Read Online Marrying The Boss by Judi Nolan - Free Book Online Page A

storied, sprawling and solid, it appeared to
be part of the landscape around it. Kate was enchanted. She'd had
been expecting something plainer, perhaps more masculine and
functional. Her footfalls echoed on weathered planking as she
stepped up onto the wide, elegant veranda that embraced the house.
Somewhere beyond the house a night bird called, a sad and lonely
sound.
    Lobo lay sprawled across the front door
mat, his head on his paws. He rolled his eyes as Kate stepped
cautiously around him, but he didn't move. The front door jerked
open as she reached up to knock.
    " You really were in the bath. Damn ,
I'm sorry about that." Spencer's gaze flicked over her damp hair.
He stood in the doorway, wearing jeans and a black cotton shirt.
His face looked tired and drawn. "Thank you for coming at such
short notice. I really appreciate your helping out like
this."
    There were faint shadows beneath his eyes,
no longer shielded by his glasses. His dark hair was again
disordered, as if he'd been running his fingers through it. The
stark look of strain and worry in his expression made Kate's heart
contract with concern.
    That odd shiver rippled once more through
her senses, stirring up doubts. She drew her bottom lip between her
teeth. Now that she was here, she really felt like running away
again. She was becoming too deeply involved with this man and his
son and there could be absolutely no future in it.
    Don't be stupid, it's an emergency. She forced her
thoughts away from the need to comfort Spencer and back onto the
practical reasons for her arrival.
    " It's the least I could do," she said,
slipping off her sandals.
    Spencer stood back. Lobo got up, stretched
and yawned before following them inside.
    Kate looked around. "Where is your aunt?
Can I do anything for her?"
    " She's resting." Spencer's mouth turned
down. "There's nothing more we can do. I have her lying down with a
blanket and a pillow on the back seat of my truck. She hates
ambulances and she won't listen to reason."
    He shook his head. "She insists she's
fine. I'm afraid Greek women are taught to suffer in silence and
Alexia is a very stubborn old woman. She's still trying to get up
and walk away. I finally persuaded her to take some analgesic and
lie down."
    Looking into his face, Kate could see that
same inflexible streak reflected in his angry eyes and set
expression. For a moment he appeared to be overwhelmingly Greek. An
arrogantly stubborn and dominating man determined to have his own
inflexible way in everything, despite anyone's
objections.
    The thought sent an unwelcome ripple of
awareness feathering down her spine. Another very good reason why
she should be backing well away from this troubled situation right
now. This man would always demand what he wanted and she had no way
to give.
    She took an involuntary step backwards.
"But, you think there's something more she's not telling
you?"
    " Yes. She's trying to hide it, but I know
she's in considerable pain. At first I thought she'd fractured her
hip."
    " How did it happen?"
    Spencer led the way further into the
house. "She tripped over the cat as she was cleaning up after
making dinner. Despite her protests, I've examined her thoroughly
and there's extensive bruising over her hip, so we really ought to
exclude a possible fracture. And having lost consciousness, she
needs to be on neuro observation for the next twenty four
hours."
    " Of course, hospital rest is the only
choice for her. If she stayed here, she's likely to do more damage
to her hip by attempting to handle her normal routine. Can you
convince her to stay in hospital?"
    " Alexia thinks I'm making too much of this.
She'll fight me all the way." Spencer's mouth drew tight. "But,
I'll win in the end. I have to."
    " Good luck," Kate offered tightly. "Let me
know if there's anything more I can do."
    Despite her resolve to keep away from this
man, she had to curb the desire to reach out and touch him. Sooth
the lines of worry from his creased forehead,