Page 138 of Boss of Me

“Brought you some tea to help shake that nasty hangover. Why don’t you join me in the sunroom so Marlowe can finish her chores.” Her tone makes it clear it’s not a request.

Dale grins at her. “Just as bossy as ever.”

She harrumphs. “Somebodyneeds to keep you in line.”

“Ah, Gemma Louise,” he says fondly, brushing back a strand of hair that had escaped her bun. “Don’t ever change.”

I stare in shock as a delicate pink flush spreads over her cheeks. Holy crap. Mrs. Calder is blushing. Actuallyblushing.

She catches me gawking and briskly clears her throat. “We’ll let you get back to work. Come along now, Dale.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He takes the tray from her hands and tosses me a wink. “We’ll chat more later.”

“Not if your son has anything to say about it,” Mrs. Calder warns.

Dale merely chortles.

Grinning, I watch the pair walk off together, Sansa trotting after them.

Two hours later, I’ve just finished vacuuming the parlor when a pair of strong arms wraps around my waist and a deep voice rumbles in my ear, “Hello, beautiful.”

Every nerve cell in my body comes alive, zinging with heat and awareness. “Is this who I think it is?” I tease.

“Damn well better be.” One big hand splays across my belly as he holds me against his hard chest while nibbling the side of my neck. “You smell good.”

I let out a breathless laugh. “I guess pine cleaner andeau de sweatdo it for you.”

“Everything about you does it for me.”

I grin with pleasure and turn in the circle of his arms, smiling into his gorgeous blues. “What’re you doing home so early?”

He smiles. “I decided to work from home the rest of the day.”

“Did you, now?” I purr, looping my arms around his neck. “I guess it pays to be the boss, doesn’t it?”

“That’s right.” He reaches out and brushes the pad of his thumb along the corner of my lips. My heart does a little flutter and my stomach flip-flops.

Unable to resist, I open my mouth and draw his thumb inside. His eyes darken and his smile takes on a decidedly wicked slant.

I draw his thumb deeper, curling my tongue around it and sucking hard. His cock jerks against my belly and he groans.

I release him with a naughty laugh and turn back to the vacuum cleaner.

“You little tease.” He moves behind me, planting tiny kisses along my nape where my hair meets skin. Delicious tingles race down my spine, and I lean back against him with a blissful sigh.

He pushes his hands into my hair, loosening the pins securing my topknot. He makes an appreciative noise as my hair falls past my shoulders in soft waves. I melt like candy when he runs his fingers through the dark strands, spreading them across my back and breathing in the fruity scent of my shampoo.

“In case I’ve never told you,” he murmurs against my ear, “I love your hair. It’s gorgeous and it always smells amazing.”

“Thank you,” I whisper smilingly. “I feel the same about yours.”

Nuzzling my hair, he unties my apron and drops it on the antique sideboard, then takes my hand. “Let’s go for a walk in the garden.”

“I’d love to,” I say weakly, “but I haven’t finished?—”

He gives me a stern look. “Are you defying your boss?”

I bite my lip and smile. “I wouldn’t dare.”