Page 63 of Boss Abroad

“I’m her boss,” I growl at Noah.

“Woah,” he laughs and the noise grates on my nerves. I’m not a horrible person. I want my brother to be happy. Just not at my expense. He grabs my shoulders, gives them a squeeze, and turns me their way. “The guy is leaving. There’s your in. Showtime, mate.”

My feet are moving before Noah finishes that sentence.

“Hello again. Going so soon, Dr. Jett?”

“Yeah, jet lag has hit me hard and I need a lie down.” Jet lag, my ass. I’m laser focused on the guy. He’s slurring a bit. “Nice to meet you, Gunn.” He shakes my hand, but stops and tightens his grip. “Actually, could we have a word before I leave?”

April’s head turns from him to me. And again. And again. Does she think this is a tennis match? I’m a great tennis player. I’d take this motherfucker down. He can choose how.

My pearly whites make a practiced show. “Of course. Right this way.” I head to a corner, quiet enough to grant us some privacy.

“This was a nice stunt. I appreciate it. So let me say my thanks first.”

“First?”

“Yes, first. Before I remind you that you can do more damage than good to that girl. How old are you, anyway?”

Not tennis, then. The man came in throwing jabs, left and right.

“Excuse me?”

“That girl back there.” The way Dr. Jett, a few years my senior, addresses April as a child is quite unnerving. “She’s the most brilliant doctor I’ve ever trained. She’s going to change orthopedics, medicine, as we know it. The world is going to know her as Dr. Hadden, not as one of Liam Gunn’s affairs.”

He steps into my space and pokes my chest with a finger. Is he that bold or just reckless? I’m torn between being amused or pissed.

“You've got another thing coming if you think I'll let you damage her or her career. I don’t care how rich or big you are. If you hurt her in any way, I’ll fuck you up, pretty boy.”

My lips are sealed together, but that was too much. The snort makes its way out through my nose. Color me impressed.

Are all Americans this convincing? April played a very compelling hooker and now this Jett guy stepped right into the father role, thinking he can intimidate me.

Neither bold nor reckless, he’s hilarious.

I’m about to mock his empty threat when April barges over, all inquisitive eyes and a plastered-on smile. “Everything okay over here?”

“Yeah, yeah. Just thanking Gunn for his hospitality.” Dr. Jett slaps me in the back but doesn’t spare me a glance or try to sound convincing in his lie. “I was about to go find you to say goodbye.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to stay at my place?” Thank fuck I’m not swallowing cognac at the sound of that. Is April intent on driving me mad? Little minx. She must be. If that’s her purpose tonight, then she’s fucking thriving.

“Yeah, baby girl.”

One of my arms feels kind of numb. Am I having a heart attack? A stroke? Oh, no. I was just cutting off my blood circulation by strangling my own wrist to keep me from strangling this man.

“But thanks anyway. I love you, but I love room service more. And my flight leaves really early. I’ll call you when I land.” He kisses her forehead, hugs her for the goddamn millionth time and leaves. Fucking finally.

The band is playing a soft ballad, and the dance floor is busy enough that we can blend in. “May I have a dance?” This is the best and only opportunity I’ll have to feel her body on mine while we’re here in public and time is running out.

Her raised eyebrows mock my choice of words, and she does a curtsy, but she takes my hand so I’ll let that go.

I take her further into the dance floor, getting us some distance from the people we know. I look at her and just stand there, not realizing it until she tugs on my hand to get us moving. “Dance, damn it, people are beginning to stare.”

She is hyper aware of our surroundings while I forget about where we are and who I am when she’s this close to me. I despise that.

I voice the question that has left a bitter taste in my mouth the entire evening. “So you have another boss that can’t keep his hands off you?”

She looks up and gives me a cheeky smile.

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