Page 5 of Bad Boss

On the way home, my girl glances at me and smiles. “Would you like to stop somewhere and grab dinner?”

I don’t care if it’s a pain in the ass to go out on one crutch and a broken arm; I jump at the chance to take her out.

We stop at Darla’s Diner. It’s only four-thirty, so the dinner rush hasn’t begun. “Would you like a booth or a table?” The gray-haired hostess raises an eyebrow.

“A table in the back,” I tell her. Duh. I picture trying to slide my mangled ass into a booth and wince.

After the hostess seats us and takes drink orders, I sit back in the red vinyl chair and tell her, “My mother would like us to come to dinner tomorrow night.”

Lynette swallows. “I’d love to go.”

CHAPTER5

LYNETTE

After showering,I stare at myself in the mirror and blow out my breath. I’m a nervous wreck. Meeting all of Eric’s family feels like a huge step. Every time I try to tell myself that I’m only his nurse, my heart rebels. Deep down, I know my heart already belongs to my big, surly boss.

I dress and head down the hall. Outside the living room, I hear Eric and Hudson talking.

“I can’t wait until you can shower and get ready without me,” Hudson grumbles. “I’ve seen enough of your naked ass to last me a lifetime.”

“You’re just jealous that I have you beat by several inches,” Eric growls back.

“You wish, asshole.”

I step into the room before their argument escalates. I’m unable to stop my eyes from heading straight to the front of Eric’s dress pants. My bad. Glancing up, I see both of them smirking at me. A blush moves up my neck and over my entire face as they catch me checking out the merchandise.

“Hey.” Hudson walks over and hugs me. “It’s good to see you again.” When Eric growls behind us, I realize the older Russo is purposely screwing with his brother. “Are you ready to go?”

“All ready,” I squeak.

Eric gives me directions as we drive to his parents’ house. We pull up in front of large iron gates, and I realize this family is rich. Like really rich. I suddenly worry I’m way out of my league with this guy, but Eric takes my hand and kisses it. “Don’t worry.” He reads my mind. “My whole family will love you.” All my doubts scatter.

“Am I your nurse or your girlfriend?” I know this is a crazy time to ask, but I need to hear him say the words. I don’t want to make a fool out of myself in front of his family.

“You’ve been mine since the first moment we met. My one and only,” he assures me before explaining how to open the gate. I’m a little shocked when he gives me a code. “This is your private code.” Eric rubs circles across my knuckles. Holy shitake. He’s giving me a code to his parents’ house. “I’m sure you’ll be coming here often, and I want you to be able to get in.” Eric shrugs as if it’s no big deal.

We pull up in front of the massive Victorian mansion, and my nerves overwhelm me. My hand shakes as I step out of the SUV.

Eric leans over and kisses the side of my neck before pulling the heavy door open. “We’re home,” he yells.

I’m overwhelmed as several hot guys, a beautiful woman, and the older Russos walk into the foyer. “I’m so happy you made it.”

Mrs. Russo hugs me, then introduces me to the rest of the family. I recognize Hudson and Mr. Russo. “This is my wife, Kat,” Hudson tells me, and I’m a little shocked that he’s married to the younger woman. She’s stunning but much younger than the former senator.

Then he points to the adorable little girl clinging to her mother’s leg and tells her, “Tatiana, this is Uncle Eric’s girlfriend. Call her Aunt Lynette.”

I feel all the eyes in the room on me and barely resist blushing. I kneel and hold my hand out to the child. “Hi.”

“Hewo,” she mumbles. “Do you want to see my mutant titty?” I blink several times, sure I hear her wrong.

“She wants to show you a picture of her Sphinx cat,” Hudson growls. “She can’t pronounce Mutant Kitty, so that’s what we get.” I hide my smile and glance down at the phone Kat is holding out to me. The hairless, ugly, pink and gray cat does resemble a mutant.

Another handsome, tall man steps over, and Mrs. Russo introduces Eric’s younger brother, Brendan. He is gorgeous. Actually, he’s model perfect, but I don’t feel any tingling in my girly parts when I look at him. My heart and body already belong to my hot boss.

Next, I meet Eric’s sister, Bianca. The youngest Russo sibling is a beautiful younger version of her mother. Her husband, Jake, is massive. Almost as big as Hudson. The handsome man shakes my hand and smiles before introducing me to his adorable eleven-year-old twins, Rory and Anthony. The tall boys will easily be as big as their uncles and dad. Wow. This family really did win the gene lottery.

I notice that Eric is starting to sweat, and I realize the exertion is getting to him. I’m about to ask if he needs to sit down when Mrs. Russo steps in. “Hudson and Brendan, help your brother get settled in the living room while the girls help me finish dinner?”

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