Page 4 of Craving Her Christmas Boss

She walked down the corridor, conscious that he was only half a pace behind her. She stopped as she came to a suite of meeting rooms. He stopped right beside her.

For a moment they stood, both reading the sign on the first door.

‘We’re heading to the same meeting,’ he said flatly.

Was the dismay that she was feeling reflected in his face?

He blinked, and in that minuscule moment his whole demeanour changed. He withdrew, and his eyes—those windows to anything personal, to that wild heat—veiled as he became completely professional.

He opened the door. ‘After you.’ And he ushered her in.

She didn’t answer verbally—couldn’t as she hobbled as far to the back of the room as she could focus stop oh, no. He had an American accent. He couldn’t possibly be...

‘Sorry I’m a little late everyone. I’ve been sightseeing.’

She turned and looked to where he’d walked in and instantly taken command. Sightseeing? Right.

‘And it took me a bit longer to get changed than I thought it would.’

A smile flashed—charming, but remote rather than hot. Of course it had taken him longer. One of his new employees had tried to burst into his room when he was taking a shower.

‘My name’s Ryan Taylor. Please call me Ryan.’

Imogen closed her eyes as he confirmed the worst. Not for the first time in her life she wished the ground would open up and swallow her whole. Opening them, she saw the impossible hadn’t happened, and she was stuck in what could only be one of the most embarrassing situations of her existence.

She wished she’d done even a smidge of homework—that she would have known, could have been prepared. But as she spent every moment outside of work these days studying for the two accountancy papers that company was sponsoring her for, she’d hardly had time to breathe—determined to get as high a grade as she could to prove to them end to herself that she was worth it.

All that she had known about Ryan Taylor was that he was going to oversee the change in management and steer McKenzie Forrest into the supposedly bright new future.

And now she knew how magnificent he looked all but naked.

TWO

Imogen kepther weighton one leg as the other suddenly pounded with pain. Silly how just a stupid scrape could hurt so much. She hoped the bandage she’d fashioned would hold. Hoped this would be a sit down meeting. Hoped she wouldn’t have to say anything—because she was still puffing, adrenalin still zinging around her body courtesy of her haste, her accident and her encounter with—Oh, hell—she’d practically had her tongue hanging out as she’d ogled him all over, like some sex-starved spinster. Okay, so shewasa sex starved spinster. That didn’t mean she wanted her new boss to know all about it!

She caught him looking at her intently, a frown causing the faintest of lines on his brow. She looked away, wishing to be swallowed whole once more, and heard him address the room again.

‘Please take a seat everyone. This is an informal get together. A chance to meet and talk through any issues or questions you may have before I start in my official capacity tomorrow. I’ll talk for a bit, and then you can ask some questions, and then we’ll have coffee—okay?’

Great.

She moved to a seat near the back. Tried to avoid Shona’s concerned look, but clearly failed, as her line manager came and took the seat next to hers. Imogen was never late. She was never flustered. And yet here she was—late and flusteredandwearing a whole new outfit.

‘What happened? You left ages ago,’ the older woman said in an undertone as everyone found seats.

Imogen had indeed left in plenty of time, intending to call in at a shop on the way to get a quick sandwich. The humiliating accident on Victoria Street had ended that idea. ‘I fell.’

‘You okay? You were all red a minute ago, and now you’re all pale.’

Imogen nodded. ‘Just feel like a dork.’

‘Hence the new outfit?’ Shona was smiling.

‘Complete with grazes.’ Imogen held up her palm, just thrilled that someone found it amusing—and Shona only knew half the story.

Her mentor chuckled now. ‘The colour suits you.’

Imogen searched out Ryan as Shona echoed his words. Surely he couldn’t have heard the comment? But when his gaze intercepted hers the sardonic tinge in his eyes suggested he had.

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