Page 52 of My Not So Wicked Boss (My Not So Wicked 3)

Miles placed his hand over mine gripping his arm like a vice. “I thought he didn’t live here.”

Tears welled up in my eyes. “He called me last week to say he was moving back to Colorado, but I didn’t believe him.”

Miles and I watched as Kylie stood on her tiptoes and whispered in his ear before she kissed him. And like the douche bag he was, he kissed her back. My heart broke for his wife and baby daughter, for my daughter who had such a father.

“Who’s the woman?” Miles asked.

“A girl we went to high school together with. His favorite bimbo. The jerk is married to another woman.”

“Let’s go home, love,” Miles suggested, but it was too late. Leland saw me. Not only Leland, but Kylie, who wasted no time taking off. She always did anytime she saw me. We didn’t run into each other often as she had gotten married and moved away several years ago, but her parents still lived here. Was she still married too?

Leland, with no shame at all, crossed the street and headed our way.

I wiped my eyes with one hand and gripped Miles’s arm tighter with the other.

“Steady, love,” Miles whispered. “Do you want me to tell the wanker to sod off?”

The thought gave me some pleasure. “I’ll let you know.”

Miles gently caressed my hand. If I wasn’t so upset, I probably would have pulled away, it felt so nice. Like a nice I had never known before. Like the kind of nice you shouldn’t have with your boss.

Leland, unfortunately, made it across the street. I was hoping he would have gotten hit by a car. If only I was so lucky.

He strutted up to us like he was still the most popular boy in school. To my delight, he was paunchy around the middle and his tight jawline was looking a little saggy. All that drinking finally caught up to him. Leland’s confidence took a plunge when he got nearer and came face to face with Miles, who, on the other hand, took great care of himself and looked fabulous at forty.

Leland sized him up before zeroing in on the iron grip I had on my boss. “Aspen, I didn’t expect to see you.”

“I could say the same. I thought you weren’t coming until next week.” Or ever.

“Change of plans,” he said ever so smugly.

Probably more like his wife kicked his butt out, or Kylie called and he came running.

“Who’s this?” Leland flicked his head toward Miles. He had no manners at all. “I didn’t know you were with anyone.”

“I’m—”

“The name is Miles Wickham,” Miles interrupted me before I could tell Leland that he was my boss. Though we didn’t really look professional at the moment.

“English,” Leland sneered. “Why am I not surprised?”

“Careful,” Miles warned.

Leland, who was a bit shorter than Miles, looked up at Miles with his cocky attitude that said what are you going to do about it?

Miles wasn’t intimidated at all. “Aspen and I have places to be, so state your business and move on.”

Leland wasn’t used to being pushed back. I reveled in watching his face redden and him taking a step back. Unfortunately, that meant his sights were back on me. “I want to see Chloe.”

“Where’s your wife and daughter?” I asked.

“That’s none of your business.”

“Actually, it is. How long are you going to be in town?”

“For a while, so get used to it. I’m crashing at Mike’s in Edenvale.”

“Chloe will never be allowed to go there.” My skin crawled at the thought.

“You can’t keep me from her.”

“Probably not forever, but until you can prove to me that you aren’t the same man who left her and didn’t bother to contact her for years, I will do just that.” I shook my head, disgusted at him. “But I don’t see that happening. After all this time, you’re still sneaking around with Kylie and cheating on your wife and little girl,” I choked out.

“What the hell do you know?” Leland spat.

Miles stepped in between Leland and me. “It’s time for you to go.”

Leland’s fists clenched, but they remained by his sides. “I’ll be calling you, Aspen,” he hissed my name. “You can’t hide behind your boyfriend forever.”

I stepped around Miles and faced the jerk. “I’ve never been the one to run and hide. That’s your job. And not that it’s any of your business, but Miles isn’t my boyfriend.” I turned toward Miles who was taking a protective stance. “He’s my b—”

Miles’s eyes pleaded with me not to say boss. I wasn’t sure why it was so important to him, but this weird sensation came over me and I found myself not wanting to disappoint him. “Friend,” I whispered at first. I stood a little taller and owned it. “I mean, friend.”

For that I got a warm smile from Miles.

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