Page 3 of Kissing my Grumpy Troll Boss
Then I realize how close we are. I straighten, brushing down my hair only to get nipped. “Sorry,” I mumble.
“Quite alright.” He glances up. Above us a bunch of green leaves sprinkled with red berries hangs on an overarching beam.
I grimace. “Sorry,” I say again.
The chant starts up around us. “Kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss.”
It makes no difference that Mr. Kvalt is the boss. This is the one night a year when things like that don’t matter. Even I understand that social convention.
“Kiss, kiss, kiss.”
I should say something. They’re not stopping.
Mr. Kvalt will say something. Instead, he steps a little closer and lowers his voice. “Is it OK, Kat?”
I gulp like a fish out of water. He knows my name. He’s asking if it’s OK to… to what? To kiss me?
I should speak, but all I can do is grin like a fool, my mouth stretching into a nervous smile I can’t hold back.
Mr. Kvalt must take that as a yes, because the next thing I know, he’s stooping down, bending his head and—
Oh no! I close my eyes, waiting for the moment my snakes strike and make a fool out of me and minced meat out of him.
Only they don’t. His warmth closes in around me and I’m surrounded by strong arms. A gentle knuckle at my chin lifts my face. The snakes are perfectly still as if each one is smirking to herself. I wonder what they’re planning.
Then firm, tender lips touch mine and I’m melting, falling into a tangled mess at his feet, while I’m still standing. The room swoops around me like an angry dragon, but the kiss is sweet and soft and fleeting. His lips brush mine and then it’s over.
I hold my breath, not daring to move at all.
The lights and the music and all the faces of the people staring at us crowd around me all at once.
Mr. Kvalt releases me.
I stumble back.
With a growl, he turns and stalks away and I’m left burning with embarrassment. I’ve disappointed him. Done something wrong. Offended him. I wish I’d had a chance to tell him I’ve never been kissed before. That I don’t know what to do.
I can’t leave things like this!
THREE
Algonite
I quickly take my hands off the trembling body of my employee and take a hasty step back. She looks shaken, like I’ve just assaulted her.
Which I have. God damn it!
Come to think of it, she didn’t even say yes. I assumed she’d say yes—wanted her to say yes. Was desperate for her to say yes.
Perhaps because I’ve been thinking about the sad smiles she always gives me whenever we talk and how I’d like to see her pretty face lit up with a genuine one.
I thought this was my chance. Now Kat is leaving to work for another firm, I thought maybe…
Rubbing my large palm over my short-cropped hair, I smother a groan. Then I beat a hasty retreat from the party, making excuses to everyone who wants to talk to me and hanging my head in the face of the final few catcalls after our mistletoe kiss.
God I’m an idiot. This is a lawsuit in the making and what’s worse is I can’t wipe the horrified look on her face from my mind.
Trust me to let my core burn hot and get carried away.
