Page 14 of Camping with the Boss

The accent wall is dark gray with the company’s name displayed in bold letters: Darian Enterprises. And I’m reminded again that this man is a big deal.

He nods to the young woman with a bright smile and a peaches-and-cream complexion seated behind the desk. “Is Ander in?”

“Yes, Mr. Darian, he’s—” She stops and looks around before answering. “They’re in Conference Room B. Waiting for you.” Her voice is soft with a Southern accent.

He stiffens. “They?”

“Yes, sir. Mrs. Darian and your brother.”

Wait, was Alex mistaken? Is he married? I didn’t notice a ring.

“Fuck,” he mutters and darts an apologetic look at the woman. “Sorry, Steph.”

She smiles warmly. “You’re good. I just wanted to give you a heads-up,” she says, lowering her voice and glancing over at me, “The Dragon Lady is on a tear today. George left her office this morning, sobbing his little heart out.”

A muscle in his jaw tightens as his mask slips back in place. How do I know so much about him already? He nods and touches my arm to guide me away. I gasp at the spark of electricity his touch brings. It has to be this gorgeous dark-gray carpet. He drops his hand, and I curse myself for reacting. But I dutifully follow him to Conference Room B—according to the sign next to the door. Right before we reach our destination, he pivots, grabbing my arm right above the elbow and pulling me in another direction.

“What are you doing?” I ask in a low voice. “Where are we going?”

“We need to talk.” He leads me down another hallway and into a large office. It’s bigger than my kitchen and even has a small bar. Everything from the crystal lights over my head to theluxurious gray carpet under my feet screams money. Beyond the large black masculine desk are wall-to-wall windows.

I gasp and move closer. The St. Louis skyline is on display like a piece of art. The arch gleams majestically over tall buildings with the lazy Mississippi River in the background. It’s stunning.

And anything unpleasant or uncomfortable is magically erased. No broken beer bottles or trash littering the streets. No people, broken by life and circumstances, litter the parks.

This high up, it’s easily hidden. Easily forgotten.

I absently register the click of the door shutting, and then Mr. Darian stands between me and the view. I stare up at him. This new view is just as stunning.

Is he also an illusion?

“Sit.”

His sharp tone breaks through my musings, and I sit. I’m not his dog or pet, something for him to order around. I should be humiliated by his treatment. His disregard for my feelings. And I am. But my body doesn’t get the memo. I place my hands in my lap to cover the evidence. The room air conditioning works well but not enough to cool me down. What is wrong with me? I’ve never reacted this intensely to a guy. Is my body punishing me for waiting so long?

The confusion is back in his eyes, but only for a second. “Before we go in there, we need to be on the same page, Canyon.”

“Of course, Wade.”

He glares, and the hair on my arm stands up as the molten lava of that heated look burns through my entire body. “This is the problem.” His voice drops a few sexy decibels. “You can’t call me by my first name. Not here. And you need to stop challenging me every step of the way.”

I lower my head, sufficiently chastised. Except I don’t regret any of it. I peek at him through my lashes. “I thought you liked it.”Oh God.Why did I say that? It’s like I no longer have control.

Remember your goal, Canyon.Don’t get fired.Save your brother.And your home.

But none of that matters when he leans closer. “I’m your boss. Act like it.”

I nod instinctually. Every nerve in my body reacts to his words and the sharp command in his voice. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth as I try to focus on anything other than his strong forearms gripping my chair. The heat of his body.

This is so wrong.

But my body disagrees, overruling my brain and aching for something I shouldn’t want. My dick is uncomfortably hard, but it’s more than that. There’s a connection between us. Like I’ve found something I’d been missing.

Does he feel it too?

“Do you understand, Canyon?” he asks in that commanding tone. “I demand respect from my employees, and you can’t talk to me like that…not around others.”

My eyes dart to his face. Does that mean I can when we’re alone? Not the point right now. I nod and then nod again, hating this weird need to please him. His look tells me I need to stop nodding. I stop. But I can’t stop the questions in my eyes.

---