He winced at the formality and I smiled, knowing I’d scored on that one. “It’s Ben,” he reminded me as he raked a hand through thick hair. “I thought we could finish our talk from earlier.”
“And I told you there was nothing to talk about, no apology necessary. So, why have you ignored my wishes and interrupted my bath?”
His gaze heated at my words, as if he’d only now noticed that I wasn’t dressed at all. Green eyes tracked down the length of my robe-clad body, focusing on the swell of cleavage the soft fabric did nothing to hide. My nipples reacted, but that was only because it had been a long damn time since a man looked at me like that.
“Can we talk?”
I nodded. “We’re talking right now.”
“In private?” He nodded to my house, as if he had the right to gain entry to my home.
“There’s nothing you have to say that you can’t say right here, Principal Rutherford.”
“Dammit, Joss.” He used his size against me, stepping in close that I had to step back or let his proximity affect me, which I refused to allow. That gave him the perfect in and I groaned at the intrusion. “I just want to talk.”
“And I don’t, but once again, I guess that doesn’t matter.”
He sighed. “I’m sorry.”
“Another meaningless apology? Lucky me.” Maybe if I just let him get the words out and pretended to accept them, this would all be over before my bath water turned cold. “All right, you’re inside and you have my attention, lay this grand apology on me.”
He flashed a gorgeous boyish smile that I wished like hell I was immune to, especially while I was naked and dripping wet. “You looked beautiful the other night. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you in that red dress, the way it hugged your curves and…well, you were stunning. It just all caught me by surprise, that’s all, and I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings.”
My mind got caught up on the words ‘beautiful’ and ‘stunning’. They were words no man has ever used to describe me, so much that I was distracted, but only temporarily. “Thank you for the compliment. And the apology.”
“Yeah, sure. No problem.” He stood nervously as if he wanted me to say something more, but I had nothing. “So, we’re good?”
I nodded and tightened the sash around my waist. “As good as we have ever been, sure.”
That was an answer he didn’t like and Ben took a step forward, scrubbing a hand over his face. “Can we be friends?”
“No.” I shook my head and took a step back, angry at his gall. “I don’t think we can. We both have enough friends that overlap, let’s not make things more difficult.”
“They don’t have to be.”
Easy for him to say, since, despite his pretty complimentary words, Ben didn’t feel anything towards me, at least not beyond basic attraction. He wanted me, naked and on my back, but he didn’t want me.
“Okay fine, I don’t want to be friends with my boss.”
His lips twitched in amusement as I tossed his words back at him. “Fair enough.” He took another step forward and I took a step back in response. “Can we try to be friends, Joss?”
“No.” I’d already made the decision to get over my silly crush, but that didn’t make attraction fade so easily, especially when his big body and masculine scent invaded my space. My private space. “Thanks for the apology.”
“Joss,” he growled and a second later, Ben’s lips were on mine, firm and insistent as his tongue swept across my lips in a drugging back and forth motion. He kept up the steady torture on my mouth while his hands molded over the curves of my hips, my waist and up to the back of my neck, forcing out a gasp that gave him entry to my mouth.
A garbled moan escaped at the taste of his tongue against mine and Ben pulled me closer, held my body tight to his so I could feel just how hard he was. Everywhere. Pull back. Do it now, Joss.
I was powerless to pull back, not when the kiss was so powerful, so potent. Not when this kiss was unlike any other kiss I’d ever experienced, filled so much need and unfulfilled anticipation. Such longing.
Longing for a man who kissed me like sex god, but didn’t want to date me. Been there, done that, have the scars to prove it. That thought was the bucket of cold water I needed to pull back, breathless and angry and fighting the urge to jump in his arms for another round of kissing.
Ben stepped forward with a smile and I put my hands up to stop him. “That was…hot.”
It was inferno hot, but that wasn’t the point. “That kiss was you proving some ridiculous point. Attraction and lust, those are nothing more than chemical responses, they mean nothing other than we want each other.”
“That’s a good start.”
Of course he would think so. “Get out. Please.”
“Joss,” he sighed. “Do you want me to apologize?”
“No, I want you to leave my house. Now.” I didn’t know what kind of games he was playing, but I wasn’t going to indulge whatever this was any longer. Not while I was naked and worked up, and close to forgetting everything but how long it had been since a man had touched me like that.
He nodded, disappointed, but resigned. “I hope you know that this has nothing to do with whether or not I want you, Joss.”
I folded my arms and glared at him. “You want to sleep with me, that’s not the same.” I skirted around him and yanked open the front door with as much anger and strength as I could. “Have a good night, Principal Rutherford.”
“Good night-,” I slammed the door in his face before he could say another tempting word. The sound of his deep laughter echoed against the door and I went back up to my cold bath and drained the water before falling into a restless sleep.
Filled with dreams of that kiss that left me hot and bothered, and wishing I’d just taken what I wanted.
Ben
I shouldn’t be quite so pleased with myself, but after a full weekend thinking about Joss’ kiss and ignoring my mother’s pointed questions about my love life, thoughts of the pretty soccer coach came out on top.
