Page 34 of Highest Bid

She slid her tongue along her bottom lip, her urge to get to work quickly superseded by another, more primitive urge. With an irritated sigh, she ignored her twitchy nerve endings and raised body temperature to instead slip out of bed and out of his range. “I have to get my work clothes from my locker.”

Galan pushed off the mattress and murmured, “I also took the liberty of grabbing your work clothes for you earlier.”

He nodded toward the end of the bed, where her white café T-shirt and black pants lay waiting. She crossed her arms. “You’re sure taking a lot of liberties.”

The only liberty he should have taken was the one he’d ignored. Even now her body throbbed with unfulfilled need. But at least she wasn’t alone. The impressive bulge in his pants was proof of that.

“I’m used to taking charge and being in control. And as this relationship thing is new to me, you’ll have to tell me when I overstep a boundary.”

She exhaled softly. “Actually, it was...thoughtful of you to get my clothes and let me sleep in. I just don’t want anyone to think I’m getting special favors by fucking the boss.”

His eyes darkened, jaw tight. “If anyone has a problem with your work ethics, or us...fucking, I’ll deal with them.”

She slid a hand down his red shirt, soaking in the ripple of his muscles beneath, the warmth of his skin and citrus-spiced scent. “I think you may have just overstepped that boundary, stud.”

His strained chuckle filled the room even as she stepped around him to pull on her work clothes. After pushing her feet into her Doc Martens and quickly redoing her hair, she turned to Galan and raised onto tiptoe to slide her mouth over his in a quick farewell kiss. When he deepened the kiss and turned it into a long, lingering merge of lips and tongue, she had to drag herself away from him.

She cleared her throat. “I guess I’ll see you tonight?”

“Actually I’ll see you on your break.” She blinked and he added, “I’m meeting my brothers in ten minutes to review and sign the document for your wage increase so I can get the ball rolling ASAP.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” she asked. “Like I said, I don’t want to be treated differently to anyone else.”

“And like I said, if they have a problem, I’ll deal with them.” He grinned and added, “Besides, you are different to everyone else. You’re the honey to my bee.”

She was giggling and shaking her head as she headed toward the elevator. Who could have guessed Galan had such an appalling sense of humor.

Then he called out, “By the way, Ned has brunch waiting for you before you start your shift.”

And Galan thought that wouldn’t be treating her differently? She sighed, once again torn between elated and exasperated.

Chapter Thirteen

Ned looked up as Layla hurried toward the hut, the early lunch crowd already in full swing. “Ah,” he said, his gaze speculative. “You’re here.” He turned to grab a plate from the warmer before he pushed it across the servery. “Your brunch is served.”

He’d made her favorite toasted pork sliders. But guilt staved off her hunger. “I’m sorry, Ned. I can’t possibly—”

“You can and you will,” Ned said firmly. He pushed two more plates out of the servery, then called out, “Order up!” before he refocused on Layla. “Galan gave me strict instructions to feed you, and I’m not taking no for an answer.” He nodded to a small reserved table close to the hut. “That’s yours for the next fifteen minutes. Enjoy your meal.”

It was Colleen who grabbed the two plates of cheesy lasagna and salad from the servery, before she muttered, “It’s all right for some.”

Layla frowned. Not because of Colleen’s catty sarcasm. The blonde’s usual happy effervescence seemed mined dry, leaving behind nothing more than a bitter husk. Even the color in her face had washed out, her whole demeanor flat.

“Colleen, are you okay?” she asked. “After last night—”

“Why wouldn’t I be okay?” Colleen hissed. “I had some fun after work, and then I went home and managed a few hours’ sleep. Life goes on.”

Layla nodded, not pushing the issue. “As long as you’re happy.”

Colleen rolled her eyes, and scoffed, “Do you really think everyone gets your fairy tale? Now go and eat. I’m working.”

“Colleen, enough!” Ned snapped. “You bring everything on yourself.”

Colleen gasped. Eyes glittering and spine snapping ramrod straight, she marched away.

Ned turned to Layla. “Are you okay?’

She nodded. “I thought dating Galan would bring some challenges...just not these.”

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