Love the Boss: Billionaire Romance (Managing the Bosses Book 4) Read online

  Jamie followed him out of the garage. "There's no need for you to do that, and back to your original question, no, I don't have dinner plans with Alex. I have some stuff in the freezer down here, though. We could whip something up and hang out until Alex gets back if you want to." She unlocked the door and pushed it open.

  The smell of vanilla and sandalwood rushed across her senses, and she breathed in deeply. It smelled like her grandmother's house, and she kept the scents fresh and plentiful on purpose. It helped her to remember some of the better memories she had from her childhood. It was her grandmother who’d taught her how to do her makeup, to ride a bike, and to make a mean pan of cinnamon rolls.

  Mark breathed in deeply. "Smells awesome in here. I love it."

  "Thanks." Jamie turned on the lights as she moved through. "Make yourself at home since, well, it is your new home."

  "The moving van’s coming tomorrow, but I have the pod for the week, so I'll just slowly unpack it; but if the big metal box out at the side of the house gets on your nerves, or my dear brother’s, just let me know. We'll move it out if it does." He pulled off his coat and tugged his scarf from his neck.

  She did the same, dumping them in a pile on the couch before walking into the kitchen. "It’ll be fine. Take whatever time you need, and you don't have to come to the office until you're ready, Mark. You have a lot to do because of this transition. You should really take some time to just enjoy it."

  "It's all good. I don't want to sit around and think about everything. I figured I’d be well into my career, with three kids and a wife who loves me by now. I don't have any of those things, but," he lifted his hand in the air as Jamie started to try to offer a rebuttal, "I will soon, I'm sure. This is a new life. A new beginning, and I'm going to live every minute of it with my eyes wide open."

  "Eyes wide open." Jamie nodded. "I like that. A lot."

  "Good. Now... let's get dinner rolling and then we can box up some of your stuff and carry it up to the house." He moved into the kitchen and opened the freezer. "We have mushroom ravioli. That sounds great. Got anything for a sauce, or something we can turn into a sauce?"

  "Not down here, but let me run back up to the house and I'll get the stuff. I'll grab Jake, too, if you don't mind him being down here with us." She wondered if she should have checked with Alex if Murray was making them dinner tonight. She assumed he wouldn’t be cooking for Mark. None of that had been sorted or even discussed. Work kept getting in the way. She inhaled a deep breath and let it slowly out through her nose. She’d started working for Alex because she’d wanted the job, not him. She knew what commitments came with the job and she needed to stop moaning about it. She was beginning to sound like the rest of her family.

  "Not at all. I'll start unpacking my suitcase, unless you need an extra set of hands." He turned on the sink and started to wash his hands as he looked over his shoulder at her.

  He was going to make someone a great husband someday. Why his wife, Paula, hadn't been happy with him was a complete mystery. It made little to no sense, but it was hard to see behind closed doors. Maybe he was aggressive, demanding, and moody.

  Jamie smirked at the thought and pulled her jacket back on. If he was any of those things, he'd be just like his older brother. "I’m good. I'll be right back." She walked out into the freezing evening air. It was the end of January, and spring was far off, but she was good with it. The only thing she hadn't done so far in the winter season was ice skate, and she would be righting that wrong sooner than later. There had been the attempt at Christmas, but she had been too distracted by the handsome man at her side.

  Alex could take her, or she would drag Mark or Gina down to the rink to go with her. It's not like her sister, Christina, would go. The poor girl would be too terrified of getting a hair out of place, or breaking a nail. The time with her family at Christmas had been good, healing, but since then none of them had really spoken to her. It was almost like the door had opened to what could be, and was slowly closing as everyone got back to their normal, everyday lives.

  "As long as they don't go back to being total bitches, I'm good." Jamie stopped at the back door as the sound of a little dog barking his head off caused her heart to warm. Jake was a good puppy, and was going to be a great dog.

  "I'm coming, buddy. I'm coming." She unlocked the house and opened the door. She walked into the darkness and suddenly stopped. Something about not having the alarm on the house left her wrapped in fear that maybe someone was in the house. She flipped a few lights on; maybe if they started leaving some on, she would feel a little safer. The house was huge and Guard-Jake would play hide and go seek with anyone.

