The Jarrods: Inheritance: Taming Her Billionaire Boss

They would talk later and perhaps it would turn out that he’d have to keep the door closed permanently between them. Maybe she would be his road not taken. But he had to think what was best for Samantha. She deserved better than becoming his temporary mistress.

Samantha didn’t know how she made it back to her own room. Humiliation scorched through her. She’d done exactly what she’d wanted to do and given Blake a come-on. She hadn’t deliberately gone into the bathroom to entice him in there, but the opportunity had presented itself and she’d thought it had worked. Then he’d just upped and walked away and, despite his obvious arousal, he said he couldn’t do it.

Couldn’t make love with her.

She knew it had nothing to do with her having a minor head injury this time. He might say it was, but she knew this was about him not wanting her enough. His body had automatically responded to a female in his arms, but his mind had been elsewhere. As he’d said the evening before, any woman with the right equipment could attract a man. Unfortunately the attraction he felt for her hadn’t been enough. Not for him.

It was Carl all over again.

She plopped down on her bed as her legs gave way. Had she unwittingly done something wrong back there? Something to annoy him physically? Clearly he hadn’t been invested in the moment like she’d been. It had been wonderful in his arms but she hadn’t realized he’d been feeling different. She thought he’d felt the same way. It was obvious now that he could turn himself on and off at a whim—just like he had after their kiss on the mountain.

Unlike her.

Her emotions whirled like a spinning top let loose on the floor. Oh, God, what was she going to do? How was she going to face him? Worse, would he insist on letting her out of her contract now? She had the feeling he would tell her to leave sooner rather than later.

At the thought, her emotions stopped spinning. They stopped dead. Her chin lifted. Right. Okay. If she was being given the heave-ho, then she would certainly leave without protest. It’s what she needed to do anyway, she told herself. She regretted she would leave with this between them, but things had gone too far. It was a good lesson in being careful what she wished for. Now she simply wished this nightmare would go away.

Samantha took a shower and carefully washed her hair, but wasn’t sure if she was dismayed or relieved after she came out of the bathroom and heard Blake’s car leaving. Going over to peek out her bedroom window, she saw him driving toward the Manor in the early morning light. Evidently she was okay to be left alone now, she thought with a stab of hurt.

Then her heart dropped to her feet. Perhaps he was going to tell his family that she was leaving sooner? Would he tell them why? That she’d made a play for him and put him in an awkward position? Her cheeks heated at the thought and she wanted to curl up in a ball and not see any of them again.

Yet pride wouldn’t allow her to do that. She’d held her head high when Carl had rejected her and she would do it again now. She would go up to the Manor and finish her tasks, and she would arrange her replacement. If she smiled at the others and acted carefree, then no one would know how bad she felt.

No one except Blake.

Half an hour later she sat at her desk at the Manor, relieved not to have seen anyone she knew on the way here. She didn’t want to answer questions about her accident, or anything else for that matter.

Thankfully the door to Blake’s office was shut, though the red light on the telephone told her he was making a call. Quickly she got herself organized, then found the number she was after and reached for the phone, hoping someone at the employment agency would be at their desk early like her. She knew that as soon as the red button on his phone lit up with her extension, Blake would learn she was here, but it couldn’t be helped.

She got the answering machine. Having dealt with this employment agency before for other office matters, she decided to leave a message. At least that would get the ball rolling. “Yes, this is Samantha Thompson calling on behalf of Blake Jarrod Enterprises. Could Mary Wentworth call me back as soon as possible …” The red light on Blake’s phone went off. Her heart started to race as a second later his door was flung open. “It’s about a position that’s become available.” He strode to her desk. “It’s—”

He pressed the button to disconnect the call, his eyes slamming into her. “What are you doing?” he demanded in a low tone.

She angled her chin as she looked up at him. “I’m trying to work.”

“I thought you’d have enough sense to rest up today.”

“I don’t need to rest up. I did plenty of that yesterday.” Calmly, she placed the telephone back on its handset. “I’m perfectly fine now.”

His eyes narrowed. “And why the hell are you calling someone about your job?”

“You need a new assistant.”

“I’m happy with my old one.”

She arched one eyebrow. “Really? It didn’t seem that way to me this morning,” she said, staying cool when all she wanted to do was fall in a heap and cry her eyes out.

He swore.

“Don’t worry, Blake. I’ll be leaving Aspen soon, so you don’t have to worry that I’ll attack you. I know you’re not that into me.”

He blinked, then, “What the hell!” He swore again. “We need to talk.”

“It’s a bit late for talking, don’t you think?” She went to pick up the phone again. He grabbed her hand, not hurting her but not letting her make the call either. “Stop manhandling me, Blake.”

He tried to stare her down. “No.”

“Blake, this isn’t getting us anywhere.”

“Listen, Samantha. You’re—”

Erica walked into the office and stopped dead, blinking in surprise as her gaze went from one to the other, then down at their hands gripped together. “Er … Blake, your car is here to take you to the airport.”

He casually let go of Samantha’s hand. “Thanks, Erica.”

Samantha felt the blood drain from her face. “You’re leaving?”

Like Carl?

He looked at her oddly. “Something cropped up overnight at one of the hotels and I need to go to Vegas and sort it out. I’ll tell you about it later.”

As fast as it had tightened, the tension unscrewed inside her. So he was coming back. It had been crazy of her to even think he wouldn’t. Blake wouldn’t give up all this because of her.

She went to get to her feet. “I’ll come with you.” Once she was in Vegas, she would start bringing her life there to a close.

“No, you stay here. You shouldn’t be flying with a head injury,” he said firmly, surprising her. She’d have thought he’d be eager to get her out of Aspen now.

He cast his half sister a look. “Erica, can you keep an eye on Samantha and make sure she doesn’t stay here too long today? I don’t want her overdoing things.”

Erica looked startled then pleased. “Of course.” It was obvious she valued being asked by her brother to help out, but Samantha was still surprised that Blake wanted her to stay in Aspen.

He nodded. “Thanks. I’ll just grab my stuff.” As he spoke he headed back into his office before coming out with his briefcase and coat. He looked at Samantha. “I’ll be back tonight. I’ll explain everything then.” He started toward the door then hesitated. “You will be here when I return, won’t you, Samantha?”

It hadn’t occurred to her to leave behind his back, though she couldn’t discount that it might have. Then she remembered how she’d thought he might have issues with feeling abandoned over his mother’s death. Did he think she was about to abandon him, too? Tenderness touched a part of her that wasn’t reeling by the latest events. “I promise.”

He looked satisfied then he gave Erica a jerky nod as he passed by. He left behind a meaningful silence.

After a couple of seconds, Erica came toward the desk. “Are you okay?”

“My head’s fine now, thanks.”

She tutted. “You know I mean more than that.”

Samantha grimaced. “Yes, I suppose I do.” Then as she looked at the other woman, she wondered if Blake would eventually discuss her with his family. Would he even tell them she had made a play for him? Her breath caught. She’d never known him to talk about his affairs before to anyone. Huh! Affair? There was no affair. That was the problem.

“He’s concerned for you, honey.”

“He’s concerned for the job.”