Even though they shouldn’t. I shouldn’t have kissed her, because she worked for me, which put her firmly off-limits. Joss wasn’t for me, but that didn’t change the fact that I couldn’t stop thinking about her. About the way her curves felt under my palm, the way she tasted on my tongue. Like heaven and the perfect Texas day all rolled into one sexy little blond package.
It was crazy, to show up at her home after dark and even crazier to kiss her when things were already so volatile between us. Adding sex, or lust, to the mix would only make things more confusing. More complicated, and that was the last thing I needed.
Even as I told myself that over and over again, my gaze went to the door every time a shadow crossed it, hoping to get a glimpse of her. Don’t look. It wasn’t Joss, not any of the three, possibly, four dozen times I looked up from my computer, my files, hoping it was her.
Good. I needed to stop thinking about her. I needed to stay away.
And I planned to. Hell, I was resolved to keep my distance until she strolled into my office, looking worried and mouth-watering in figure hugging jeans that showed off every curve, every muscle, paired with an ultra feminine blue sweater that made her blue eyes glitter like jewels. Never mind the heels she wore, with the tiny spiky heel, the kind I’d beg her to keep on while she had her legs wrapped around my body. Joss never wore shoes like that, or clothes like that, and based on the look of disdain she had for me, the outfit wasn’t for my benefit.
She has a date. That thought rankled, that another man would set eyes upon her perfectly shaped ass, or find out just how soft and plump and sweet her lips were. I couldn’t stand even the thought of her seeing someone else, which was the only explanation for what happened next. “Go out with me.”
She frowned and shook her head, hands fisted on her hips. “You haven’t heard a word I’ve said, have you?” Joss was annoyed, and it was a good look for her. A damn good look.
“Unless I
missed it, you didn’t say that you’d love to go out on a date with me. Did you?” I flashed a smile, the one that normally turned her cheeks a sexy little shade of pink. “Close the door so we’re not interrupted.”
“Jerk,” she muttered and walked to the door, pushing it open even wider. “I’m not here to play your head games, Principal Rutherford, I’m here to talk to you about the team.”
“The team?” I really had lost the thread of the conversation and Joss was not pleased about it.
“The girls’ soccer team. You know, with the second best record in the district and the region?” A low, frustrated growl escaped and I was happy to be seated at my desk since the sound hit me right between the legs. “We need more resources. It’s not fair or realistic to expect them to drive three, four and five hours to play a game and then turn around do it again right after the match is over.”
Damn, she really was here for business. “Life isn’t fair, Joss.”
“No shit. The boys don’t even have to do that for a regular season game, yet still they can’t manage a victory.”
She wasn’t wrong about that either. “It’s not in the budget.” I knew that wasn’t the answer she wanted to hear, just as I knew it wasn’t fair, but it was also very much out of my hands.
“Bullshit.” Joss spat the word at me, her anger genuine and white hot. “Thanks for your help Principal Rutherford.” Without another word, about the date or anything else, she turned on those impressive heels and stomped out of my office.
I shot out of my chair and went after her, catching her just before she disappeared into the teacher’s lounge. “That money is allocated specifically for the boys’ team, and I can’t just move it around because you want me to.”
“So, what happens to all the money allocated to the boys’ team whose season has been over for weeks already? Does it roll over to next year, or let me guess, it’ll go to some big party celebrating the one game they managed to win this season?” Her voice grew louder, but it was the fire in her eyes that I couldn’t look away from, the passion and energy as she raged at me. “Save your excuses for someone who cares.”
“They aren’t excuses.” This was a different side to Joss, and I couldn’t deny that I liked it even better than the sweet and sexy side. Fiery and angry was a good look on her. “That’s just the way things are.”
Her chest heaved and I knew staring wouldn’t win me any points, so I kept my gaze focused on her face until she shook her head in disgust and walked away. Again.
“Joss!”
She stopped and turned slowly, blue eyes shooting daggers at me. “What is it, Principal Rutherford?”
If it was the last thing I did, I would get her to stop calling me that. “About the date?”
She shrugged. “No thanks.”
Ouch. Her rejection wasn’t unexpected, but I wasn’t deterred either. She’d made it clear over the past year that she was interested, and that didn’t just fade.
“I’ll change your mind.”
“Doubtful. Maybe ask the boys coach since he has so much free time on his hands.”
I smiled at her words. “So, you’re saying if I came up with a way to help, you’d have time for me?”
“No,” she snapped. “I’m saying that I don’t have time for whatever games you’re playing because I have to figure out how to help my team.”
Dammit, I wanted Joss, and I didn’t care that she worked for me, or that things would definitely get messy. I just wanted her.
Now I just had to figure out a way to have her.
Joss
“Just who in the hell does he think he is? And furthermore, what kind of game is he playing?” I was rambling, or maybe I was babbling. Whatever I was doing, it had been going on for about fifteen minutes and two drinks. “Sorry. Even I’m getting sick of the sound of my voice.” Mara and I had come up to The Mayflower for a drinking and ranting session, and we found Eva and Sophie already halfway through a pitcher of margaritas. “How are you guys?”
