Big Bad Boss (Romance)

by Mia Carson

  Edward’s eyes narrowed on her from behind his desk. “You can’t keep lying to him, Sarah. Just tell him the truth and be finished with it.”

  “Tell me what truth?” Edmund asked.

  She glared at Edward and smiled. “Nothing, dear, your father is simply overreacting—”

  “The hell I am!” he snapped and jumped up from his chair. “I let you plan our son’s life like it was your own because I thought maybe we were doing what was best for him. But he fell in love—he was happy, and you had to stick your foot in it and ruin everything!”

  Edmund whipped around to stare at Sarah as his mouth fell open. “Mom? What did you do?”

  Sarah tugged on her suit jacket and clasped her hands in front of her. “I did what any mother would do for her child to be successful.”

  “What did you do?” he bit out as he stared her down.

  “Tell him or I will,” Edward warned. When Sarah’s lips remained stubbornly closed, he said, “She told Kris to stay away from you or she would find a way to ruin the poor girl’s life and destroy her business. That is what your mother did to protect her son.” He leered as he pointed at his wife. “You—I have put up with so much from you over the years, but this is too much.”

  Edmund’s head swam as he slumped into the closest chair. Kris had avoided him because of what his mother told her. “You… you horrible, cruel-hearted woman,” he muttered, shaking his head in disbelief. “You made her think she wasn’t good enough for me?”

  “She’s not good enough,” Sarah stormed. “She will never be good enough, not for you.”

  “That is not your choice!” Edmund yelled as he jumped to his feet. “You picked a woman for me once and look what happened?”

  “That was a fluke,” she cried. “It won’t happen again. We’ll find you another wife, a better-suited one.”

  “No! I want Kris. I will always want Kris because I love her, damn it, which is more than I can say for you. I can’t love a mother who would rather see me miserable the rest of my life than be happy with a woman who’s a mechanic!” Edward nodded at his son, and Edmund moved for the door.

  “Don’t you dare leave this house! I will cut you off from everything, you hear me? You will have nothing! You’ll be as poor as the rest of those people in that town!” Sarah screamed as she chased him through the house.

  At the front door, Edmund turned. “I love that town and everyone in it,” he said simply. “Money isn’t everything, Mother.”

  “Don’t do it! If you leave, you can’t come back!”

  “Yes, he can,” Edward said as he caught up to her. “If you recall, dear wife, my family owns and controls everything. My name, my family, my son.” He shifted his gray eyes to Edmund. “Go get her, son, before it’s too late.”

  Edmund ran out the door, not wanting to waste another second, but if he was going back to Green Valley indefinitely, he would need a few things. He’d go home, pack what he could live off and then hit the road after an hour or two of sleep. He grinned madly as he debated calling Kris and explaining everything to her, but another idea formed in his mind and he tucked his cell away. There was only one way to draw Kris out so he could talk to her. When he reached his house, a plan formed in his mind and he packed his bags anxiously, waiting for the first break of daylight to appear on the horizon.

  ***

  A very loud ringing sounded in her ear, and Kris cringed, cursing the sunlight hitting her eyes and the throbbing in her head. She heard heavy steps marching around the house and opened one eye to glare at Dennis.

  “Out… of my room,” she managed to mumble before closing her eye again.

  “Time to get up,” he told her. “Your work cell’s gone off three times.”

  She rolled over in bed and dragged the quilt up with her, but her brother yanked it down and tossed it aside. “Seriously? Can’t a girl mope at all around here?”

  “Not when she runs a business. Go on. It’ll be good for you to get to work, to get your hands dirty,” he urged. “I’ll get the coffee going and brew it extra strong for you. You might want to take a shower, though, before you tow anybody.”

  “Are you telling me I stink?”

  “Yeah, like stale beer,” he said and walked away. “If you’re not up and moving, I’m coming back with a pot of ice water like Grams used to do!”

  She fumbled for the edge of the bed and staggered to the bathroom, slamming the door behind her. The reflection in the mirror caused her to grimace, and she reached over to turn the shower on. She’d passed out in her clothes last night, and sadly, her brother was right. She smelled awful. The warm water did nothing to rouse her or calm the pain in her head. What it did was stir up more memories of her time with Edmund. When she closed her eyes, his hands traced her curves and drew her against his solid body. He tickled her sides, and she smiled under the spray of water until she remembered he was gone for good.

