Page 22 of Take Me Home, Cowboy

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When her bossstormed into her office, Ally ground her teeth.

“What’s going on in here?” Daniel hadn’t ever been so rude or bossy in all the years she’d known him, but right at the moment she could strangle the man.

“Daniel, I’m actually having a private conversation. If you wouldn’t mind leaving us alone?”

“Oh, I heard your private conversation, which wasn’t too private since your door was open, and I’d like to know what this joker means by you admitting to having feelings for him.”

“Daniel, how dare you!” She crumpled her face in horror at the cockiness her boss was throwing around.

“Who the hell do you think you are?” Matt didn’t look too thrilled either, his face having turned a deep red. He hadn’t thrown any punches…yet.

“Matt, this is my boss, Daniel.” She glared at the man. “And I can’t believe what a jerk he is being.”

“I don’t have to explain who I am. This is a place of business, not social hour,” he snapped. “And not that it’s any of your business, but I’ve asked her to go to dinner with me, so she can’t have any feelings for you. We just haven’t scheduled anything yet, have we, Ally?”

Ooh, the nerve. “No, we haven’t. And I wouldn’t hold your breath because as I’ve told you, more times than I can count, I amnotgoing anywhere with you. That’s final. Now, if you don’t mind, you need to leave my office before I can’t control this cowboy and he throws you out.”

“You can’t be serious!” he sputtered.

Utter disbelief washed through her. Was Daniel being stupid on purpose?

“All right, mister,” Matt growled. “I’ve had about enough of you. You’re botherin’ the lady…out ya go.” He turned Daniel around toward the hall, pushed him through the opening, and slammed the door shut.

“I’m guessing you just got me fired.”

“Fine, you’re better off anyway. Can we get outta here, please? I’d like to have aprivateconversation with you, and Iseriously doubtit will happen here.”

Ally stared at him, trying to get her bearings.Did all of that really happen? He probably did get me fired. Shit.She couldn’t avoid him anymore, so might as well get it over with.

“Okay, okay. I suppose we could go to my apartment. I have a headache, and I’m hungry, and I don’t know where else to go for privacy.” She eyed him. “Promise you’ll behave?”

“Oh, yes ma’am. I’ll be on my best behavior.”

Matt held the door while she collected her things and left her office, hustling past her stunned and speechless secretary.

I’ll call you, she mouthed to her friend.

She glanced around, but Daniel was nowhere in sight. Probably knew what was good for him.

By the time they got outside, night had fallen. Where had the day gone? She followed him to his pickup, and when he opened the door, she climbed in.

Chapter Eleven

Ten minutes later, Matt drove through the streets of New York, the silence in the cab of his truck driving him insane. Weren’t women natural born talkers? He couldn’t tell it by the one sitting next to him. She’d never shut up back on the ranch. He couldn’t take anymore and found an abandoned lot to whip into and park.

“What are we doing here?” She suddenlylookedas uncomfortable as hefelt.

“Say something, even if it’s to yell at me and tell me you hate my guts and never wanna see me again.”

Her pause gave him more concern. Had she lost all her fight? She hadn’t been that way on the ranch either. He’d complained more than once to Jesse about her being a spitfire, always ready to fight back, but she seemed the complete opposite of the woman he remembered.

Disappointment loomed over him when he shook his head. “I never should have come to find you, should have left well enough—”

“Would you shut up long enough for me to form a thought? I can’t think straight with all the jabbering you’re doing.”

Relief gave way to a smirk. “I knew you were in there somewhere, princess.”

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