Page 28 of Forbidden Grumpy Boss

“I didn’t, and he does mention you, but whenhe does, he either saysmy darlingormy daughter,” I explain. “You told meback in Rome that you were estranged from your dad. You never said his name,and I wasn’t exactly going around introducing my friends by their full names!”

She glares at me, her chest rising and fallingas she struggles to get her breathing under control. “You should’ve known. Mylast name is literallyGrayson.”

“And what about you?” I shoot back, steppingcloser. “You didn’t recognize my name? You didn’t think to mention that the guyyou hooked up with in Rome just so happened to be your father’s best friend?”

She opens her mouth, then shuts it again, likeshe’s searching for a retort but can’t find one. Instead, she hisses, “Did yousleep with me in Rome because you knew? Was it some kind of sick fantasy,Silas?”

I laugh, but it’s bitter. “You walked into myhotel room, Leah. I didn’t exactly plan for that to happen.”

Her eyes narrow. “You’re deflecting.”

“I’m not—” I pause, realizing we’re both onthe verge of yelling. I take a deep breath, trying to keep my voice steady.“Look, I didn’t know. And yeah, it’s fucked up, but what do you want me to say?I didn’t plan any of this.”

She’s staring at me like she wants to punch meor maybe kiss me. Maybe both. The tension between us is electric, like italways has been. But now, it feels more dangerous than ever. She looks gorgeoustonight. Her dress clinging to her curves, her skin glowing in the moonlight.

She’sangry, but it only makes her more beautiful. Her breasts are heaving in herlow-cut dress, but I keep my eyes on her face.

“I should be the one pissed off,” I mutter.“You seduced me.”

Her laugh is sharp, cutting through the nightair. “You wish.”

We’re inches apart now, and I can feel theheat radiating off her. There’s a flicker of something in her eyes. Somethingdark and hot. And for a second, I forget where we are. I forget that Harvey isinside, that this is his daughter, and that this is all kinds of wrong.

She steps closer, her breath warm against myneck. “I’m saying yes, by the way.”

I blink. “To what?”

“To the fake engagement.”

“What?” I pull back slightly, searching herface. “Why?”

She shrugs like it’s no big deal. “Because Iwant to help Caleb. You saved my life in Rome, and I feel like I owe you. Thisis my chance to even the score, so I’m taking it.”

Her lips are cherry red and full. Why can’t Istop staring at them? The wine. It must be the wine.

I open my mouth to argue, to tell her it’s aterrible idea, that I wasn’t thinking straight when I suggested it. But insteadof doing any of these things, I do the most illogical thing I can do. I pullher close.

And then, she kisses me.

It’s sudden and fierce, her lips crashingagainst mine, and all the air leaves my lungs. Her hands are on me, pulling mecloser, and I can’t stop myself from kissing her back. God, I’ve missedthis—missed her.

My hands find her waist, then slip lower,grabbing her ass through her dress. It’s fleshy and soft in my large hands. Shemoans softly against my mouth, her fingers trailing down my chest, lower, untilshe finds me hard and ready through my pants.

“Leah,” I mutter against her lips, trying tostop this before it goes too far. But then her hand presses against my cock,and I lose all coherent thought. She strokes my length through my pants, and Ifeel myself swell in her fingers. My grip tightens against her ass as I pullher closer against me.

Just as I’m about to lift her onto the balconyrailing, I hear a voice.

“Everything okay out here?”

Harvey’s voice snaps me back to reality, and Ipull away from Leah so fast it’s like I’ve been burned. She steps back, too,her lips swollen, her hair a mess, but thankfully, Harvey doesn’t seem tonotice.

He’s too drunk. Thank God.

“Yeah,” Leah says, her voice a littlebreathless. “Just getting some air.”

Harvey chuckles, completely oblivious. “Don’tbe too stiff, Leah. Silas is a good guy, even if you hate me.”

She shoots me a look. A look that tells methis isn’t over. “Thanks for dinner, Dad. See you next year.”

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