  Clean but not even close to feeling better, she found clothes and tugged on a semi stain-free jumpsuit. Dennis held out a thermos of coffee for her along with a sticky note and her cell.

  “That’s where the caller is,” he told her. “I figured I’d be helpful this morning.”

  “You could be really helpful and just go get the person for me,” she tried, but he shoved her towards the front door. “Alright! I’m going.”

  “And when you get there, I suggest you put on your happy face!”

  “I’ll show you a happy face,” she muttered and flipped him off.

  Dennis smiled wider, and Kris frowned as she chewed on her tongue. What the hell was he up to? Curious, she tried to step back inside, but he closed and locked the door on her. “Get your ass going before that person gets caught in the heat!”

  “Fine, but I’m kicking your ass when I get back!” She kicked the front door for emphasis and prepared for the walk into town, but sometime last night, Dennis had brought the tow truck to the house. “Weird,” she muttered as she climbed inside. Once the windows were rolled down, she checked the location written on the sticky note and pulled out onto the gravel drive.

  It was barely nine in the morning, and the temperature was pushing ninety-five. She sped up, worried that whomever was stuck in this heat might get sick from it if she didn’t reach them in time. As she climbed a hill, a strange sense of déjà vu hit her and she slowed, but when she rounded the curve and saw the Mustang parked on the shoulder, she slammed her boot on the brake. Luckily, there was no one behind her.

  Leaning against the rear of the Mustang was Edmund, his arms crossed over his chest, watching her. Anger rose to the surface at him for thinking he could do this to her, and she left the truck parked in the road, lights flashing, as she jumped out and slammed the door.

  “Are you fucking kidding me?” she yelled to him. “What game are you playing?”

  “I’m not playing,” he called back. “I need a tow. That engine you put in—something’s not right with it.” His lips twitched, but he didn’t smile as she drew within a few feet and stopped.

  “I blame the driver,” she retorted.

  “I don’t think so. Maybe it was the shoddy mechanic who worked on it.”

  Her mouth fell open. “Shoddy? Did you just call my work shoddy?”

  “I did. You see, the mechanic who worked on my car didn’t finish the job,” he said and pushed off the bumper. He stalked closer, and without turning around, Kris knew she would never reach the tow truck in time. “She left it half finished.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she rasped and shoved her hands in her pockets to stop herself from reaching out to him. “It was the best work I’ve ever done.”

  “Not even close,” he argued. “The best work you ever did was on me, and you thought you could just kick me out of your life without asking me what I wanted.”

  She bit her lip hard. “Don’t do this, please,” she pleaded, but he stood in front of her now, his shadow looming over her. “Edmund.”

  “It’s
Ed, actually,” he corrected with a crooked grin, making his dimples stand out.

  “Edmund,” she reiterated, “this can’t work, alright? Let it go.”

  “You think it can’t work, or my mother told you it wouldn’t work?” he asked quietly, the words tinged with anger. She lifted her stunned gaze to his as he breathed harshly out of his nose. “I know what happened. I know what she did to you and it kills me that I let it happen.”

  Kris’s heart pounded, her body screaming to move closer. “She was right, though. I’m nothing.”

  “Bullshit,” he snapped. “You are the breath in my lungs, you are the moon in the night sky I fall asleep watching, and you are the reason I drove my ass all the way back here to tell you that I cannot live a day without you. I won’t.” He pulled her hands from her pockets and held them. “You are my life, Kristen Rivers, that is what I’m telling you. You stole my heart the first time I laid eyes on you, and I didn’t come here to get it back.”

  Her eyes brimming with tears of happiness, she sniffed hard. “No? Then why did you come back?”

  “To give you my soul, too,” he whispered, leaning in to kiss her.

  Kris melted at his touch and jumped into his arms, hugging him to her as they kissed long and deep. “I’m sorry,” she whispered against his lips. “I’m sorry I made you go. I should’ve told you everything!”

  “No, I’m sorry you went through that alone,” he replied. “I want you, Kris. I don’t care about the businesses or the money. I love you.”

  She rested her forehead against his as she stared deeply into his eyes. “I love you more.”

  He grinned, and their mouths met in a fierce need to be close. A loud car horn honked, and Edmund set her on her feet so they could peer around the tow truck. Dennis’s truck was there, with him driving and Grams in the passenger seat, whistling and cat-calling as she waved a handkerchief out the window.

