Page 48 of Dirty Boss

Vaughn looked at the broken bed frame, then at me. “Pack a bag,” he repeated, and his tone brooked no argument.

“The landlord…the mold?—”

“I’ll handle it.” His tone was final.

For a fraction of a second, I considered protesting. I considered pushing him away, because getting any closer to him would no doubt end in heartbreak and disaster, just likeeverything else. But I was utterly drained—and I had nowhere to go.

It would feel so good to let someone else take some of the weight, for once.

I nodded.

Vaughn exhaled, like my agreement was a relief. “I’ll wait downstairs.” He helped me to my feet, and with my hand still clasped in his, he pulled me in and gave me a hard, demanding kiss. Then he pulled away and speared me with an icy, angry look. “You have twenty minutes. If you’re not in my car by then, I’m carrying you out of here.”

I scowled at him and opened my mouth to retort, but he kissed me again and made me lose my train of thought. Then he grabbed his tools and stalked out the door, leaving me in my bathrobe, panting, wondering how the heck I was going to resist him now.

SIXTEEN

ALBA

Like any self-respecting billionaire,Vaughn had properties dotted all over the place. This I discovered when he brought me to a luxurious tower on W 57thStreet. We rode up the elevator to the penthouse, and Vaughn explained that he’d bought this place a couple of years ago, renovated it, and hadn’t quite decided what to do with it.

“You’ll be comfortable here,” he declared as the private elevator opened directly into the vast apartment.

My heart thundered as I stepped out, floor-to-ceiling windows giving me a view of the snow-covered Central Park. We were on the southern end of it, looking straight up the length of it. It was like the apartment I used to live in—full of gorgeous furniture and finishes, pristinely clean, and absolutely enormous. I was a sad, dirty lump of despair by comparison. I didn’t belong here—not anymore. Besides, I couldn’t accept this kind of generosity from my boss. Not after we’d kissed. Not when I was supposed to be keeping my distance and figuring out my next steps. Gulping, I turned to him and gave him a sharp nod. “I just need a couple of nights.”

He frowned. “You can stay here as long as you want, Alba. It’s empty most of the time.”

“I just need a couple of nights,” I repeated, a little more forcefully.

He held my gaze for a moment, then shrugged. “The master bedroom’s through here. It’s got a great view of?—”

“Oh, that’s okay. That would be your room, wouldn’t it?” I gave him a tight smile and gestured to the closest door, where I could see a large space with a plush-looking bed. “This one should be fine.”

He opened his mouth as if to protest, then closed it again. With a nod, he said, “If that’s what you want.”

I walked over to drop my bag inside the door, feeling his gaze on my back.

Sure enough, when I turned around his frown had deepened. “Are you limping?”

“What? No. Well—yes. But it’s just my hip. From the accident.” I waved a hand. “It’s fine.”

“I’ll get the concierge to bring some food up,” Vaughn said, crossing to the kitchen where he glanced in the refrigerator. His eyes slid back to me, and I tried my very best to walk normally as I joined him in the big, marble-covered room, crossing to the opposite side of the massive island. Putting physical distance between us seemed like a necessity.

“I have to get back to work. I’ve still got my daughter, so I won’t be able to?—”

“That’s fine,” I said. “I’ll be fine.”

“Call me if you need anything,” he demanded.

I nodded. “Will do.”

“I mean it, Alba.”

“So do I.” I gave him my best smile, which only made his scowl deepen. After only a brief hesitation, he nodded, said goodbye, and made for the door.

“Vaughn,” I called out.

He paused, the distance between us vast. “Yes?”