Page 3 of Arrogant Boss

I clench my jaw as I tap my sneaker-clad foot on the concrete.

“Don’t call her my stepmother. I’m only a few years younger than her.” I sigh. “She means well, so don’t be so hard on her.”

I may not like Nicole, but she’s still family, and I will have her back and protect her. He wakes up every cell in me. I hate how my body responds to him, as if it’s acutely aware of his presence. It’s been this way since I was eighteen years old, which is why I ignore him. My heart beats wildly, freely. It always does when I’m around him.

I stand up, tuck the chair under the metal table, snatch my sketch book, and hug it to my chest as if I am keeping a secret.

“Don’t ever impose on me again.”

My gaze drops to his big hands. The undertone of his skin is olive, and he’s naturally tan. He’s so lucky, I have to sit in the sun for hours before I become close to his complexion.

His pupils dilate as if he’s undressing me with his eyes.

“It’s okay for you to accept a compliment from me, Lake. There is nothing to be embarrassed about.” His tone is as cool as an autumn night.

How does he know I’m embarrassed about his compliment? My mother told me I didn’t know how to accept them, because it makes me feel as if I’m in a spotlight.

I shake my head. “Do you have anything else to do other than to bother me?”

His eyes widen to the size of saucers as his azure irises trail over to my breasts for a few seconds before his pupils meet mine.

He flashes me his straight white teeth. “I thought you would be honored to be in my presence.”

My pulse accelerates, and butterflies flip in my lower belly as I cock an eyebrow. “Why?”

“Have you seen me?”

Yes, Atlas, I have. You’re gorgeous. You’re the most beautiful man I ever laid eyes on.

Arrogant much? My hormones rage. I need to get away from him.

“Yeah, you’re not even cute,” I lie.

He crinkles his nose, then bursts out laughing as if my words were the funniest things he’s ever heard. “You’recutewhen you lie.”

I don’t respond as I stride to the glass double doors.

“Lake?”

I hate the way my name sounds on his lips. How can he make it sound so sexy?

I twist on the balls of my feet, keeping my eyes glued to the concrete.

“What?” I snap.

“You’re too gorgeous to be frowning all the time.”

Another thing I’m going to add to the list of what I don’t like about him is how he makes a sentence sound so sexy without trying to be. My God, he’s the biggest flirt I have ever seen. Why is he complimenting me on my beauty? I’m not even pretty.

A shiver snakes up my spine, and I’m sure my cheeks are the color of a stop sign.

Without a word, I inhale deeply, slide the glass door open, and exhale once the cool air from the inside greets my burning skin.

A Week later …

Poppy flips through a fashion magazine. “You want to barhop tonight?”

I can use some time out in the city, but I need to check in on my mother because I haven’t seen her in two weeks. I’ve been busy unpacking my stuff, painting my walls, trying my best to make my apartment homey.

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