  “Did they know you were coming?” Kris asked through her laughter.

  “I might’ve made a few calls this morning,” he said with a shrug.

  “Well then, Ed,” she said as he wiped away the last of her tears. “I guess we should get you back into town.”

  “Mind giving me a tow?” he asked and rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.

  She glanced from him to the Mustang and laughed. “You were serious? You broke your car again?”

  “I told you, the mechanic did some shoddy work,” he teased, and his arm snaked around her waist. He kissed her nose as she sighed.

  “Only because she was distracted by you. Come on, then, let’s get you towed into town before we all die of heatstroke or Grams decides to get out here and tackle us both.” She pulled away, but Edmund drew her back for one more kiss. But for them both, one more kiss would never be enough.

  ***

  Three Months Later

  Kris glanced up at the sky, worried about the storm on the horizon, but Mr. Fitz was pretty urgent on the phone when he’d said something was wrong with the horses. He was worried about Judge but couldn’t get ahold of Ed. She’d tried him, too, but it went straight to voicemail. She knew he was busy in town, setting up a local branch for the distillery he and his dad were working on, but usually, he answered. When she pulled up to Mr. Fitz’s house however, she shook her head.

  “Alright, boys, what are we up to now?” she wondered out loud as she parked her Judge next to a very familiar Mustang.

  “There you are,” Mr. Fitz called from the front porch.

  “What’s going on? I thought you said you couldn’t get ahold of Ed?” she asked as she stomped up the steps. “Mr. Fitz, what are you two planning?”

  He grinned and winked slyly at her. “I’m not sure, but I think there’s a surprise waiting for you in the barn.” He shooed her out that way, and she scurried to open the paddock. Judge was gone, but Babydoll was there. The latter was saddled and ready to go in the barn, a rose attached to the saddle with a simple note that read: Our spot.

  “Cute, real cute,” she whispered and ran her hand down Babydoll’s mane. “I guess we’re supposed to go after him, huh? What do you say, girl? Up for a run?”

  She whinnied and bobbed her head as Kris climbed into the saddle and took off for the path. Babydoll trotted easily along the path, knowing exactly where to go. Ed and Kris rode almost every day now, taking a long lunch to spend time with each other while he was busy working on plans. She had a sudden influx of new cars to work on, courtesy of Ed’s friends visiting and several more planning on moving there when the distillery finally opened. She crested the hill and spotted Judge grazing next to a copse of trees. She dismounted Babydoll, letting her join him.

  “Ed?” she called.

  “Right here,” he replied, and she found him standing on the edge of the crest overlooking the town. “I was hoping you’d make it before the rain.” He dragged her against his chest, and she sighed as his kiss melted her heart.

  “What’s this about?” she asked, breathless.

  “I have something to show you, and I wanted to make sure you approved,” he said and waved his hand outward over the landscape. “What do you think?”

  She nodded and shook her head on a laugh. “I have no idea what I’m looking at.”

  “You know how much land Mr. Fitz owns? He confided in me that he can’t take care of it all very well anymore and has agreed to sell half of it to us,” he told her. “All of that is ours now.”

  She blinked several times, thinking she misheard him. “We own land?”

  “Yes. Yes, we do, or we will if you answer one question for me first.”

  “What question is that?” she asked, staring out over the vast acreage of forests and trails. “Ed? Oh God,” she gasped when he sank to one knee and held out a small, black velvet box. “Oh, good Lord.”

  “I’ve wanted to ask you this for a long time but was never sure of the words,” he said nervously. “But now I know I don’t have to have the perfect words to ask if you’ll do me the honor of being my wife and spending the rest of our days together.”

  She stared at the beautifully simple diamond ring on the white gold band and tackled him to the ground as she kissed him. “Yes! Why would I not marry you?”

  He laughed with her as he reached for the ring and she presented her hand to him. “Good, because I wasn’t taking no for an answer.” He tucked her hair behind her ears and slanted his lips over hers. “I’m never leaving you again.”

  She held his face in her hands as they lay together on the ground and kissed him, telling him without words how much she loved him. Thunder rumbled in the distance and a few drops of rain pattered nearby, but they were protected under the heavy branches of leaves not yet turned for fall. The light rain cooled their skin as they made love to the sound of the storm and wind rustling the leaves overhead, one of many happy days to come.

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