Page 2 of Unbuttoning Her Brooding Boss

‘Hedoesn’t,’ Stephanie muttered under her breath, and clicked her phone to check the time on the screen. And to make sure there were no messages from Dan.

There weren’t.

She didn’t know whether that fact ought to make her worry more.

But Tara had been right—now wasn’t the time. Dan would have to wait a couple of hours. It was forhisbenefit that she was here. She’d head to the reception desk and get them to let Jack Wolfe know she’d arrived, and hopefully Tara would be back before he made it downstairs.

As she walked towards the beautifully clad reception staff she couldn’t help noticing a lone man standing with his back to her at the far corner of the lounge area. Sleek leather briefcase in one hand, he was talking into his phone. His stance emanated strength... his attire denoted power. And his American accent carried across the clear space.

‘I don’t care if he’s busy. I’ve waited long enough,’ he snapped. ‘Arrange it. Now.’

Turning, he stabbed his phone screen and then shoved it in his pocket.

Stephanie lifted her brows at the brusque arrogance of his demand. He was definitely used to giving orders, but he didn’t do it nicely. Curious to see his face, she kept an eye on him as he turned towards the rest of the room. Darkhaired, tanned, ocean-blue eyes. He’d be attractive if all that anger wasn’t radiating from his rigid posture.

He was looking down, but even so she could see the stark expression building in his eyes. Her footsteps faltered as she registered that he was feeling more than angry. He looked hurt. For a moment he looked utterly exposed, and the depth of his unhappiness stole her breath. A flood of sympathy rose unbidden, puckering her heart. For such a man to look so defeated, no matter how momentarily, it had to be something bad. And she understood bad. She knew heartache intimately.

He stiffened suddenly and looked up, across the short distance, right ather.Totally catching her gawping.

Instantly his expression changed. Closed.Hardened.

His blue eyes narrowed, focusing. And then to her astonishment he looked her over—slowly, blatantly—appraising every inch of her. All the way from her kitten-heeled feet to her perfectly curled hair.

Stephanie stood frozen, shocked, and just blinked back at him as he dared sum her up in one stare. His lips pressed into a thin line and his demeanour implied a total thumbs-down. He couldn’t have looked less impressed—or more hostile.

Okay, so she wasn’tTop Modelstriking, orCosmocover potential, but she wasn’t bad. And with Tara having worked her magic she was more than passable. And even if she wasn’t, his visual disapproval and dismissal was just plain rude.

Was he angry because he was embarrassed that she’d heard him? Or that she’d seen him looking upset for a second? She hadn’t intended to eavesdrop—he’d been the one who hadn’t had the courtesy even to try and refrain from letting the rest of the world hear his conversation.

Now she couldn’t be sure she’d seen such bleakness in his eyes. And had shereally,just for a moment, felt for him?

Well, she wasn’t going to let him know he’d pierced her pride. Summoning every ounce of Steffi Leigh, she sent him her most sparkling smile—albeit insincere. Without waiting to see his reaction she turned her back on him and his wordless judgement and walked over to the receptionist.

‘Could you please let Jack Wolfe know that Steffi Leigh is here to see him?’

‘I’m Jack Wolfe.’ A deep voice interrupted just behind her.

Stephanie’s heart sank. But her already tense muscles braced even more. She’d known it—the accent had warned her. She just hadn’t wanted to be right.

She smiled her thanks to the receptionist, but the woman wasn’t paying her any attention—-she was too busy making eyes at the man who’d spoken.

Yeah, he was like that—Vacuuming up the sexual attention of every woman in the vicinity.

Quelling the nerves churning her stomach, Stephanie turned to face him.

The Wolfe Guides were geared towards the independent traveller. Those infinitely cool types who managed to travel around fifteen countries for nine months with only a small backpack on their backs and yet looked hip and stylish every step of the way. But Jack Wolfe wasn’t in a quick-dry shirt. He wore a made-to-measure, made- to-perfection suit. And he definitely had to have chosen the shirt to complement his eyes and make their blue even more blindingly brilliant.

‘You look exactly as you do in your blog profile, Ms Leigh.’ He didn’t make it sound as if it was a good thing.

So he’d recognised her and hadstilllooked at her with such cold dismissal?Nice.

‘Please call me Steffi,’ she invited with crisp politeness, extending her hand. She’d start over. Pretend that intense moment had never happened. Ignore his rudeness.

‘Not Steffi Leigh?’ He took her hand in a firm grip.

‘Just Steffi is fine.’

A pulse of energy shot into her fingers and up her arm, making her glad of the gloves. Because even through the cotton she could feel the warmth and strength of him and she couldn’t tear her gaze from his. It had been too long since she’d looked such a handsome man in the eye. Okay, she’d never actuallyseensuch a handsome man in real life before.

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