Page 101 of Wild Love
I sit woodenly against the edge of my desk facing them, cross my arms, and clear my throat.
When Derek Scott finally turns, he shoots me a predictably dopey smile. “Morning?—”
I match it and cut him off with, “Derek, your work here is done. You can leave.”
“What?” In his defense, he sounds genuinely shocked.
“You have five minutes to pack up your things and get out of my office.”
“Dude. Man. I was just taking a quick coffee break. I’m getting back to it right away.”
I pin him with my coolest glare. I’m well aware I’m beinga dick, but right now I don’t care. I’ll paint the place myself so long as it stops him from ogling her. “Derek. Dude. Man. You’re fired. Get out.”
Behind him, Rosie leans back and crosses her arms. It does nothing but accentuate the swells of her breasts. Even the way her tongue pokes at the inside of her cheek in annoyance distracts me.
The guy mumbles something about being almost done, but I don’t drop Rosie’s stare from across the room when I address him. “That’s fine. I’ll pay you for the entire thing. Just leave.”
He scoffs and keeps mumbling to himself as he packs up his paint and ladder and whatever else he left lying around. Rosie and I face off like we’re having a staring competition while he does. She looks like she’s going to kill me, and I hope she tries.
I hope she gets right up in my face and gives me a piece of her mind.
“Later, Rosie,” he says as he takes one last long look at her before stepping through the wide-open doors.
“See you around, Scotty.” She doesn’t drop my gaze when she says it, and I see him cast a curious glance my way.
Then he leaves. Fucking finally.
And we face off.
“Welcome back,” is how Rosie breaks the silence. She stands and smooths her hands down over the front of her pencil skirt. In the next moment, she’s moving across the office, heading straight for the doors. With a tug, she slides one side closed. “You’re in fine form this morning,” sheadds before closing the other as well. “Real charming, boss. Charging in here like a feral dog, pissing all over the place.”
“Why are you closing the doors?”
She strides toward me, looking tall and powerful and royally pissed off. “So that I can tell you what a raging dick head you are without risking anyone overhearing me.”
My head quirks. “Oh, okay. Are we keeping things work-related now? Or is there a chance this rant you’re about to go on is personal?”
She steps closer, the pointed toe of her shoe almost butting against my leather boot. “Don’t pull that shit with me, Ford. You forget how well I know you. You fired a capable painter because you’re acting like a jealous little boy. You can’t behave that way in a town this size. It’s a bad look. Just get this tantrum out of the way so we can get back to work.”
I say nothing, so she sighs, hands on her hips, chin dropped like she’s as tired as I am. “I thought we turned over a new leaf.” Her eyes flit, only for a moment, to the chain around my neck before she licks her lips and adds, “I’m busy. And so are you.”
I stand and glare down my nose at her with a dark chuckle. All she does is tip her head up. Doesn’t give me an inch.
“You might have turned over a new leaf in a matter of days, but I’ve been watching this one grow for years. I don’t think I’ll be turning it over at all.”
She rolls her eyes. “Ford?—”
My hands dart out, land on her waist, and tug her against me. “Don’tFordme, Rosalie.”
“Oh, we’re back to Rosalie. That’s at least a step in the right direction. Maybe that means you’re over wanting to fuck me and we can?—”
I press a finger to her mouth, startling her into silence.
And then I speak very, very clearly.
“I’m never going to get over wanting to fuck you. And something tells me you won’t care what I call you when I do.”
Her eyes widen like she’s about to say something, and I press my finger down harder. Watching the flesh of her lips give way beneath it.
