Page 66 of The Grumpy Boss Agreement

It’s a lie and it sounds phony coming out of my mouth. My brother looks at me and narrows his eyes.

But then he shrugs and lets it go.

“Where is the lovely Savannah?” River asks.

“She went home early.” I turn around and grab a bottle of water, smiling ruefully. “I think I might have pissed her off.”

“Here is a God’s honest question. How in the hell do you get these great women entangled in your web? Do you exude some kind of big dick energy or something?”

I pull a face. “You’re ridiculous.”

River considers me. “No, seriously. First you had that girl in college. Kate? Kat?”

I cross my arms. “Kara.”

“Right, right. She was a volleyball-playing goddess, if I recall correctly. Then you snagged Holly. She was insane, but also unbelievably hot. She bought into your whole caveman thing so much that she had your baby.”

“Very funny.”

“No, really. Now you’ve got this sexy little blonde ingenue working for you. And it’s obvious she wants to get in your pants. You snap and snarl, but Savannah still seems enchanted.” He spreads his hands. “Please explain.”

I drop down into my desk chair. “Did you come here just to rag on me?”

“It’s just a question.”

I pick up a pen from my desk and start to drum it against the surface. “I have work to do, River.”

He looks at me for several beats before relenting. “Fine. Keep it all bottled up inside. I actually came to bring you the forms that the South Shore planning committee sent to my office by accident.”

I push out an angry breath. I do snap and snarl at Savannah. Because I don’t want her to like me as much as I like her.

But then I hurt her. And I don’t want that either.

Maybe I should…. Not be a dick?

Sighing, I push my hand through my hair and try to figure out how to be better the next time I see Savannah.

17

Savannah

With a deep inhale, I knock on the door of the Bennetts’ mansion. I hold my breath as I wait. This place, this mansion really, is huge and absolutely gorgeous. White marble, inlaid dark wood accents, ceilings that are easily twenty feet tall. It’s my second time here and I am not even a bit less anxious than I was on my first visit.

Clutching a number of briefs and contracts to my chest, I exhale and start to knock again. But before my knuckles make contact with the dark wood of the door, it swings open.

Cole’s stepmother, Sarah, opens the door. She looks me over approvingly, which gives me a jolt of surprise.

“Savannah! It’s so nice to see you again. Come in.”

She steps back and ushers me through the entry hall, and into the lush living room. She runs her hands over her hair and long gray jacket.

“Sorry that I’m such a mess. I was out at the stables. We just brought a new mare into our stables recently and I’ve been getting acquainted with her.”

“Stables?” I ask.

“Oh yes. They’re just a few minutes’ walk away from the house. Sam had them built for me as a wedding present.”

“Wow, I had no idea that there were stables so close.” That explains her beige leggings and knee-high, dark leather boots. “I have to admit that I don’t know the first thing about horses.”

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