Read Online TiedtotheBoss by Sierra Summers - Free Book Online Page B

what happened.”
    “It’s not about him. It’s about Kale and me.”
    “What?”
    “I need to talk to you about Kale. Please meet me tonight
for dinner. I swear Dante’s name will not come up.”
    “Kale has nothing to do with this,” she replied.
    “I know but she’s in a lot of pain and I can’t get her to
talk. You know her better than anyone else and I thought you might know what to
do.”
    How could she offer him advice when her own world was
blowing apart? “Fine, I’ll meet you.” She didn’t want to turn him down and
maybe he would lend her a sympathetic ear in return.
    She heard him release his breath on the other end of the
phone. “Great. Come to the Marriott around seven.”
    The Marriott had one of the best Italian restaurants in the
city. It might actually take her mind off things. Dressing up and eating out
would serve as a distraction from her broken heart. “Seven sounds good. See you
then.”
    She put her phone away. At least she wouldn’t be alone with
her thoughts tonight.
    * * * * *
    Penny wore the same dress she’d worn the night of the
Valentine’s Day Ball. The restaurant had a dress code, and since she was now
job hunting, running out to find an equally beautiful dress was not in her
budget.
    She was greeted by the maître d’, who ushered her into the
completely empty room. A single table sat in the middle of the dimly lit place,
covered in a white tablecloth. Dante, dressed in a black tuxedo, stood next to
the table.
    The music playing in the background took her back to her
senior prom night. That’s when she really looked at her surroundings. The
restaurant was decorated with balloons and signage from her senior prom. What
the hell was going on?
    “Dante, what are you doing?”
    He approached her. “You look beautiful tonight.” He held out
his hand. “Dance with me.”
    She couldn’t move for a second as she stared at his
outstretched hand. Could she do this? Could she take the chance of getting her
heart broken again by the same man? The answer hit her—yes. Yes, she wanted
this, more than anything. She went into his arms and he walked her onto a small
dance floor.
    “Why does this look like prom?” She basked in the warmth of
his embrace as he pulled her close.
    “This is our high school prom. The one I wanted to
ask you to.” His breath teased her ear.
    “Oh my God, you remember me?” She hadn’t brought up their
prior connection before things blew up.
    “Of course I remembered you. I didn’t think you remembered
me.”
    She laughed. “You can’t be serious. A star football player
and one of the most popular boys in school?”
    He tucked an errant piece of hair behind her ear. “I
remember a girl who liked to dye her hair blood red, loved drama and didn’t
care if she was popular or not.”
    Her heart dipped and she trembled. “You hardly ever said a
word to me in front of other people.” She couldn’t keep the hurt from her
voice.
    “I was a dumb jock and you scared the hell out of me. You
were friends with whomever you wanted and didn’t give a damn what anyone else
thought. I had to watch every word I ever said to anyone. I was a dumb kid. On
prom night, when I saw you walk through the door dressed in fuchsia and black
with Artie Dorn, I wanted to punch him.”
    Heat bloomed in her face as she remembered. “As I recall, you
were there with Becca Hatten, homecoming queen, beautiful, blonde and skinny.”
    They laughed in unison as he swung her around. “Becca, who
later that night drank too much and threw up all over my tux, then passed out
in the back of the limo.”
    The little devil that resided in Penny threw back its head
and laughed as the image of a passed-out princess came to mind.
    “Penny, I’m in love with you. I think I always have been,
but I’m not a kid anymore and I’m not afraid to take what I want. I want you
and I’m not about to let you walk out of my life. I don’t care what we have to
do. I’ll leave my job so you