He's the Boss (Dance with Me #1): Boss-Employee Romance

Chapter 17: Out Of Control

Linc

As Brooke and her sister walk towards us, I grip the glass of beer in my hand a little harder. She looks like she's stepped straight out of my fantasies. Dirty, tawdry fantasies that I am determined to keep to myself. I do my best to keep my facial expressions neutral, hoping that neither Saxon nor Belle will catch on to how much I want Brooke.

I especially need to keep my feelings under wrap in front of Claudia. If she gets so much as an inkling of what I'm thinking, she'll report back to my parents and everything will go pear-shaped. Which is why, when Brooke reaches us, I don't pull her to me; I don't bury my face in her hair, and I don't tell her how much I've missed her.

"Look who found us," Saxon says to Brooke.

Saxon's words are clipped, his expression almost apologetic as he looks at Brooke as if my presence is an irritation he would like to have avoided.

Saxon did look less than thrilled when we crossed paths a few minutes back, but I didn't care. I wanted to see Brooke and hoped he would lead me to her. These past two weeks, I've done my best to keep my distance, but after spending time with Claudia and our superficial acquaintances this evening, I was desperate to spend time with someone real—someone I actually like.

So, even though Saxon didn't welcome my presence, I hung around. Now, though, I'm wondering whether he and Brooke discussed trying to avoid me. I struggle to suck enough air into my lungs as I search Brooke's face, looking for evidence that I'm wrong.

She gives me a polite but distant smile that tells me everything I need to know—she was trying to avoid me. My heart feels as though it's being squeezed in a vice until I see her gaze slide to Claudia, bringing me to hope that it was Claudia she wanted to avoid and not me.

"Hello," Brooke says politely to Claudia, not making eye contact with me.

When Saxon moves closer to her side, as if protecting her, my fingers clench even tighter around the glass. Reluctantly, I begin the introductions. "Claudia, this is Saxon and Brooke. They're my employees."

I don't mention that Claudia has met Brooke before.

"You're on a date, I take it?" Claudia says condescendingly, running her hand over my arm possessively. "How cute."

I'm not sure which urge is more powerful—the urge to shake her off or the urge to deny Brooke is here as Saxon's date.

I settle for shaking off Claudia's hand, leaving her looking unhappy as she eyes Brooke coldly. "And this is Brooke's sister," I continue. "Hey, Belle."

Brooke's sister forces a polite smile. "Hi."

"Do you and Belle know each other?" Saxon asks with a touch of suspicion in his voice.

Damn it, Brooke has never brought Belle to work and Saxon knows that.

"Linc came by the house once to drop something off," Brooke covers quickly. "They met then."

I should be grateful she's made an excuse for my familiarity with Belle, but I hate how she's passed our relationship off as if it's nothing. And Belle looks just as awkward over the lie. We shared a meal. It must have been clear to her that Brooke and I were friends. More than friends, considering she saw me kissing her sister at the end of the night. God, no wonder Belle looks awkward. She must be wondering why I'm here with Claudia.

"How are you enjoying the dancing?" I ask Belle, desperate to break the tension.

Her smile is still small, but at least it's genuine now. "It's awesome."

"You look very elegant tonight."

She blushes. "Thank you."

I turn to Brooke who is watching me with guarded eyes. "You look stunning."