For The Love Of Sir by Laylah Roberts Page B

Her boss was a prick and he didn’t like the long hours she had to work. Part of it was selfishness; he wanted her to have plenty of time to devote to him. But mostly he was worried about her working so late at night. He wouldn’t be forgetting last night for a long, long time.
    She didn’t need to get another job, not right away anyway. He’d move her to a safer apartment. He would take care of her. He would provide everything she needed.
    He had to admit that filled him with a deep sense of satisfaction. He hadn’t realized how much he needed to be needed. Simone hadn’t needed him. Not beyond what was in his bank account anyway. Despite her tough front, Tara did need him.
    “Tara?” he called out. When he didn’t get an immediate answer, his stomach dropped. What if she’d changed her mind? “Tara?”
    “In the kitchen,” she replied.
    As he moved toward the kitchen, the scent of something cooking hit him and his stomach growled. Tara turned around to face him, her cheeks flushed.
    “I hope you don’t mind, I know it’s kind of intrusive to just help myself, but I was getting hungry and you said to make myself at home—mmm…”
    He drew her against him and kissed her soundly. Pulling back, he cupped her face.
    “It smells delicious.” It did. Although it did feel a bit weird having her cook for him. He hadn’t expected it. “I didn’t expect you to cook for me.”
    “It does weird you out,” she said, a look of regret on her face. “I’m sorry.”
    “Don’t be sorry,” he said, regretting his thoughts as her shoulders slumped. “I said to make yourself at home.”
    “Yeah, but you probably meant turn on the T.V. and get yourself a glass of water, not invade your kitchen and cook dinner.”
    Damn, he was stupid at times. Instead of thanking her, he was acting like she’d done something wrong. “Thank you for cooking dinner. I can’t remember the last time someone cooked for me. It smells delicious.”
    She shrugged. “Just something I threw together.”
    He could tell it wasn’t, though. She’d been hoping to please him and he’d ruined it.
    Alex took her hand in his. “Do we have some time before its ready?”
    She nodded. “About twenty minutes.”
    “Good. I’m going to get us a drink. Let’s sit in the living room and talk for a bit.”
    “Okay.”
    “What will you have?”
    “Just a club soda.”
    Alex poured himself a scotch and got her a club soda then followed her into the living room. He came to a stop when he saw the bags on the floor.
    “Oh, sorry,” she said. “I didn’t know where else to put them.”
    “That’s all right. What’s in them?”
    “Not trash, I promise.” She smiled. “My stuff. Clothes, a couple of photo albums, toiletries.”
    “I see.” He didn’t really. He’d expected a small suitcase. Enough for maybe a night or two. This looked like much more than a nights worth. Unease stirred in his stomach.
    “Don’t worry. I’m not moving in or anything.” She tried to sound flippant, but he heard a note of hurt. “There was an issue with my apartment and I had to move my stuff. No big deal. I’ll move it all tomorrow.”
    “It’s not a problem.”
    “Really? Because you looked kind of ill when you saw my stuff here. Thought I was moving in for good, huh?” She grinned at him and he smiled back.
    “It just caught me by surprise.” And now he felt stupid and a bit of a jerk. “You can put everything in the bedroom.”
    “I don’t want to mess up your room. Can I put them in the spare bedroom? My clothes need a wash. I put one load in, but then I got distracted with dinner.”
    “No problem. Feel free to use the washing machine. Here, I’ll help you move them.”
    He picked up the bags and strode down the hall to the spare bedroom, placing the bags on the bed. He turned and walked back toward the living room, Tara behind him. “What happened at your apartment, was there a leak or something?”
    “No, I got evicted.”
    He froze