The #1 Bestsellers Collection 2011(78)
She’d just sat down at the desk when her cell phone rang. It was her boss, Mr. Wainwright.
A couple of minutes later she flung the study door open with steam coming out of her ears.
She couldn’t believe it.
She didn’t believe it.
How could a man who took such pride in his own work not expect she’d take pride in her work too?
Giving one quick knock, she stormed into Matt’s bedroom. “How dare you!” she hissed, keeping her voice low so as not to wake Megan next door.
He frowned at her. “How dare I what?”
“You rang Mr. Wainwright! He says I don’t have to finish up my week. He’s releasing me from my contract early.”
“And you’ve come to tell me you’re grateful?” he joked.
“I can’t believe you did this.” Her lip curled. “On second thought, I can. The high-handed Valentes do what they like, when they like, and damn everyone else.”
His jaw set. “As far as I’m concerned, if you want something you go and get it.”
She flashed him a look of disdain. “What did you offer him? A bit of business thrown his way? You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours? Is that the way it is, Matt?”
A muscle pulsated in his cheek. “That’s business.”
She glared at him.
Glared for all she was worth until …
Something powerful drew her gaze downward.
And her eyes hit the hard contours of his chest.
His broad, bare chest.
All at once she realized he’d been in the middle of getting dressed and that his hand was still at the opening of his trousers. Her eyes flew back up to his face.
Zip.
He finished the job, sending the sound rushing through her veins, the blood rushing to her cheeks, but it was his knowing look that helped pull her together. He knew his half-dressed state had taken her off-guard. Knew he had made her knees go soft.
The arrogant devil!
She angrily gathered her thoughts. “My career is none of your business. And I mean that quite literally.”
“I want you home with Megan.”
She gasped, then bristled with indignation, forgetting all about his bare chest and the back scratching and the sexy sound of a zipper sliding up.
“You’re not one of those men who don’t want their wife to work at all, are you? Please tell me you don’t want me pregnant and barefoot in the kitchen?”
His eyelids flickered and darkened. “Of course not. I meant this week, that’s all. You said yourself she would find everything new and strange. I was just trying to make sure you spend some time with Megan until she gets used to it.”
He was being caring of Megan? She believed that. But did he have to tread all over her to do it?
She set her chin in a stubborn line. “You could have asked me that yourself. But I suppose that’s not worth your time. I’m still working three days a week with you. So don’t try and renege on the deal, Matt.”
“I don’t renege on deals.”
She stared at him. He seemed to have no idea he’d done anything wrong. Or more than likely he just couldn’t acknowledge any wrongdoing.
“Don’t interfere in my career again.” She turned to leave the room.
“Lana?”
She stopped but didn’t look back.
“Don’t forget I’m your boss now. Your career both now and in the future is in my hands.”
Lana swallowed. His tone was steel covered in velvet.
This time she did turn around. “Don’t you forget something, Matt. I’m a Valente now. I can play dirty, too.”
Then she turned on her heel and went back to the study, her mind spinning from the sheer arrogance of her new husband. If he thought he’d browbeat her, then he had another thing coming. She might no longer have a job to go to at Wainwright’s, but she had a free day tomorrow before starting at Valente’s. She would work her fingers to the bone to finish up as much as possible. It was a matter of pride, not to mention a small victory over Matt’s attempt at controlling her.
Five minutes later she heard the front door close and Matt’s car drive away. Evidently she’d be eating dinner alone tonight.
She told herself she was glad about that. She didn’t want to break bread with a man who demanded she do what he wanted. A man who rode roughshod over everyone, and too bad for them if they didn’t like it.
Yet she felt a chill. Memories of her father leaving the house for a night out on the town colored her thoughts. Where was Matt going? Who was he meeting? Would he come home smelling of alcohol? Of another woman? Dear Lord, she didn’t think she could do this for a whole year.
At eleven she heard him return, heard his footsteps stop outside the study door, then she let out a slow breath as they continued on their way. That was exactly how she wanted it to stay, she told herself. She wanted to be just a small pause in his life until it was time for him to move on.