Page 32 of Craving Her Christmas Boss

‘In another universe.’ She nodded. ‘He crashed the car.’

‘You were hurt?’

‘A cut on the head. Nothing serious.’

There was a low grunt that might have been a snort.

‘His family swung into action. They hired a brilliant lawyer who got him off, smothered the scandal—including the fact that when they inspected his work discrepancies were found. And he’d got into my bank account and cleared out my pathetic savings.’ She’d been taken for such a ride—literally. ‘They repaid his debt, repaid me. But they didn’t want me around. I lost my job and was shut out.’

‘This was where you worked?’

‘Oh, didn’t I say?’ She glared at him. ‘He was my boss.’

He met her gaze coolly, waiting silently, until she could stand it no longer and the rest spewed out.

‘I’ve never gambled, never done drugs, and yet somehow it wasmewho had led him astray because I was a cheap chick from the burbs. The posh boy had had the expensive education wasn’t to blame atall.’ Despite all his flaws,shehadn’t been good enough. She had been a bit of fluff—fun for a while, but never anyone someone like him could be serious about. ‘He lied to me, he stole from me, and then he said he’d never really cared for me. I’d meant nothing to him. I was fun to fall around with, and an easy supply of petty cash.’

‘I’m sorry he did that to you.’ Ryan stood with his legs wide, his arms firm across his chest. ‘But I really don’t see what it has to do with me.’

‘Oh, come on.’ She threw him a withering look. ‘Yourfamily background makes George look like he grew up on the streets.’

‘What?’

Imogen tensed at the arctic tone in his voice had taken.

‘Are you suggesting that because I have more money, and supposedly more prestige and more privileged than him, I’m going to betray you even worse than he did?’

Imogen caught the anger in his eyes and trembled inside.

‘How can you think so little of me? Trust me so little?’ His step towards her was positively menacing. ‘What do you think I’ve been doing these last ten years? Yes, I had more opportunities than most. But I’m not going to apologise for that. I’d have a lot more to apologise for if I hadn’t taken them and worked as hard as I did. I earned my degree on merit. I earned my spot in the team on merit. If you’re not up to it on the ice you’re going to be found out pretty quick, believe me. And Iworkedmy way into this job, Imogen—I wasn’t given it as my birth right. I know my field and I’m good at it. I don’t need you thinking whatever small-minded rubbish it is you’re thinking.’

She was thinking the truth—wasn’t she? She wavered, thought about his business performance so far. Even she couldn’t deny he knew what he was doing. So, okay, maybe he did have more integrity than George in a business sense. But how could she know if he had a stronger personal code?

‘Why did you sleep with me?’ He pressed on with his attack. ‘Was I just some stud for the night?’

‘I was trying to play it your way.’ She had tried to have a one night stand—for the fun of it, the pure pleasure. But she had been worse than an ostrich. Not content with putting her head in the sand, she tried to put a whole body in ice. She’d refused to admit that her attraction to him was more than physical, that it couldn’t be quenched by one wild night. He’d made her feel so much more, made her want so much more… And she was terrified.

‘Which just goes to show you really have no clue about me. I wasn’t playing with you, Imogen. I wanted you. I still want you. It’s that simple.’

‘It isnotsimple.’ Six like that could never be simple—not for her. Because it wasn’t just sex.

‘It is.’

‘I don’t want to be used by you.’

‘Well, isn’t that exactly what you’re doing to me? I’m trying to get to know you, and you insist on treating me like a one-night stand.’

Because she couldn’t afford not to. Not only was he herboss, he was so much the incredibly eligible bachelor he’d never want to settle—and certainly not with someone from as far over on the wrong side of the tracks as she was. He was the kind of man who’d enjoy savouring the flavours of the gilt-edged smorgasbord for ever.

‘Leopards don’t change their spots, Ryan.’

‘And that’s the wholepoint, Imogen. I’m not a leopard.’

Did he have to look so intent? ‘Well, you’re hardly a pussycat.’

‘Maybe I am an eagle.’

She frowned, not getting his point.

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