  Jamie scooped up the puppy and walked to the kitchen to gather the supplies for dinner, as well as a bottle of wine. Alex might not be with them, but they needed to celebrate Mark's arrival. It was his first dinner in his new home. It needed to be as special as she could make it with such little preparation.

  She trudged back down to the apartment while balancing the dog, who wouldn't walk on the half-frozen ground, two bags of groceries and a bottle of wine. Her phone buzzed in her pocket, but she ignored it.

  After knocking with her elbow, her head and then her boot, Mark finally came to the door.

  "Shit. I didn't know you were out here." He reached for the puppy. "I'm sorry, Jamie."

  "It's okay." She shivered and walked into the kitchen. She's have to keep her coat on for a little while seeing as how she couldn't feel her cheeks or her fingers.

  "Hey, little guy. You've gotten big. Yes, you have. Is Mommy feeding you the big boy chow?" Mark got on the floor with the puppy, rolling around and having a good time as Jamie worked on dinner in her small kitchen. After getting the oven and stove going, she started to defrost.

  Slipping off her coat, she turned back to her task of making a quick cream sauce.

  Mark took Jake out to pee and then came back in and sat down at the breakfast bar. He pressed his arms to the counter as he watched her. "I'm really glad you and Alex are together. I know he and I have had our differences, but he's still my brother. He deserves a good woman." He smiled and reached over, dipping his finger in the sauce and yelping at the temperature.

  "It's bubbling, Mark. Be careful. Jeez." She smiled up at him, feeling incredibly comfortable when he was around. It was like having the brother she had always wanted with her. "You think I'm a good woman?"

  "You're putting up with Alex. I wouldn't say good. I'd go for great." He chuckled and grabbed the bottle of wine. "Toss me an opener and I'll get the party started for us."

  She found one in the drawer beside her and handed it to him. "I wish your brother could join us. I've asked him to work on finding some kind of balance until I'm blue in the face."

  "Yeah, I bet that gets old." He worked on the wine, and she kept her struggles to herself. There was no reason for over-sharing. It would lead to a friendship that Alex wouldn't be comfortable with. Their personal issues did not need to be aired like dirty laundry. It wasn’t her style, and she hated that she was beginning to sound miserable and bitter about everything. That wasn’t who she was. She shrugged and plated up the pasta before setting it before him. "We make do. He's the man I fell in love with, and I'll be around until he forces me away."

  "That isn't going to happen." Mark picked up his fork and breathed in deeply. "Damn... and you cook? I wish your sister was single, pretty like you, and not a complete bitch."

  Jamie laughed and lifted her glass in the air. "To my mom and dad having more kids."

  He laughed loudly and hit his glass to hers as the door behind him opened. "Here's to me finding a girl just like you. Except without your parents. Maybe not dating my brother either. And not look exactly like you, that would be weird. Should we toss in rich as well? She needs to drive a truck. Kick-ass super truck that fuckin’ rocks. Hell, let’s toss in a pair of Daisy-Dukes and maybe a General Lee."

  Jamie burst out laughing. “Really? I think you’re setting that bar a little
high there, Mark.” A cold breeze caught her attention, followed by Jake barking excitedly. She turned around, and smiled when she saw Alex standing inside the door, his lips in a tight line. "Alex! Perfect timing! We just finished making dinner. Come take my seat and I'll split the plates back out so you can join us." She got off the stool, not thinking anything of her dinner with Mark.

  Alex lifted his hands as his eyes moved between her and Mark. "Naw, I'm good. I don't want to interrupt anything."

  "What? Don't be silly.” Mark waved his hand and stood to shake Alex’s hand. “We're just having a first- night dinner in the new place. It's mostly in your honor. Get your panties out of a wad and come sit down. This girl wouldn't turn away from you if you forced her to."

  Alex ignored Mark’s hand. "Right. No thanks. Enjoy your special dinner and bottle of wine. I'm going to bed." He turned and walked out, leaving Jamie standing there with her mouth gaping open.

