Page 23 of Grumpy Boss in Love

“Another one,” she insisted.

I gave her a stern stare. “No.”

“Come on, that can’t be all you’ve got.”

“I’m afraid it is. I’m not as creative with the amusing monikers as you are.”

She stuck out her lower lip and begged, “Pretty please, Elliot.”

The way my name sounded in that husky voice did something to me. I stared at her mouth. The two of us alone in the back of this limo was starting to seem like a bad idea. Clearing my throat, I pulled myself out of my head. “Fine. Drunkzilla.”

She giggled. “Give me more.”

I sighed.Oh, God.I felt ridiculous, but seeing someone enjoy themselves inmycompany was refreshing. “Uh… The… Tipsy Titan…”

That sent her into peels of laughter and there was no holding back my smile this time. I lifted my glass to drink, but it was really to hide my amusement and to watch her.

Sobering, Ruby said, “You’re better at this than you thought. I might have to challenge you to a silly nickname competition one of these days.”

“I’m sure I’ll be no match for you, Ruby.”

She smiled broadly. “I’m glad you know it, Doctor Sulkenstein.”

“Another one. Thanks,” I said dryly.

After another bout of giggles, Ruby sighed. “Thank you, Elliot. You have no idea how much I needed that laugh.”

I gave her a fleeting glance because each time I looked at her, I found myself wondering what her pouty lips tasted like. “What made you desperate enough to revel in my lame attempt at humor, Miss Sunshine?” That moniker wasn’t me trying to be funny. She really was a beam of light.

As I snuck another peek at her, I recalled the first day I’d laid eyes on her. She had walked—no, sashayed—into my classroom thirty minutes late wearing neon purple pants, a crop top, and sunglasses. The way everyone in the class waved and smiled at her, I really thought she was a celebrity. But then I learned that she was just popular on campus because she was warm, funny, and charming as hell.

She smiled sadly as she stared into her glass. “Remember after my last class with you when you mentioned my shortcomings?”

I frowned. She was still holding on to that? Honestly, I’d just been irritated about her giving me her usual sass when I said that.

“You said you felt sorry for me out here in the real world.”

“Ruby…”

“You were on to something.” Her lower lip quivered and her eyes filled with tears. I gawked at her as if she were an explosive device.Shit. I didn’t know how to handle tears. My gaze jumped around the limo as if to search for an escape.

She dashed away her tears and made a growling sound that echoed with annoyance. “I can’t believe I’m crying in front ofyou. Now, I might have to kill you.”

Amusement caused my eyebrows to rise. “Seriously?”

“Either that or quit Westwood Collective and move to Antarctica where you’ll never see me again.”

I shook my head. “You’re the most dramatic person I’ve ever met.”

“I know, right? I get that a lot.” Her sheepish expression almost made me smile again because I was relieved to see that even in the midst of emotional distress she was still… the same incorrigible Ruby.

My breath hitched when she jumped over to my seat and reached across me to grab the bottle of bourbon. The action and proximity caused her breasts to brush against my arm and her alluring flora scent to assault my nostrils.

I swallowed hard, fighting that attraction that kept rising in her presence. I fought it for dear life.She’s an intern. I’m her boss. I mentally chanted, desperately trying to remind myself that I shouldn’t give in to her allure.

Did Ruby notice my struggle? Of course not. She refilled her glass and chatted away.

“It’s just that you and I have had a tumultuous relationship… If you want to call it that.” She gnawed at her lower lip. “Plus, you're my boss and here I am showing weakness in front of you.” Her heavy sigh floated between us. “Nevertheless, I’m going to vent to you before my head explodes. Is that okay with you?”

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