Page 55 of Teasing Her Grumpy Boss

‘I thought you were staying on.’

‘No.’ She straightened and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Her fingers brushed her clammy forehead. ‘I think it’s time to move.’

‘It’s a little shorter than your usual stint, isn’t it? Aren’t you usually a three-months kind of girl?’

‘I don’t think it’s working out.’

‘Not working out.’

She didn’t like the way he spoke, so quiet, measured. It didn’t give much indication of his thoughts.

‘Lucy.’

‘Mmm?’ She didn’t stop unloading her clothes from the drawer into the pack.

‘Look at me.’

Now that she really didn’t want to do, because it might just cause her to lose it completely. She wanted nothing more than to yell right in his face. She wanted to shake him—she was so angry. And so, so hurt.

She put a top in the bag.

He stepped into the room, grasped her upper arm.

‘Look at me.’ His voice was still soft; the pressure of his fingers wasn’t.

She reluctantly raised her eyes to his.

‘Tell me the truth.’

‘The truth is I don’t want to be here any more.’ And it was true. Not when she wasn’t wanted.

‘So that’s it? It’s all just down to what you want, when you want it?’

‘Sure.’

His stony façade began to crack. ‘What about the club?’

‘What about it? Isabel and Corey can manage it between them. You don’t need me.’ And he didn’t. Never had.

‘Have you no sense of responsibility?’ Volume rising. Anger audible. ‘You really are a hedonist, aren’t you? Only into something if it’s good for you. Not worrying at all about how that impacts on anyone else. What about Isabel and Corey? What about me?’ His nostrils flared as he snaked in a breath. ‘You don’t even care, do you? Do you?’ His fingers tightened.

She braced and let him throw the accusation, let the pain wash through. She’d sworn never to lie to him, but she refused to lay herself on the line when he’d betrayed her. He could think what he liked. She wasn’t going to answer. Couldn’t. How dared he be so two-faced? Expecting her to be there for him right up to the moment when he decided he didn’t need her any more. Planning to turf her out without even giving her the time to find alternative arrangements.

He took her silence as confirmation. ‘Fine. Get your bags. Go.’ He flung her arm away, as if touching her had burnt him. His words flew at her, louder and louder. ‘Get your bag!’ He went to the drawer and scooped up the remaining items, tossing them into the open pack with visibly shaking hands. ‘Don’t bother with your shift tonight. I can manage fine without you, I don’tneedyou!’ His face had reddened and his voice roughened. ‘You don’t want to be here, then go!’

She stared. Mr Cool, Calm and Collected had lost it. His chest rose and fell as if he’d been running endurance for hours. His fists were clenched at his sides. Anger and scorn bled from his pores. ‘Go.’ He jerked his head towards the door.

Equally high emotion raged through her. He wasn’t even going to try to stop her. Wasn’t even going to question why. Well, now she knew for sure. It was over. Well and truly. Without another word she gathered her bag in both arms and marched out. Not looking back.

* * *

Daniel stood rigid in the middle of her room, listened as the front door slammed, and swore. Loudly. Lots. He really wanted to pull something apart with his hands. He’d never felt so angry in his life. He strode out of the room and to the lounge, paced around and swore some more. Overly eloquent Daniel was for once unable to think of a thing to say other than a few four-letter words over and over. Absolute rage ripped through him. She had left him. Up and out without a hint of why, without a speck of fight. His vision clouded in swirls of red. Finally in frustration he pulled back his fist and punched the stainless steel door of the fridge.

He punched hard. The door was harder.

The stupidity of his action was nothing on the stupidity of letting that woman into his life.

The pain shooting up his arm was nothing on the pain crunching up his heart.

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