Page 21 of Taming Grumpy Dr. Beast

Shit!I’d missed more than I thought. With Dr. LeBeau standing right in front of me, I didn’t want to ask Ward to repeat himself.

“What I’m hearing you say is that without her father taking the lead, you personally vouch for Dr. LeBeau’s ability to start work on my highly valuable—priceless to me—manuscript?”

“One hundred percent. She knows this business inside and out and is simply brilliant.”

I eyed the woman, who still glared at me. She held my gaze. The fire in her eyes made me want to see if I could incite that response from her again. It sparked something in me. Something I hadn’t felt in a long time.

A connection to someone else.

“Thank you for your time, Ward. I’ll be in touch.” I hung up and continued to give Dr. LeBeau the silent treatment.

She tapped her foot. “So...”

I had to hold back a smile at her impatience. “So...” I repeated. I enjoyed keeping her off balance.

“What are you planning to do?”

“Do?” My lips turned up into the faintest smirk.

“Yes, are you allowing me to stay?” she grumbled.

I decided to put her out of her misery. “Since Ward is willing to back your qualifications, I will defer to his judgment.”

Her breath whooshed out, causing her shoulders to slump in direct contrast to her chin’s stubborn tilt. “Ididmention that to you.”

I turned toward the door. “Ms. Ketill, I’ll call you if I need anything.”

“Yes, Jaxon.” She exited the space as quietly as she’d entered.

“Come along, Dr. LeBeau.” I walked out of the room, not waiting for her to follow. I knew she would.

Her footsteps hurried along until she reached my side.

“Where are we going?” she huffed.

“To see the book and discuss the next steps in its restoration.”

“Interrogate me about the next steps, you mean,” she whispered harshly under her breath, probably thinking I couldn’t hear her.

“Did you have anything to add?” I asked, goading her, curious to see what response she’d volley back.

“Nope,” she replied in an overly chipper voice that strangely still held a sultry appeal. It unnerved me. “You know, it wouldn’t hurt for you to slow down. Some of us are only five-foot-two, not seven feet.”

I hid my smile and deliberately slowed my gait. I didn’t need her huffing and puffing over the book once we got to its location.

In slowing down, I apparently gave her permission to gawk at my decor. “Did you need me to give you a moment?” I asked.

“Uh, no. It’s just that you have a beautiful home. I’m not used to this kind of opulence.”

I grinned. I made a mental note to send a message to Ms. Ketill while we were with the book to prepare a different room than the one I’d previously assigned to the younger Dr. LeBeau. The new room was one of the grandest bedrooms in the East wing and had a four-poster bed. She would appreciate the beauty of that room more.

Why do I care where she sleeps? Or what she thinks of it?

Then again, I could use the four-poster bed to tame her aggressive demeanor and teach her a lesson. Now the only thing I could see was her, spread out across that four-poster bed, demanding I come closer in the sultry voice of hers.

Fuck me!I don’t have time for this nonsense.

This was a professional relationship. I was her goddamned employer. She was a student at the university. Just because a woman—well, two women in three weeks—had piqued my interest after all this time was no reason to pursue the lusty images in my head. I turned down the next hall at a faster clip, not bothering to make sure she could keep up.