Page 64 of Boss of Me

After the butler leaves, Gunner meets my panic-stricken gaze. “Relax.”

“Relax?Your mother is here!” My voice is high-pitched. “Were you expecting her?”

“No,” he grits out. “I wasn’t.”

I get the impression he’s not happy about this surprise visit. That makes two of us.

I scramble out of bed and start searching for my nightshirt while he watches me, his eyes roaming shamelessly over my naked body.

“You’re so fucking beautiful,” he murmurs.

His words heat my skin, but I’m too frazzled to savor the compliment. Locating my nightshirt, I hastily pull it over my head and comb my fingers through my tangled hair. “I knew I should’ve gone back to my room last night.”

“What makes you think I would’ve let you go?” Gunner drawls.

I stare at him as he climbs out of bed and prowls toward me, his heavy cock swinging against his thighs.

I swallow hard and jerk my eyes up to his face. “W-What’re you doing?”

He cups my cheek in his palm. “I’m going to take a shower and then head downstairs to greet my mother. Why don’t you join me?”

“Where?” I croak.

“In the shower.”

“Seriously?With your mom here?” I shake my head. “No way.”

His eyes glimmer as he watches me retreat. “I’ll see you downstairs.”

I open the door, look both ways and then dash out, making it back to my room without running into anyone.

It’s my day off, so I’m not required to show my face. But I don’t want to risk offending Gunner’s mother by hiding out in my room. Plus I’m insanely curious about the woman who brought him into the world. So I take a quick shower, get dressed and make my way downstairs.

I reach the landing just as Gunner disappears into the sitting room. I hurry after him, stopping near the doorway and peeking around the corner as he walks toward a striking older blonde seated on the couch.

“Mother.” He bends to kiss her upturned cheek. “Nice to see you.”

“Likewise, darling.” She pats his face with an elegantly manicured hand. “Mrs. Calder says you were still in bed. It’s so unlike you to sleep in.”

“It’s Sunday.”

“And? You never sleep past six, even on Sundays.”

“Guess there’s a first time for everything.” Gunner looks around suspiciously. “Where’s that demonic furball?”

His mother sighs long-sufferingly. “If you mean Charlotte Brontë, she’s off somewhere exploring your castle.”

Charlotte Brontë?I mouth quizzically.

Gunner scowls at his mother. “She’d better not piss anywhere.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. She’s been housetrained for years.” She pats the spot next to her on the couch. “Sit down, darling. You know how I hate it when you loom over me. You and Maverick have gotten so tall, I get a crick in my neck looking up at you.”

Gunner sits down obligingly. “So what brings you to town?”

“I wanted to see you, of course. It’s been too long.”

“You just saw me at Granddad’s birthday party two weeks ago.”