Page 48 of Boss of Me

He stares at me in stunned recognition. “Holy shit. The babe from the bar.”

I can’t help smiling. “I knew you looked familiar when I saw your picture on Pantheon’s website. You were there the night I met your brother.”

“I was.” He grins down at me, as insanely sexy as his twin. “Gunner didn’t tell me you were coming tonight.”

“I didn’t have much of a choice. I work for him.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Nope. I’m his new housekeeper.”

“Is that right?” Maverick slowly looks me over and grins, shaking his head. “That sneaky son of a bitch.”

“You can say that again.” Some petty impulse makes me confide, “Did he tell you that he impersonated my date that night?”

Maverick blinks at me. “Come again?”

“I mistook him for the guy I was supposed to meet, and he kept up the charade until my real date called and blew his cover.”

Maverick stares at me in disbelief, then bursts out laughing.

The sound is so rich and infectious that I feel my lips twitch. “I’m glad you find it amusing.”

“I’m sorry,” he says between sexy chuckles. “What Gunner did was dead wrong. But it’s totally unlike him. He doesn’t do shit like that.”

“Well, he did.”

Maverick grins. “I apologize on his behalf. Sincerely.” His eyes are lighter than his brother’s, an icy blue that sucks you right in and locks you in place. “What’s your name, beautiful?”

“Marlowe.”

He shakes my hand, his skin warm and slightly callused. “Pleasure to meet you, Marlowe.”

“Same to you.” I smile. “A ton of people have been asking for you, Mr. COO, so I guess you’d better get in there and start schmoozing.”

He grins. “How long are you on door duty?”

“Just until the last guest arrives. Then I’ll be helping the waitstaff.”

Maverick’s eyes twinkle at me. “I’ll find you,” he promises before sauntering off to join the party.

Half an hour later, I’m weaving through the crowd offering champagne on a silver tray. I feel invisible, completely insignificant in this glitzy world of elites. Such a thing wouldn’t normally bother me. But tonight, for some reason, it does.

As I circulate around the room, I can’t help stealing glances at Gunner. He still has a crowd buzzing around him, and now there’s a tall blonde latched onto his arm. She’s gorgeous in an off-the-shoulder silver gown that hugs her sleek curves. I don’t remember greeting her at the front door, so she must have arrived late.

My focus is broken when someone swipes the last flute of champagne from my tray. Instead of returning to the kitchen to replenish my supply, I drift behind a marble column to continue secretly watching Gunner.

He’s telling a story, gesturing with one hand as he talks. His audience looks enthralled, hanging on his every word. At one point the blonde tilts her head back and laughs, showing off perfect white teeth.

When Gunner smiles at her, I feel a strange twist in my chest.

“Having fun?”

I jerk, startled, and nearly drop my empty tray.

Maverick catches it, laughter dancing in his eyes. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you.”

“I, uh, was just, um?—”