Page 61 of Grumpy Boss in Love

“Coming!” I called, dusting crumbs off my face.

I glanced down at myself as I scurried to the door. I was dressed in my most unglamorous attire. I was in a faded T-shirt and a pair of sweatpants that had seen better days. My hair was pulled back into a messy bun. But it was Megan. She’d seen me at my worst plenty of times.

When I peered through the peephole, I gasped. Instead of the perky redhead whom I expected, there stood a tall, handsome drink of water, wearing a broody mask.

“Oh, my gosh.” I spun around and leaned against the door. “What’s he doing here?”

“Ruby?” Elliot called when I didn’t open the door.

“Uh…” I looked around my apartment to make sure that everything was fairly decent. “Just a minute.” The apartment was fine. I, on the other hand, looked like a bum. Sighing my resignation at Elliot seeing me like this, I reluctantly opened the door. I’d already seen him through the peephole, but when I saw him face-to-face… Goodness.

My breath hitched and my heart did the electric slide, even though I should be mad at him. Iwas. We stared at each other and I really took him in. He still wore the gray three-piece suit I’d seen him in this morning, so I guess he hadn’t been home yet. He didn’t look like his typical scowling self. He lookeddejected.

I frowned as my gaze roved over his face. His usually intense eyes were dulled by sadness. His mouth, which typically formed a stern no-nonsense line, was downturn at the corners. Even his shoulders, which were always squared, giving him the air of confidence that bordered on arrogance, were slumped.

“Elliot…” I wanted to ask if it was alright but the words didn’t come out because I was still shocked and confused by his presence in my doorway.

“I’m sorry for showing up unannounced,” he said.

“It’s okay. How did you…?” My words trailed off.

I’d never invited Elliot directly to my door, but I remembered that Gabe had come up to my apartment when he picked me up last week. Of course, Elliot got my apartment number from him. I stepped aside after realizing that I was being weird… just standing there gaping at him.

“Do you want to come in?” I asked to be polite, even though I was nervous about havingPrince Westwoodin my mediocre abode.

He stepped inside, swiped the room, and turned back to me. “I was on my way home after…” Scrubbing a hand over his face, he sighed. “I needed to see you.”

I glanced into the hallway to see if Gabe was out there. I mean, one of the richest men in the world shouldn’t just be roaming an apartment building on this side of town, should he?

“Is Gabe coming in?”

Elliot's eyebrows furrowed. “Why would he?”

“Because he’s your driver and bodyguard…?”

“Do I need a bodyguard in your apartment?” For a moment, his dejected air was replaced with amusement.

Because I couldn’t help showing my annoyance, I harrumphed and crossed my arms over my chest. Hitting him with a seething glare, I said, “Maybe. After you hurt my feelings this morning, I should kick your ass, Westwood.”

Elliot blinked at me, his eyebrows shooting up. Then laughter gleamed in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by heat as the blue orbs slid over my body. “Surely, you’ll go easy on me, Ruby.” His voice dropped to that sultry sex-god octave that probably made women want to take their clothes off and offer themselves as a tribute to him… just like I did right now.

I gulped and tugged self-consciously at my worn-out shirt. However, his smoldering look soon made me feel breathless and desirable. I’d figured out that Elliot had this strange appreciation for my honesty and the way I challenge him sometimes. He’d said as much. It was because no one else ever dared to give him the sass that I did. It was like it turned him on…

Yes, it would seem so because he was looking at me as if wanted to devour me. And I wanted him to. My heart did somersaults as he took slow steps toward me. “I knew coming here was a good idea,” he murmured.

I eyed him cautiously, torn between telling him to get lost after insulting me with that stupid NDA and comforting him because I could tell he needed it. “What are you talking about?”

Elliot covered the distance between us, his body crowding mine. Despite lingering resentment from this morning, I didn’t step back because I wanted him close. My traitorous body was already begging to be touched by him.

He cupped my cheek, and the gesture was so gentle that I almost melted. “You have a way of making me feel better… normal…good.”

I gazed into eyes that weren’t guarded for once and saw raw vulnerability. My heart squeezed. My “fake” vows about wanting to protect him and take care of him echoed in my mind. I had the urge to make good on my promise. I reached up to smooth the lines between his eyebrows out of habit.

“You’re in a strange mood. Did something happen?”

His heavy sigh tickled my face and fluttered the tendrils of my hair, yet he completely evaded my question. “I’m sorry I hurt you,” he said, still cupping my face. His thumb moved over my cheek. “The new contract wasn’t about…” A muscle ticked in his jaw. “It was more about me and also wanting you to feel more secure about our deal after things changed between us.”

I swallowed hard and took a step back. His proximity wreaked havoc on my senses. It was hard to think straight. Things did change between us, and I was glad he at least acknowledged it. “I would have been fine without the updated paperwork. I trust you, Elliot.”

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