen, honey. We need to talk.”
    “I…it isn’t…Ah, hell.” Karen burst into tears and covered her face.
    “Karen, it’s all right. She shouldn’t have been in here at all. I’ll take care of her.” Martin took a step toward Savanna, and Karen jumped between them.
    “I’m fine. Go home, Martin. I need to talk to Savanna, and you need to spend more time with your wife.”
    “I’m not leaving you here upset with her. She’s just going to tell you to stop seeing me,” Martin said.
    “She would be right, too. I am going to stop seeing you, Martin. You’re married, and I should never have started in the first place.” Karen managed to sound resolved despite the tears.
    “You can’t mean that.”
    “Yes, I do. I came here this morning to tell you that. You just didn’t give me a chance to.”
    “I’m not giving up on us, Karen,” Martin said.
    “You’re going to have to, or I’m going to have to quit, or at least transfer somewhere else in the company.”
    Savanna remained quiet, letting Karen talk. She needed to be the one that made the decision. If Savanna talked her into breaking it off, there would always be that between them. No, Karen had to make the decision. Instead, she watched and waited. If Martin gave her any trouble, she would be ready to help her friend.
    “I don’t want you to quit. You’re the best assistant I’ve ever had.”
    “Then accept the fact that we aren’t doing this and you need to work things out with your wife or divorce her.” Karen sounded tired now.
    “Karen, honey,” he began.
    “Martin, get out of my office and go home. I need some space now.”
    Martin ran a hand through his hair and then turned on his heel and walked out the door. He didn’t slam the door, but he didn’t close it quietly either.
    “I guess you’re pissed at me,” Karen said.
    “More like I’m puzzled about what in the hell is going on with you lately.”
    Karen sighed and walked around her desk to sink wearily into her chair. She rested her elbows on the desk, buried her face in her hands, and cried. Great wracking shudders flowed over her body, and Savanna hurt for her friend. She walked over, put her