Free How to Kill Your Boss by Krissy Daniels Page B

attack.”
    It dawned on me that he hadn’t heard the latest breaking news. “Franklin, they found hoodie man in Jacob’s apartment yesterday. Someone strung him up in the entryway. It was awful…” I cringed and shook my head as if the motion would clear the images from my brain. “The blood—”
    “You saw him?” He cut me off, scolding through gritted teeth. “Why the fuck didn’t you call me?” A crimson glow coated his face. I’m pretty sure I witnessed a new wrinkle carving itself into his forehead.
    “I didn’t call you because I’m not your problem. This isn’t your problem. We fucked, Franklin. Nothing more. It doesn’t give us any claim over one another.”
    “For Christ’s sake, lower you voice.” With another glance over his shoulder, he leaned toward me, pulled my chair closer to him then pressed his lips to my ear.
    My muscles turned to warm butter.
    “You shouldn’t use that word. Your mouth is too pretty. Let’s get one thing straight.” His whispered breaths were flames licking my skin. “We didn’t fuck. What I did to you was merely foreplay. Understand?”
    His palm rested on my thigh. Fingers dug in. Demanded I listen and listen good.
    “When I take you, and I hope it’ll be soon, there will be no question in that clever little mind of yours that you’ve been thoroughly…” He bit my ear, slid his hand up my thigh and squeezed harder. “Well, you know.”
    His free hand slid around my neck, under my hair, gripped hard at the base of my skull. Sparks shot through my abdomen. Our eyes met only for a brief moment before he forced our mouths together and kissed me hard. As fast as he attacked, he released me, pushed my chair away and strode across the room to look out the window.
    “Morning all!” Nan’s cheerful smile drooped the moment she laid eyes on me, slumped, heaving, disheveled in my chair.
    I raised a palm. “Happy Monday Nan. Have a good weekend?” I impressed myself with the ability to speak after the kiss. Although, by the look on her face, I hadn’t fooled her.
    Franklin kept his back turned. Grunted a “good morning” to her. She glanced at me, eyebrows raised, and flashed me an oh, we’re so going to talk smile.
    I lowered my gaze. Busted. The woman had superhuman mind-reading abilities.
    “Even from out of state, Mr. Cruse is sucking in more clients. We’re going to have a busy week. Seems there aren’t any couples left in Seattle who aren’t cheating on each other.” Nan glanced at the single flower on my desk then back to me. “Shall we disappear for lunch later?”
    I nodded, squeezing my thighs together.
    She handed me a stack of file folders, winked, then made her exit with a playful spring in her step. Thank God, she wasn’t the nosey type, otherwise lunch would be torture.
    When the coast was clear, I prodded the formidable man devouring the space we shared. “Why didn’t you tell me about the picture until now?”
    He didn’t turn to face me, but did grant me a great view of his profile. Square, strong jawbone, thick lashes, scruffier-than-usual stubble.
    “You’d been through enough. I was waiting for the right time. It’s why I pushed on the extra security.” His shoulders bunched and his head tilted to the side. “You honestly don’t know who the rose is from?”
    “No. I assumed it was you.” Like an idiot.
    “I’ll take care of it.” He ripped the obtrusion from my desk and tossed it in the trash. I was glad to see it go. I wasn’t glad to see Franklin button his suit jacket and storm down the hall.
    What just happened? I came to work hell-bent on getting answers and there I sat with bruised lips, a female version of a woody and more questions. Grrr. And I hadn’t even fired up my computer yet.
    Mondays sucked.
    * * * *
    Lunch was torture. Nan suddenly took an unusual interest in my love life. I only went so far as telling her Franklin and I enjoyed our time at the bar. The events that happened afterward were for me