  "Did that just really happen?" Anger boiled up the center of her stomach as she turned back to Mark. "He can't find time to have dinner with us, and then he gets pissed that we're eating together? How jacked up would it be if we weren't?"

  "It's alright. I can see his point. Go up there and comfort him. Really." Mark nodded toward the door. "Just leave the dog with me."

  "No. I'm eating with you. He can get over himself." She sat down and cut into a piece of the pasta as a flood of emotion filled her. Anger. Sadness. Frustration. What was going on between them? Things had seemed beyond perfect at Christmas. Alex couldn’t be jealous. He had said he was all over that. She had no idea what was going on.

  "Jamie. Really. Go." Mark rubbed the top of her back softly. "I mean, eat and then go."

  She glanced over at him and let his warm smile bring her back down. The situation did look a little off, but it wasn't at all. She and Mark were friends, and even though Alex wasn't normally the jealous type, his brother just seemed to bring something out in him.

  "I'll eat and go, and yeah, Jake can stay with you for the night. Just make sure he comes back up to the house tomorrow morning. The heater is weird down here. It works most of the time, but sometimes it gets a little cool. Jake’s much too delicate for the cold." She ignored Mark’s raised eyebrows as he looked at the big fur-ball spread out by the fireplace. She ate a few more raviolis before downing her glass of wine and getting up. "Well, sorry it's not a better welcome, but welcome. I'm glad you're here."

  Mark winked at her. "Me too. It's going to be great. Thank you for a fantastic first meal. Tell my brother I wish he could have joined us."

  "I will." She grabbed her coat and waved just before walking out into the freezing cold. By the time she made it back up to the house, she was full-blown pissed again. Mark was sitting in the apartment alone, eating his dinner, wishing Alex had been part of the evening.

  A growl left her as she slung the door open and let it slam behind her. He should know just how much of a jerk he was being. No one deserved the butt of his actions, and yet he didn't care who suffered them. Just as long as his precious company was fine, all was good.

  She stopped at the door to his office and pressed her hand to the door frame as anger burned through her. He stood at his desk, his head bent and shoulders rounded. He was looking at something, but she didn't care.

  "You're an asshole. You know that?"

  He nodded and turned, his face sorrowful. The white stone she'd given him for Christmas was between his fingers. He rubbed it slowly and let his eyes lock with hers. "I know. I'm sorry. Seeing you with him—"

  "No! You don't get to blow this off." She walked in and pointed at him. "You were a total ass to me at the office today. I know you were upset, but I only wanted to help. Then you blew up at me again and—"

  "I know, Jamie. I'm sorry. I'm under a lot of—"

  "Pressure,” she snapped, cutting him off again. “I get that, but stop using me as your punching bag." She moved close to him poked him in the chest. "The worst part is that your little brother is here, Alex. He's here and is trying to start a new life in your shadows. Do you think you could stop your rise to godhood for one damn minute and show him that you care? That's all I was doing tonight. I was showing him that—"

  She didn't get another word out as he reached out and pulled her against him, locking her against his chest as his arms tightened and his lips pressed hard against hers.

  Jamie fought him for a minute, but lost the battle as his tongue plunged deep into her mouth.

  The taste of him rolled over her, and she groaned, sinking into him and letting her anger roll into passion, desire, need.

  He moved back a little and brushed her hair from her face as he looked at her longingly. "I'm a dick. Forgive me one more time. I'm working on it. I'll take Mark out for breakfast tomorrow, okay?"

  "Promise?" She nipped at his lips. "And no more being an asshole at work to me. Testy, fine. Upset, fine. Angry, not so much."

  "Promise." He licked at her mouth. "Where's the puppy?"

  "Down with your brother." She ran her fingers thought the soft chestnut hair at the side of his head. "I've missed you."

  "Not as much as I've missed you." He brushed his nose by her jaw and pressed his teeth into the side of her neck before licking just in front of her ear. "Let's not waste what little bit of time we have together."

  "Agreed." She moved back and tugged at the front of his pants. "But, for the record, I'm still mad at you."

