Outbid by the Boss Read Online Free Page A

soon as her hand closed around the door handle.
    “Planning on driving my car as well, were you?”
    Face burning, Sam snatched her hand away. Nearly two years in England, a brand new British drivers licence, and in her seething fury, she’d forgotten which side of the car she was supposed to be on.
    “My apologies,” drawled Chas as she marched past his grinning face to the passenger side. “I thought you had purposely driven around the roundabout an extra time or two just to spite me…but it turns out you really don’t know where you’re going, do you?”
    She’d behaved like a fool, thought Sam.
    And they both knew it.
    Thirty-love, Chas Porter.
     
     
    By the time they arrived at the elegant inn he had chosen for lunch, Chas found himself more than a tad irritated. Not only had this new version of Miss Redfern barely spoken during the twenty minutes it had taken them to reach their destination, she had slipped out of the car the second they got there. Without waiting for him to reach her door. His scowl softened as he watched her approach the inn’s weathered steps and then pause as if suddenly unsure. Caught by the way the sunlight burnished her hair with flares of red and gold, Chas felt his body tense. He had to force down the enticing image of what it would feel like to wind his fingers in the soft curls and pull her into his grasp. She turned to him then, one eyebrow arched enquiringly and he felt the heat crackle between them. The soft skin at the base of her throat took on a blush that rose to her face, highlighting the creaminess of her flawless complexion and the emerald green of her eyes.
    Hiding the pressing surge of awareness, Chas gestured toward the door and said gruffly, “Shall we go in?”
    Sam nodded and went ahead, hesitating for a moment at the entrance when the formally clad maître d’ came forward to greet them.
    The only sign she gave that this wasn’t an everyday lunch was the telltale up tilt of her chin as they were ushered past elegant arrangements of orchids to a table set with pristine linens and gleaming silverware. She smiled pleasantly and took her seat, barely moving until the waiter had poured their ice water.
    Bemused and somewhat wary to find his firm’s ever-so-cool silver appraiser was as prickly as a hedgehog, Chas kept his eye on Sam as she drained the last of her water. When she’d let out a satisfied sigh, he asked. "And are you hungry as well?"
    "Starving."
    She exchanged her empty glass for a menu, blithely holding it in front of her face so that it shielded her from view. "You?" she asked.
    "Famished," replied Chas. Miss Redfern was definitely turning into a rather unexpected personality. She had flouted his orders in every possible way short of outright rebellion and he was not entirely sure he liked it. His work required focus and held no place, personally or professionally, for a woman who zigged and zagged. He wanted the women in his personal life to sparkle with elegance and charm without ever outstaying their welcome. Professionally, he wanted his employees to act like…well, like Samantha Redfern had until the candlestick had come into her possession. Chas’ lips tightened. He had no intention of encouraging Miss Redfern’s sudden show of independence. Yet how to explain this insane desire to take her under his wing?
    "Their steak and kidney pie is excellent," he informed the top of her head. "And it comes with a salad."
    "Thank you." Sam lowered her menu, snapped it shut and set it to one side, carefully aligning its spine with the edge of the linen tablecloth.
    In spite of his determination to regard her as just another employee, Chas noticed that her fingers were long and tapered. She wore no rings, just a slim silver bracelet on her right arm, wristwatch on her left.
    He signalled the waiter. "Red wine?"
    "I could use a drink," Sam admitted.
    Chas quickly scanned the wine list. "Bad day?"
    "Umm, I'd say 'mixed', at best."
    Amused, Chas quickly