Page 32 of Boss of Me

“Gustav made sticky toffee pudding for dessert,” Gunner announces. “He’s gone for the night, so we’ll have to serve ourselves.”

I smile. “Dessert sounds delicious, but I couldn’t eat another bite right now. I can bring you some if you want, though.”

He shakes his head, watching me with a quiet little smile. “Thanks for your company.”

“You didn’t give me much of a choice.” I stand and start clearing the dishes. When he rises to help, I wave him off. “I got it. It’s my jo?—”

“Hush, woman.”

We clear the table together and carry our dishes into the sprawling chef’s kitchen that still dazzles me every time I enter it. Gustav cleaned up before he left, so all we have to worry about are the plates and utensils we used.

Ignoring the state-of-the-art dishwasher, I fill the sink with hot water and add dish soap as Gunner comes up beside me.

“I’ll wash and rinse, you dry and put away.” He rolls up his sleeves, revealing the ropey sinews of his forearms.

My mouth runs dry. “When was the last time you washed dishes?” I ask, slanting him a dubious look. “Do you even know how?”

He looks offended. “What kind of question is that? Of course I know how to wash dishes.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really. For your information, my brother and I shared an apartment in college, andIdid most of the cleaning.”

My eyes narrow skeptically. “You didn’t have a maid?”

“No.” He hesitates. “Not till junior year.”

“Ha! I knew it!”

His face breaks into a boyish grin that makes me weak in the knees.

Clearing my throat, I grab a towel to dry the dishes. “Be careful with the wineglasses. You don’t want to scratch them.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he drawls with a wink.

Standing this close together heightens my awareness of him on a primal, cellular level. I can feel the heat emanating from his big body, and the brush of his shirtsleeve against my bare arm sends shivers through my blood. It doesn’t help that he smells so damn good I want to bury my face in his shirt and inhale his scent, take in every molecule of it.

He washes the dishes slowly, leisurely, in no rush to finish the task. If I didn’t know better, I would think he was trying to prolong our time together.

He hands me a plate to dry, his wet fingers grazing mine. Electricity crackles over my skin like I’ve just touched a live wire. My lips part as I stare into his eyes, feeling my heartbeat double.

Long seconds pass.

I’m the first to look away, licking my lips as I dry the clean plate. “What a picture we must make—a gazillionaire washing dishes with his housekeeper. Somebody callForbesorGuinness World Records.”

Gunner slants me a crooked grin. “Smartass.”

I let out a shaky laugh. It’s absolute hell being so wildly attracted to a man I want so badly to hate.

Just as we finish our task, Mr. Leland enters the kitchen and stops short, his eyes widening at the domestic scene before him.

Gunner sends a lazy glance over his shoulder. “What’s up?”

“Ahem.” The flabbergasted butler clears his throat. “Will you be needing anything else before I retire for the evening?”

“Nope. I’m good.” Gunner looks at me. “You?”

“I’m fine.”