Read Online The Girl in Steel-Capped Boots by Loretta Hill - Free Book Online Page A

him.
    ‘Of course I heard you, damn it. But I am off duty, you know. I didn’t expect to be accosted in the gym.’
    He seemed to be slightly taken aback by her tone because for a moment he said nothing. Immediately, she got the uncomfortable feeling that no one else had spoken to him like this before. Not even Carl. She silently cursed her temper. Wasn’t the first rule of thumb, the client is always right?
    Damn.
    ‘Sorry,’ she apologised gruffly. ‘Bad day.’
    ‘Would you rather I had called you in formally for a meeting?’
    Lena couldn’t seem to help herself. She shot him a look of disdain. ‘You mean for a dressing-down.’
    ‘Oh, you’re dressed down enough already, don’t you think?’ While she was trying to figure out what he meant, his gaze roved over her fitted gym shirt, short bike pants and bare legs. Then it all became clear. Her relatively understated gym clothes had suddenly become indecent. Her chest tightened as his slow perusal seemed to go on forever.
    This is not happening.
    Not again. She had to stop it.
    ‘Do you mind?’ she finally breathed.
    His lips twitched. ‘What’s good for the goose.’
    Lena felt ice slide down her spine.
    Crap.
    He had seen her checking him out. In a second, she went from cold to hot as her skin pinkened like watermelon. She couldn’t meet his eyes.
    ‘If you think you’re not cut out for this job, you should just ask Carl to send you home. No one will hold it against you.’
    Lena stiffened. An unnatural rage seized her and she stood up too fast, hands on her hips, eyes on fire. ‘Don’t worry about the skid,’ she bit out. ‘I’ll get it moving faster for you. Now if you’ll excuse me.’
    He stepped into her path and she was pulled up short. She turned her head to meet his eyes but had to look up, and so braced herself against being intimidated by his height.
    ‘You know, you shouldn’t walk around so scantily dressed. You’re not in Kansas any more.’
    Lena’s anger pounded through her body. ‘I don’t think what I wear is any of your business.’
    He backed off and his face closed. ‘Just concerned for your safety.’
    ‘You seem to have a thing for that, don’t you?’
    Was it her imagination or did he just flinch? She couldn’t be sure of anything with Bulldog. He was about as decipherable as a menu in a Japanese restaurant. ‘Well, for your information,’ she added to soften the blow, if that’s what it had been,‘usually there’s no one in here at beer o’clock. So I feel safe to wear whatever I want without being harassed.’
    ‘They’ll find out.’ He shrugged, pushing his dark damp hair off his forehead. ‘It’s only a matter of time.’ On these cryptic words, he turned and walked out, leaving Lena simmering like a nearly done curry.
    He was insufferable, domineering and completely arrogant. And yet, pleasing him was now her number one priority. A sure way to prove her worth was to meet Bulldog’s impossible standards. She returned to the machine and began pumping iron again, barely even noticing the rise and fall of the bar as she made the decision to nail Carl to the floor first thing in the morning. She had to sort this progress thing out. Make sure she knew what slack she needed to make up. Bulldog was going to get his extra ten per cent if it killed her.
    Just keep it professional.
    She bit her lip, tasting blood and sweat. But she kept pumping: it helped her focus on her feelings. She was under no illusions. For some insane reason, she was attracted to the idiot. She had to pack that away and never look at it again. With a heavy breath, she released the weight, stood up and wiped the sweat from her brow. At least this time she knew what trap she could be walking into.
    At university she’d had no idea. It was her third year. End of semester exams were three weeks away and she was struggling. No – understatement. She was desperate. One more failed unit and she was going to have to repeat a whole year. Her