Mara shook her head. “Don’t look at me. I’m fine. You, on the other hand, are confused. As hell.”
I glared at Mara, but she, of course, was totally unmoved. “Thanks for your understanding.”
“Well I don’t understand, and these two are honest, they’ll admit they don’t get it either. You liked this man for a year, at least, and now that he’s finally interested, you’re pissed at him? Explain.”
I brushed off her question because she had a point, and because I had my reasons. “We’ve moved on from that. I need fundraising ideas.”
“Have we moved on?” Sophie asked, one brow arched as her gaze bounced from Eva to Mara and finally, to me. “I think you should answer Mara’s question.”
“Me too,” Mara said smugly.
“Fine, you want an answer? He’s not interested in dating me, he just wants to screw me. Yeah, he asked me out, but he doesn’t date women who work for him so what does that tell you?”
“That he’s changed his mind about that silly little condition?”
I glared at Eva. “You don’t even believe that.”
“I might,” she insisted.
“Yeah and pigs might fly, but you don’t believe it, because you’re a smart woman Eva, and you know what this is. A way for him to screw me and then make me out to be crazy. No thanks.” I was still attracted to him, and if he was anyone but a work colleague, I might go for a casual night or two, but there was something about his arrogant smile that just made me mad.
“You don’t know that’s what will happen.” Sophie frowned and looked around the table for confirmation. “Ben is a good guy. He’s decent too.”
Eva groaned and gave Sophie a placating pat on the shoulder. “He told her he doesn’t date women who work for him and then he asked her out.”
“And? What’s that mean?”
Mara groaned. “How do you own a matchmaking agency when you know nothing about people?”
Sophie lifted her chin high in the air. “I’m the brains behind the algorithm, smarty pants.”
Mara polished off her beer and leaned forward. “Okay, so he’s given her two pieces of conflicting information. He wants to take her out, but not date her, right?” Sophie nodded. “They’ll go on a few dates and get it on a few times, probably more than a few, and Joss will start to feel things because she’s been crushing hard on him for a while now. When she wants more, he’ll remind her about his dating preferences, and when she reminds him about the dates, he’ll tell her she’s being crazy or clingy or whatever new word kids are using these days.”
“Yep.” Eva and I agreed at the same time, earning us both scowls from Sophie.
“You can’t possibly know that.”
“You’re right,” I agreed. “But I uprooted my life to accept this job and I’m not ready to move on just yet. So, I’ll pass.” Mara had repeated almost the exact scenario that had played in my head since he asked me out. “It’s a recipe for disaster and I want no part of that, so, fundraising ideas?”
The silence went on for so long, I was sure they would circle back around to talk of Ben suddenly realizing he wanted to bang me, but like the good friends they were, they left the topic behind. For the moment.
“How about a car wash? When we were in high school there was an endless supply of dirty pickup trucks and tractors in need of a good scrubbing.” Eva smiled. “And we’d put on cut-off shorts and bikini tops just to make sure we didn’t waste the day.”
“That’s why you were always dressed like that for the car washes?” Sophie seemed shocked and shook her head. “How about a bake sale? Everyone loves sweets.”
“Baked goods are my jam,” Mara said with a playful scowl before turning to me. “How about yard and house work? They could mow lawns and rake leaves, clean windows or do the dishes for old ladies.” She shrugged and paused long enough to take another sip before she smiled and continued. “Make sure you let people know the girls are doing it because the losing boys team gets all the m
oney. It’ll help, trust me.”
I shook my head. “I don’t want to rag on the boys’ team just to get money for my girls.” That wasn’t fair. We were all the same school, and I wasn’t the boys’ fault that male sports always received more funding and better resources.
“This is the battle of the sexes. Show the world and your girls that they can make their own money and kick ass, because they’ll be doing more work for the rest of their lives. Plus, so many of the former female athletes will help because of their memories at good ol’ PHS.”
I sighed, feeling like this was already turning into something other than a chance to raise money for girls’ soccer. “I just want my girls to be well rested for the games.”
“And now you’re a feminist icon,” Mara laughed and gave my shoulder a sympathetic pat. “Deal with it, sugar.”
“I don’t have time for all that. The next game is soon, which means we need to raise the money and get permissions slips to parents and returned in less than a week.”
“We’ve got you,” Eva said. “Don’t worry, this town will come through for those girls. Trust me.”
I had no choice but to trust in the folks of Pilgrim, because plan B was to simply pay for the rooms myself, and I really didn’t want to have to resort to that.
Ben
“I just can’t believe those girls are forced to scrub floors and clean out old Howard’s attic just to pay for a hotel room.” The voice wasn’t exactly familiar, but it was one of the older gossips in town speaking just loud enough to be heard. “I am so disappointed in Principal Rutherford. I thought he was a better man than that.”
Those words captured my attention, as she no doubt intended, and I turned to find Mirabelle Vargas glaring at me.
Misbehaving Curves: A Boss Romance Page 6