Page 2 of Boss Me Not

The car door opened, and I swung my feet out, tugging my black skirt back down over my thighs and taking the driver’s offered hand.

“Thank you.” I swallowed down the nerves that threatened to bubble up into my throat.

When Blanche hired me, I hadn’t been nervous—about accepting the hotel manager position or moving to Starlight Bay. She’d been super down-to-earth and laid back, not once bringing up the fact that I was likely underqualified for the job. I was only twenty-four, a year post college, and had only three months of restaurant management experience under my belt.

But instead, she’d repeated over and over how perfect I was for the position.

Now, though, the fact that I had zero experience running a hotel and would be stuck working for her grandson left me a ball of nerves. I had no place to live for two weeks because my rental couldn’t be ready early, and I still had to go home and pack up the rest of my stuff. Change didn’t bother me if it was planned and within my control. But chaos wasn’t my jam, and this had hot mess written all over it. It had me questioning why I thought moving somewhere new would be fun.

“Right this way, miss,” the driver said before turning and wheeling my two bags toward the front entrance.

My heels clicked on the cement as we approached the doors. I glanced up at the four-story mostly brick building. Like the first time I was here, it took my breath away. The Victorian-style structure had a full wraparound veranda that led to a huge gazebo on one side. It was gorgeous. The cupolas added to the beauty.

We stepped through the large red doors and were greeted by a young guy in a navy blue suit whose name tag readSteven.

“Can you show her to Wyatt’s office?” The driver passed my luggage off. “And have her luggage sent up to his room?”

Hisroom. What did he mean? “You mean my room?”

The tall man with salt-and-pepper hair shook his head. “No. The hotel is completely booked because of a large wedding, so Wyatt said you’ll be staying in his suite with him.”

Steven handed off my bags to a young woman.

“I—” The last thing I wanted to do was share any space with that asshole. But my new apartment wasn’t ready, and if there were no rooms vacant in the hotel, did I have another choice? Maybe the inn we’d passed on our way through town had a vacancy. Before I could object, Steven turned, heading toward the front desk.

“Follow me.”

My lips lifted into a smile as we passed a table with a beautiful flower arrangement centered on it. The lobby was bright and colorful, decorated with various art pieces, flowers, and throw pillows on most of the chairs and sofas. I focused on Steven and continued to follow him down the hallway that led back to the staff area.

I swallowed nervously again as he knocked on a slightly open door. The last time I’d stepped into this office, I had been excited about the possibilities.

“Come in,” a deep voice called in reply.

Steven pushed the door open, waving me in front of him. I took a deep breath and stepped inside.

“Angie Mitchell for you, sir.”

“Thank you, Steven.” Wyatt stood and slid his hands into the pockets of his black trousers. “You can close the door behind you.”

The door clicked shut, and I shifted on my heels, suddenly feeling intimidated. Wyatt was almost a foot taller than my five-foot-three frame and way better-looking than Google had led me to believe. And yes, I’d googled him. Well, not specifically him, but when Blanche invited me to come for an interview, I wantedto be prepared. Not my fault her grandson happened to pop up as well.

I’d found out from my search that his parents had both come from wealthy families, which made him wealthy as well. But it had been Blanche who’d told me she’d raised him after both his mom and dad died in a plane crash when he was five. Out of my peripheral, I eyed the same large portrait that had prompted that conversation. It was of Blanche, her husband, and a ten-year-old Wyatt.

I took in the man standing in front of me again before he cleared his throat, and my gaze snapped to his face. Heat flooded my cheeks. Dammit, I’d been caught staring at the bare skin where the top two buttons of his dress shirt were undone.

Great job, Angie. Checking out the boss on your first day. I held back a groan as a smirk lifted his lips. Not just any smirk, but one that dripped with sex appeal. And one that said he knew it too.

Chapter Two

WYATT

“Wasn’t sure you were coming.”Frankly, I still couldn’t fathom why my grandmother had hired her. Other than a minor in business, she had no qualifications. She had little experience in management and zero experience working in a hotel. But I was stuck. Because in good old Nana B fashion, she’d made sure I couldn’t get rid of this chick. Ninety days was what the stupid stipulation in the will said. I wasn’t allowed to fire her before then.

“I told you I was.” She crossed her arms, and her full breasts lifted into the scoop of her blue shirt.

I tore my gaze away and back to her face. It didn’t matter that she had the type of curves any man would fantasize about. She’d still be a thorn in my side for the next three months.

Feigning complete indifference, I shrugged. “You weren’t happy when I said I needed you here.”

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