  "You should be. I'm glad you left." He followed her out of the office into the living room and through to the kitchen. "Did you really get you some new stuff on my credit card?"

  "No. I came home and got dinner rolling with Mark. No more talking about anything but us." She got a glass of water as he moved up behind her. His strong hands moved up her waist and around to cup her breasts as he ground himself against the back of her.

  "Agreed. I need you naked and trembling beneath me." He kissed the side of her neck. "Can I have that even though I don't deserve it?"

  "Say please." She pressed her rear to him, rubbing it against him as he groaned softly.

  "Please. Please. Please."

  Chapter 4

  Jamie took her time drinking her water, which seemed to be driving Alex mad behind her, but it was fun, and his greedy hands felt too good to miss out on. She was a tease each and every chance she got to be one. He would get her back for it, but that was half the fun of their games. He just always seemed to get the upper hand about the time she thought she had it.

  "That's enough playing around with me, Jamie." He pulled her back from the sink and turned her around to face him. "I want what's mine."

  His fingers slid into her hair as he tightened his grip a little and tugged her head back. She moaned at the delicious tension and reached for the counter next to her to steady herself. He kissed the space between her breasts and moved down, nipping at her over her silky shirt until he reached the bottom of her skirt.

  "Not in here. Come to the bedroom with me." She reached down and tried to get him to get back up. She hadn't even taken off her jacket yet.

  "Here." He pushed her tight gray skirt up her thighs and over her hips before pressing his mouth to the front of her, his tongue licking around the tiny pink triangle that covered her.

  "Hot damn." She turned a little and pressed her back to the countertop as her fingers bit into it for stability.

  "So beautiful. I wanna fuck you everywhere. In the office again soon. Tell me we can do that again. Please?" He moved her panties to the side and pressed closer, then paused, glancing up at her as her legs began to shake.

  "Yes. Anywhere. I was going to today, but—"

  "I know. Just lock the door and force me to see you. I wouldn't deny you if you got in my face, baby." He leaned in and dragged his tongue along her center, lapping at her as she cried out.

  It had been three weeks or more since they'd made love, and the last time was an early morning quickie against the bathroom sink before he rushed out of the place like his
butt was on fire.

  Alex urged her to drape one of her legs over his shoulder as he leaned in and worked her toward the edge with efficiency.

  "Your fingers," Jamie moaned softly as she kept her eyes on him. There wasn’t anything sexier than watching the impossibly gorgeous billionaire who had stolen her heart down on his knees, making love to her with his tongue.

  "Anything you want." He pressed two fingers into her and moved up a little, sucking hard on her clit as the room exploded around her. He groaned, and the sound reverberated across her skin, pulling her farther into the wave of ecstasy.

  She screamed his name and slid her hands into his hair, locking him against her body as he used his mouth and fingers to pull her toward the edge of another orgasm within minutes. She pushed him away, knowing that she wouldn't survive a long love-making session with him if he pulled every last bit of energy from her as they stood in the kitchen together.

  "More," he mumbled, and moved back in to kiss her swollen flesh.

  "No. Stop, baby,” she begged. “I want you inside me. Please?" She turned and kicked off her panties as she walked to the bedroom, pulling off various articles of clothing until all she had on were her heels and her jewelry.

  "Keep the heels on. I love it." He moved up behind her and ran his hands down her back as she pressed her hands to the bed and arched her back.

  "Why can't our relationship feel like this all the time?" She pressed her back up against his hand as he massaged her sore muscles and bent over to run his lips and nose down to the top of her ass.

  "Because it's a long-term relationship, Jamie. We're going to have ups and downs, baby." He licked at her lower back and moved back. "I love you so much, though. Please don't forget that."

  She glanced over her shoulder and watched him undress before turning and lying down onto her back.

  "Don't forget that I don't have feelings for anyone but you. Least of all your brother." Jamie lifted her eyebrow as Alex tugged his shirt from his shoulders. The sensual feast before her was almost too much. Beautifully tanned, tight skin stretched across the perfect muscles. It was the soft dark hair that disappeared into the top of his slacks from his bellybutton that stole her attention.