Coldhearted Boss

by R.S. Grey

He doesn’t smile with interest like most guys would when he notices my unabashed perusal. Instead, he raises one dark brow as if to say, Almost done? and I realize I was wrong before. This one’s not the prince in the fairytale. He’s the dragon.

Hey, saw you cleaning. Your hot. Call me if you want to grab a beer. - Mike from #113 Mike from room 113 doesn’t know the proper usage of you’re, but I’d be okay with that if he hadn’t also left his room a complete wreck. Leftover pepperoni pizza under the pillows, Mike? Why? How?

I take a mental note of what’s in my duffle just in case I need to survive on the contents alone. I have the clothes Jeremy lent me, toiletries, and the granola bar McKenna stuffed in my bag on my way out the door. “In case you get hungry on the drive!” she said. I’m more grateful than ever that I forgot about that granola bar until just now. It will likely be my only sustenance for the next week as I play out a real-life version of Naked and Afraid—except I’ll be fully clothed, so I guess just Afraid.

I don’t like the jealousy creeping through me like an invasive vine. “How many guys on this crew are ‘friends’ of yours?” My meaning is clear, and finally, I’ve got her full attention. Her eyes cut to me and there’s so much resentment and fury there, I know she’s right on the cusp of losing her temper. Her cheeks are flooded with color. Her lips are parted. I can feel her anger. She takes a step toward me, about to say something, but then she reaches for my laundry, which is stacked neatly on the dryer, and with one clean sweep, tosses it all onto the floor. “Your laundry is done.” Then she does an about-face and marches right out the door. So you could say things are mellowing out nicely between us.

“Well, there are a million colleges in Austin, so just apply to one of them.” I frown, unnerved by how easy he makes it sound. “Why in the world would I do that?” “Because that’s where we’ll be living after this project wraps up.” I laugh then, shoving away from the dresser. “Oh my god, listen to yourself. You’re such a control freak!” “Oh, sorry. Here, let me try again: I think you and I should live in Austin, together. Was that better?” “Not at all.” He catches me as I try to walk around him and squashes me against him. I have no hope of escaping. “Okay, so we’ll talk about Austin later. Like next week.” “Next month.” “Tomorrow.”

embarrass myself big time. Ethan is only a few yards away, then a few feet, and then I’m there, cutting the line to get to him. There’re moans of protest behind me. Hungry men want their lunch and I’m standing in the way of that, but I’m not here for a plate of spaghetti, though that garlic bread does smell damn good, so perhaps I will reward myself with some afterward. At the moment, I’m here for something else. Without another thought, I press up onto my toes, grab Ethan by the front of his shirt, and lay one on him like I’m a soldier returning from war. Our lips collide and stars erupt. Somewhere in the distance, fireworks explode, I’m sure. Whoops and shouts go up around us and I should probably break it off now that I’ve made my point, but I’m not quite done. I press myself against him until our chests meet and then I kick one foot into the air, having accomplished exactly what I intended to do. When I pull back, Ethan’s grinning down at me, and sure, my cheeks are the color of ripe tomatoes, but my voice doesn’t waver as I turn to the man standing behind us in line and find his eyes wide with shock. “Did you hear? I’m dating the boss. Spread the word.” Ethan laughs then, wrapping a hand around my waist and tugging me against him. “You know there was probably a more tactful way of informing everyone about our relationship.” “How? By sending out a company-wide memo? You have to admit, this had much more panache.” He shakes his head, amused. “I thought you wanted to kee...

“Do you have enough saved to cover tuition?” he asks lightly. “Or are you going to try for financial aid?” I answer him carefully. “It actually isn’t as ridiculously expensive as I thought it would be since it’s just community college, and they have a payment program, so tuition isn’t due all at once.” “But you’ll tell me if you need anything?” I shoot him a glare. “Ethan, I’ll be fine.” He holds up his hands in innocence. “All right, but I’m your boyfriend, Taylor. It’s not a crime for me to care about you or want to provide for you. I respect what you’re doing and I’ll honor your boundaries, but if you ever feel like you’re in a place like you were that night at the bar, I want you to come to me. Don’t let that stubborn streak of yours stand in your way. Why are you smiling like that? You should still be scowling.” “You said you’re my boyfriend.” “I also said a lot of stuff after that—important stuff.” “I wasn’t listening.”

“Ethan?” “Yeah?” “Did I ever tell you how crazy it is that we ended up together? Me and you, the most coldhearted boss I’ve ever had. You, the man who drives me crazy. You, the person I think I’m starting to fall for.” “Starting to?” “I don’t want to scare you.” “Scare me,” he commands. “I think I’ve developed deep feelings for you,” I say, chickening out. “This from the woman who marched across the mess hall and mauled me today,” he drawls with all the arrogance of a lion. “I didn’t maul you!”

“Just say it and put me out of my misery. I know how much you hated me, now tell me how much you love me.” “Okay. I really, really lo…ok forward to continuing to work on your crew. It’s been a great experience.” “Try again.” “I really lo…se myself in your eyes. They’re really pretty. Like chocolate, or poop.” He laughs and tosses me down onto the bed then crawls up over me. He gives my hip a little love bite and I squeal. “I’ve never heard such overtures of love before. I’m going to swoon.”