Jennifer Lewis - Shattered by the CEO / The Boss's Demand - Shattered by the CEO / The Boss's Demand

“It’s like sa-saying goo-goodbye again,” she whispered brokenly before he could turn his thoughts into action and peel her off. “It’s just so…ha-hard.” The raw pain in her voice sounded genuine.

But then he’d been taken in by Tara’s lies before.

Rand awkwardly patted her back, but said nothing. He didn’t want to encourage any tearful reminiscences.

Tara’s little gasping breaths eventually slowed and the fist on his chest relaxed. The tension eased from her body on a long sigh and she sank like a dead weight on his left shoulder.

Had she fallen asleep?

Oh, hell. Why hadn’t he run the minute she’d turned those big blue wounded eyes on him?

Why hadn’t he gone to bed earlier when she’d told him to instead of insisting she eat?

His arm tingled with pins and needles and started going numb. He stared at the dining room ceiling, at the chandelier hanging on a shortened chain above the bed.

He should wake her or at the very least dump her on her pink sheets and leave her.

But he remained immobile. He’d give her a few more minutes. If she was exhausted, it was because he’d worked her flat out this week. Once she rested she’d have more control over her messy emotions and be less likely to have another meltdown.

If the meltdown was real.

She might be looking for a rich guy to make her future easier, but the contradictions between gold digger, hard worker and a woman who grieved for her mother nagged him like a puzzle with a missing piece.

Minutes ticked past. He didn’t know how many because he couldn’t see his watch and there were no clocks in the room. His lids grew heavy. He rested his chin on her crown and let the flowery scent of her shampoo fill his nostrils with every breath. She still used the same brand. It pissed him off that he recognized it.

Getting caught up in a woman’s Hallmark moments screwed with his detachment.

But he owed Tara tonight. Just tonight. For going above and beyond the call of duty. For giving KCL a year of her life. If she continued at the pace she’d been working, she’d be a bargain—even at the outlandish salary he was paying her.

But he had to make damn sure he didn’t make a fool of himself over her again.

“It’s 5:00 a.m. Why are you up?” Rand growled from the kitchen entry Thursday morning.

Startled, Tara looked up from the newspaper. “Good morning. If you’re determined to get an early start every day, then I might as well join you. We can carpool and conserve gas.”

Judging by his scowl that was the last thing he wanted to hear from her. “You won’t get overtime for going in early.”

She shrugged. “I didn’t ask for it. I made huevos rancheros . Is that still your favorite?”

Not that they’d ever had breakfast together. Rand had never hung around long enough. But he’d mentioned it once. Funny how she’d remembered, but back then she’d hung on his every word.

His jaw shifted. “I told you, no playing house.”

Was he cranky because they’d spent half the night in her mother’s bed? When a bad dream had jolted Tara awake shortly after three she’d been shocked to find herself in Rand’s arms. He’d released her, risen without a word and gone upstairs as if he couldn’t get away from her fast enough.

“It’s just breakfast, Rand. Eat and drink your coffee and then we can go. I’ll fill you in on the arrangements for tonight’s cocktail and dinner party on the way to the office.”

“I’ll take breakfast to go. You can fill me in later—when you come in at nine.”

“I haven’t come in later than eight one single day this week and you know it.” She couldn’t help pointing out that fact. “But have it your way. The resealable containers are in the cabinet to the left of the dishwasher, and the disposable forks are in the bottom drawer.”

After filling a travel mug with coffee and packing the huevos rancheros , he paused by the table and scowled down at her. “If you think this sharing-and-morning-coffee routine is what I want, you’re mistaken. You’re better off sticking to the sex. At least I enjoyed that.”

The old Tara would have let that comment pass, but the new Tara was turning over a new leaf. She was stronger and bolder now. Strong and bold enough to fight for what she wanted, and last night only reinforced her belief that Rand Kincaid was the man she wanted.

“But you didn’t enjoy it. Why is that?”

His chin snapped up. “Because I couldn’t help wondering if you’d cried out my father’s name when you came the way you did mine.”

She flinched at the unexpected lash of pain. “How many times do I have to tell you? I didn’t sleep with Everett.”

“You also claim you lied when you said you loved me and wanted to have my children. Why should I believe you’re not lying now?”

She opened her mouth and closed it again. He had a point. She hated that he believed she’d slept with his father, but nothing she said was going to change Rand’s mind. He had to come to that realization himself. And when he did, he’d realize how selfish she’d been. Her refusal to become Everett’s partner in exchange for top-notch oncologists’ care could very well have cost her mother her life.

Would Rand hate her for being weak? Because she certainly hated herself.

She sighed. “I’m not lying.”

“Truth seems to be a fluctuating commodity with you. I’ll see you at the office. Thanks for the breakfast and coffee. But tomorrow, don’t bother.”

“Any idea which heads will roll?”

Tara turned toward the familiar, raspy female voice. “Hello, Patricia.”

Patricia Pottsmith had been head of human resources when Tara had originally joined KCL seven years ago. She’d been a cutthroat and ambitious manager back then, and her current position as vice president of the Rendezvous line implied that hadn’t changed. She’d moved up the ladder quickly. Tara suspected it was because Patricia didn’t mind who she stepped on.

“How about a little insider info for an old friend? A new broom always sweeps clean. Who is Rand going to fire?”

Tara didn’t bother to point out they had never been friends. “Even if I knew Rand’s plans I wouldn’t reveal confidential information.”

“I hired you and recommended you as Everett’s PA.” Patricia’s haughty tone implied Tara owed her.

“I’m sorry. You’ll have to get what you want from Rand. He’ll be calling in each brand’s management team for meetings starting Monday.”

“Well, at least your job is secure. For as long as Rand’s interest lasts, that is.”

The bottom dropped out of Tara’s stomach. “Excuse me?”

“Sleeping with the boss has its perks. I don’t hold that against you, Tara. I’ve done it myself.”

Tara tried to hide her distress and shock. Distress that she and Rand had become the hot topic. Shock that Patricia might have slept with Everett. Tara wondered again if she’d misjudged her boss. “Do the other executives believe I slept with Rand to get this job?”

Patricia rolled a narrow shoulder. “It’s common knowledge that you never filled out a new application, interviewed or underwent a criminal background check and drug test. HR didn’t hire you. You’ve been wasting away at a backwater small business since you left KCL, and yet you waltz back into one of the most sought after positions in the company—a company that prides itself on promoting from within.”

To know this supposedly confidential information Patricia must have used and abused her HR connections. Tara scanned the group of sixteen men and women—the presidents and vice presidents of each line—who’d gathered in the glitzy private hotel dining room for cocktails and dinner. Their snide appraisals made her want to run.