Read Online A Little Surprise for the Boss (Mills & Boon Desire) by Elizabeth Lane - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Elizabeth Lane
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tomorrow, and she’d wanted to spend more time with Quinn—even more so now that Buck had said he’d be going on the trip with the sheikhs. With her father gone, the girl would be lonesome. “Isn’t there anybody else who can haul the gear down?” she asked. “Bob, maybe?”
“He’s not licensed to drive that big truck. If he has a problem, the insurance company won’t pay.”
“Fine.” Terri sighed and shrugged. “I’ve done it before. No reason I can’t do it again.”
“Thanks. And just one more thing, Terri.”
Her pulse quickened. Maybe this was the moment. Maybe he was going to ask her to stay—and not just for the job, but for him.
“I know you’ve given your two weeks’ notice,” he said. “But I’m hoping I can talk you into staying through the gala. It’s only another week or so—and it’ll be a mess without you. I’ll pay you a bonus, of course. Name your price.”
She should have known better. Feeling as if she’d just been slapped with a frozen fish, Terri rose from her chair. “I’ll let you know after you’re back from the river run. But you’ll have to make it worth my time.” She walked to the door, then turned. “If you don’t mind a suggestion, why don’t you go home and spend some quality time with your daughter before tomorrow?”
“Good idea, but I need to check the supplies for the trip and make sure everything’s on the truck. By then it’ll be time for the barbecue with the sheikhs. You’re welcome to come if you like.”
“Not on your life. They’re all yours.”
“See you tomorrow, then.” Rising, he moved to the outside door of his office and opened it. “Thanks again for agreeing to drive the truck. I appreciate your help.”
“It’s my job.” Her voice dripped icicles, but Buck didn’t seem to notice.
He left and closed the door. Terri double-checked to make sure both doors to his office were locked, then returned to her own office and switched on her computer. The sooner she got today’s work done, the sooner she could go home and rest up for an early start tomorrow. She wasn’t happy about driving the truck, and even less happy about the way he’d taken her for granted yet again. She should have walked out on the spot and left him with his movie-star mouth hanging open.
Buck didn’t care about her as a woman. He never had and he never would. She’d consider staying through the gala as he’d asked because she knew how much it meant to the business and she didn’t want to let anyone down, but once that was over, she’d leave this place—and that man—behind for good.
* * *
The heavy trailer truck rumbled over the narrow road, swaying dangerously every time a wheel sank into a pothole. Half-blinded by the sunrise above the red-rock mesas, Terri ground the gears and wrestled with the wheel. Years ago, at Buck’s suggestion, she’d learned the skills, and acquired the paperwork, to fill in for almost any job in the company. Not only could she drive the truck, she was licensed as a skydive instructor, bungee-jumping instructor and boat pilot. She was also a fair mechanic and certified in first aid and lifesaving. When Buck referred to her as his right-hand woman he wasn’t just throwing out words. Anything he could do, she could do almost as well, if not better. It was a situation that backfired on her often when, like today, she was the only person on hand qualified to do an unpleasant task.
Next to her on the single bench seat, the two camp boys were catching some extra sleep. Still in their early twenties, they were both seasoned river runners. It would be their job to motor ahead in the loaded supply raft, set up camp and have everything ready when the clients arrived at the end of the day’s run. At Phantom Ranch, where the adventure would end, they would put a tow on the client raft and continue all the way to Lake Mead, where both rafts would be hauled out of the water, unloaded, deflated and trucked home.
Eli
“He’s not licensed to drive that big truck. If he has a problem, the insurance company won’t pay.”
“Fine.” Terri sighed and shrugged. “I’ve done it before. No reason I can’t do it again.”
“Thanks. And just one more thing, Terri.”
Her pulse quickened. Maybe this was the moment. Maybe he was going to ask her to stay—and not just for the job, but for him.
“I know you’ve given your two weeks’ notice,” he said. “But I’m hoping I can talk you into staying through the gala. It’s only another week or so—and it’ll be a mess without you. I’ll pay you a bonus, of course. Name your price.”
She should have known better. Feeling as if she’d just been slapped with a frozen fish, Terri rose from her chair. “I’ll let you know after you’re back from the river run. But you’ll have to make it worth my time.” She walked to the door, then turned. “If you don’t mind a suggestion, why don’t you go home and spend some quality time with your daughter before tomorrow?”
“Good idea, but I need to check the supplies for the trip and make sure everything’s on the truck. By then it’ll be time for the barbecue with the sheikhs. You’re welcome to come if you like.”
“Not on your life. They’re all yours.”
“See you tomorrow, then.” Rising, he moved to the outside door of his office and opened it. “Thanks again for agreeing to drive the truck. I appreciate your help.”
“It’s my job.” Her voice dripped icicles, but Buck didn’t seem to notice.
He left and closed the door. Terri double-checked to make sure both doors to his office were locked, then returned to her own office and switched on her computer. The sooner she got today’s work done, the sooner she could go home and rest up for an early start tomorrow. She wasn’t happy about driving the truck, and even less happy about the way he’d taken her for granted yet again. She should have walked out on the spot and left him with his movie-star mouth hanging open.
Buck didn’t care about her as a woman. He never had and he never would. She’d consider staying through the gala as he’d asked because she knew how much it meant to the business and she didn’t want to let anyone down, but once that was over, she’d leave this place—and that man—behind for good.
* * *
The heavy trailer truck rumbled over the narrow road, swaying dangerously every time a wheel sank into a pothole. Half-blinded by the sunrise above the red-rock mesas, Terri ground the gears and wrestled with the wheel. Years ago, at Buck’s suggestion, she’d learned the skills, and acquired the paperwork, to fill in for almost any job in the company. Not only could she drive the truck, she was licensed as a skydive instructor, bungee-jumping instructor and boat pilot. She was also a fair mechanic and certified in first aid and lifesaving. When Buck referred to her as his right-hand woman he wasn’t just throwing out words. Anything he could do, she could do almost as well, if not better. It was a situation that backfired on her often when, like today, she was the only person on hand qualified to do an unpleasant task.
Next to her on the single bench seat, the two camp boys were catching some extra sleep. Still in their early twenties, they were both seasoned river runners. It would be their job to motor ahead in the loaded supply raft, set up camp and have everything ready when the clients arrived at the end of the day’s run. At Phantom Ranch, where the adventure would end, they would put a tow on the client raft and continue all the way to Lake Mead, where both rafts would be hauled out of the water, unloaded, deflated and trucked home.
Eli
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