TiedtotheBoss Read Online Free Page A

in the evenings.
    She needed to let what happened at Deirdre’s party go and be
the professional she was.
    “No, Kale. I’d be happy to help you out in any way
possible.”
    Kale stood and smiled for the first time during their
exchange. “Dante can be very demanding but I’ve told him you’re an excellent
employee. I also insisted you be given an extra week’s paid vacation upon my
return. It’s only fair since you’ll essentially be doing two jobs.”
    Maybe she’d get lucky and Dante would never mention what had
occurred between them. Whatever happened, she’d just have to put on her big girl
panties and deal with it.
    “Thanks. I appreciate it, and an extra week of vacation
sounds heavenly.”
    Kale bent down and gave her a quick hug. Public affection
was something Kale never partook in so Penny was shocked.
    “I won’t ever forget this, Penny.” She left Penny wondering
what in the world was going on in Kale’s life that had her so obviously
rattled. Her boss was always professional. Never a hair out of place, never a
misspoken word and she commanded attention wherever she went. Penny looked up
to her, admired her work ethic and the way she treated her employees.
    She was confident that whatever Kale needed to take care of,
she would do so with aplomb and dressed in her black power suit and matching
pumps.
    Kale popped her head back in. “I almost forgot. Dante needs
to see you right away. I’m leaving now. You have my private number should you
need me.”
    * * * * *
    “I can do this…I can do this…” she whispered to herself
while walking down the carpeted hallway to Dante’s office. She knocked quickly
before she changed her mind and ran like hell. A clipped “come” beckoned her
in.
    She closed the door behind her, took a deep breath and
exhaled. Straightening her back, she approached his imposing mahogany desk and
sat in one of the leather chairs in front of it.
    He sat there staring straight at her. He wore no jacket, the
top two buttons of his crisp white shirt were unbuttoned and his tie was
loosened. She could read nothing in his hooded eyes to indicate he was thinking
about the other evening.
    “I assume Kale informed you she would be leaving for a
while.”
    “Yes.” God, he was as beautiful in the light of day as he’d
been on the night of the ball. She crossed her legs to keep from trembling at
the memory of his mouth between them.
    “You’re going to be carrying quite a load for the next
month. She assures me you are more than capable of doing the job.”
    “I can handle it.”
    “That’s what I was hoping you’d say.” He sat back, his
posture more relaxed. “I think we need to discuss what happened. I don’t want
you to feel awkward.”
    “Too late.” She slapped a hand over her mouth as soon as the
words left it.
    He laughed at her, actually laughed. “Well said, but we have
to deal with this, Penny.”
    Why? She certainly didn’t want to recap Saturday night. She
wanted to pretend it had only been a dream. That’s how she’d worked it out in
her head.
    “I’m not going to lie and say it was a mistake.”
    She remained as still as possible, waiting for the
inevitable but …
    “In fact, I want nothing more than to repeat that night over
and over.”
    But…
    “I can’t promise I won’t try to convince you how much I want
it again.”
    Where the heck was the but ? But we work
together…but it’s unprofessional…but it’s not a good idea. She kept waiting
for that damn but . It never came.
    “Why don’t we just pretend Saturday never, ever happened? I
didn’t know it was you and you didn’t know it was me. It was a freak event and
now it’s over.” That sounded reasonable enough, except he wasn’t nodding his
head in agreement.
    “I knew it was you, Penny. The second I saw you walk through
the door in that clingy blue dress, your hair all soft and curled, I wanted
you. Andrew wanted you. Don’t for a minute think what happened was