Free Falling for the Boss by Erica Matthews Page B

the first to offer her congratulations closely followed by a very amused-looking Luke and once the tours were over for the day, a shocked Brenda. Maggie hoped she’d appeared suitably excited by her good fortune. At the same time, she marveled at the ease with which people could be led to believe almost anything.
    Her own thought s weren’t so sanguine. The enormity of what she’d done left her unable to sleep that night. She would have an illusion of what she wanted – a mirage that would disappear at some future time with a wave of Marcus’ hand. Worse than that was the very real chance that in playing her part, she might reveal her true feelings for him. He would be a hard person to deceive.
    T he following day, after making sure Marcus had left the house and Mrs. Griffin was occupied in the kitchen, Maggie strolled out the back door and made her way into the rose arbor. She wouldn’t admit to herself that it had been quite a feat to get out of bed and get dressed. But sitting on the stone bench, her wan face raised to the warm sunlight, she knew her efforts had been worthwhile.
    Presently, she began reading one of the numerous books thoughtfully provided by Marcus. So absorbed was she in the latest mystery novel she didn’t hear the soft purr of a high-powered car returning to the garage nor the quick footsteps going up the steps into the house.
    The next thing she was aware of was a sudden breeze sweeping across her face. It felt nice because she was so warm. She was thinking about returning to the house when a blinding pain in her head sent her tumbling off the bench.
    The impact stunned her momentarily, and it was some minutes before she could summon the energy to open her eyes. Lifting her head just a few inches was agony. If only the pain would stop for a minute - it was so difficult to think. How long would she lie there before someone found her?
    S he must have fainted for she never heard the exclamation of the person who did discover her. The sensation of being carried brought her awake once more. They were mounting stairs and the heart of her rescuer beat heavily in her ear. When she dared to open her eyes, she looked straight into a pair of intensely angry green ones.
    “ You little fool! The minute my back is turned you are into trouble. Do you know how far today’s work may have set back your recovery?”
    Maggie couldn’t have answered even had she wanted to. Though Marcus carried her gently, every movement seemed to worsen the blinding pain in her head. Wondering if this nightmare would ever end, her eyes closed again.
    Marcus laid her gently on the bed with the unnecessary order to stay put before disappearing into the bathroom where he could be heard rummaging through cabinets and drawers, muttering fiercely to himself. He returned momentarily with the necessary first-aid items to deal with the scratches she’d received during the fall. By this time, Maggie was so weak from pain she couldn’t have cared less what he was doing.
    “ Maggie, can you hear me? Is it your head?” he whispered urgently. Her nod was barely perceptible, and the look of torment on her ashen face was enough to give Marcus, a man known for his mastery of almost any situation, a momentary sense of alarm. His anxious glance scanned the room. Finding the object he was seeking, he dumped the contents of Maggie’s purse on the floor, his fingers quickly locating an amber bottle.
    A n hour later, Maggie was asleep. The lines of pain had slowly disappeared from her face as the pill Marcus had administered worked its magic. He moved stiffly from his place by the bed, relieved that the crisis appeared to be over, but at the same time reluctant to leave the scene of his ordeal. His glance moved back to the bed, back to the slumbering form. Would he ever forget the sight of her lying motionless on the ground? On a long sigh, he left the room.
    As Maggie’s bruises faded and her scratches healed, she grew impatient to return home,