Page 27 of Forbidden Grumpy Boss

I hold out my hand, feeling the sweat on mypalm as I shake hers. Her grip is firm, her nails cool against my skin. Forjust a second, I’m back in that hotel room in Rome. I can practically feel herskin against mine, the way her body moved with mine. But I can’t go there now.

Jesus Christ, what the fuck?

“Nice to meet you,” Leah says, her voicesteady, though I catch a slight tremor. She’s good at this—too good. Her pokerface is better than mine right now.

I clear my throat, trying to smile. “Likewise.Harvey’s told me a lot about you.”

Liar. I didn’t even know her name untiltonight. What the hell kind of friend am I? I didn’t even know my best friend’sdaughter’s name.

There’s a beat of awkward silence beforeHarvey steps in, clearly unaware of the tension simmering between us. “Rosetta!Come up here and carve this bird.” Then he looks at me and Leah and says,“Let’s dig in.”

Dinner begins, but I can only think of Leahseated across from me. I don’t look at her. I can’t. For some reason, I feellike Harvey will catch me staring at her and realize I slept with his daughter.

Harvey starts. “So, Leah, what’ve you been upto? You’ve been in New York for a while, haven’t you?”

“A few months.” She pokes at her food with herfork.

“What are you doing for work?”

I see her bristle at the question, her lipstightening into a thin line. Her eyes flick to mine, and for a split second,there’s a flash of something sharp there—anger? Amusement?

“Personal assistant.”

Harvey frowns. “What’s that?”

“I’m a personal assistant to a tech CEO,” sheclarifies.

Harvey glances at me as if to saycan you see what I’m dealing with?“WhichCEO? What’s his name?”

My pulse hastens as I put a piece of meat inmy mouth and grind it until it disappears.

“I’d rather not say.” She shrugs. “I’mthinking about quitting, actually,” she says, keeping her gaze locked on mine.“Maybe find something better.”

Lizzie, Harvey’s latest girlfriend, who’sseated at the table like some overinflated Barbie, tilts her head in confusion.“Why would you quit? What’s wrong with your job?”

Leah barely suppresses a smirk. “Well, my bossis kind of an asshole.”

I almost choked on the sip of wine I justtook.

Harvey, oblivious, pats me on the back. “MaybeSilas here can talk some sense into you. Hell, why don’t you come work for me,darling? I’ll make sure you’re in good hands at the company, not with these menwho don’t know what they’re doing.”

I grit my teeth. If only he knew. Leah’s eyesgleam, and I know she’s enjoying this just a little too much. I don’t know ifit’s the wine, but her tongue seems sharper. Biting, teasing, a little wicked.

Dinner drags on, and I can’t stop glancing ather across the table. She’s dressed in a sleek black gown that stops just aboveherknees, showing off legs that have haunted me more than I’d care to admit.Her chestnut-colored hair is straightened and loose, falling over one shoulderlike a shiny shadow. I’ve never seen her look more beautiful, more untouchable.

Finally, Harvey excuses himself to take aphone call, and Lizzie stumbles off to bed after her fourth glass of wine. Themoment we’re alone, Leah stands abruptly, nodding toward the balcony.

“We need to talk.”

Without waiting for a response, she headsoutside, the cool night air sweeping in through the open door. I follow her,the tension in my chest tightening with every step. The sky is cloudy, and afaint breeze makes her hair dance around her face as she leans against therailing, arms crossed.

“How the hell is Harvey your father?” I blurtout once we’re out of earshot.

Leah whirls around, eyes flashing. “How thehell is Harvey your best friend, and you never said anything?” Her voice is lowbut furious. She’s pacing now, her shoes clicking on the tiled floor of thebalcony.

I raise my hands defensively. “I didn’tfucking know! I swear to God, I had no idea you were—”

“Oh, please,” she snaps, cutting me off. “Youdidn’t know? You’re telling me you’ve been best friends with my father for howlong, and he never mentioned it? He never mentioned me?”

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