Read Online Her Old-Fashioned Boss by Laylah Roberts - Free Book Online Page A

swayed slightly, missing his steadying presence. “Take care of her for me.”
    Stepping towards the door, he stopped and turned back, his gaze so cold she shivered. What had happened to the caring man who’d been about to kiss her?
    “Look after her, Sam. Ava, I don’t expect to see you again today.”
    Then he left. Tears welled in her eyes and she immediately reached over and turned off the tap.
    “Sam, my pants are wet do you think you have something I could wear home?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
    “Oh, baby, he didn’t mean that the way it sounded,” Sam told her soothingly, placing his arm over her shoulders. But Ava’s emotions were in a whirlwind.
    “It’s not that, it doesn’t matter. Please, I just want to go home.” She needed to think about everything. About the fact that she’d came close to kissing her boss. A boss whose life-partner was currently trying to cuddle her close.
    “Please, Sam,” she said, her voice breaking.
    “Okay, sweet. Let me just have a look at your legs. I’m going to put some burn cream on them to take out the sting, but you shouldn’t use it all the time, give them a chance to breathe.”
    “I think I can take care of a couple of small burns, Sam,” she snapped at him.
    He reeled back as though she’d hit him, his face closing down. “Well, all right then, let me just get the cream.”
    Guilt, sharp and nasty stabbed her in the gut. She grabbed his hand as he stood.
    “Sam, I’m sorry, I’m just not feeling myself. Please forgive me.” She gazed up at him, knowing she would burst into tears if he remained mad at her.
    His face softened and he nodded, patting her hand. “It’s okay, sweet. Let me get some cream to take that sting out then I’ll see if I can find you something to wear. You just stay there.”
    Ava nodded, not really certain that she could move anyway.
     
    *****
     
    Sam saw Ava to the car, worried about her pale appearance and sad eyes. What the hell had Roarke done to her? The burns on her legs were mild, but he knew Roarke would be beating himself up for her pain.
    But the pain of the burns couldn’t be attributed to the misery he saw in her eyes. As soon as Max took off down the drive, he raced back inside to find Roarke.
    He entered the gym. Roarke was pounding on the boxing bag, sweat already dripping down his body. He’d stripped off to just a pair of small shorts, but for once Sam’s attention wasn’t caught by his fantastic body. Right now he was on a mission.
    To find out what the hell was going on.
    He moved over to stand in front of Roarke, not about to be ignored.
    “What was that all about?” he asked mildly, holding the bag, so Roarke could pound away on it.
    “Nothing,” Roarke replied shortly.
    Sam sighed. “Don’t do this.”
    “Do what?” Roarke asked, his gaze set on the bag.
    “Don’t shut up like this. You really hurt her. Why’d you act so cold to her and walk out like that?”
    “None of your business.”
    “It is my business.” Sam swung the bag away, glaring at Roarke who had to pull back his punch.
    “Dammit, don’t do that. I could have hit you.”
    “Then hit me! Just don’t close down on me, I can’t stand that.”
    Roarke stood, panting then turned away with a loud yell. “Fuck!” he cried out, making Sam flinch. When he turned back, his misery was clear to see. “I really fucked up, didn’t I? Was she really upset?”
    Sam nodded. “What happened?”
    “I nearly kissed her, right before you came into the room.”
    “Shit,” Sam said.
    Roarke nodded. “She’s probably completely confused now. She’ll think that I nearly cheated on you, that she nearly betrayed your friendship. I just, I wasn’t thinking, I wanted to touch her, kiss her and then you came in and all those emotions started to boil over, I had to get away from her before I pulled her into our bed and made love to her and she’s not ready for that.”
    Sam shook his head. No, she wasn’t.
    “I’ll