Christmas With The Hockey Boss: A Steamy Holiday Novella by Aja Cole

Author:Aja Cole [Cole, Aja]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-11-27T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

“Get in here, Bree,” he says softly, his voice carrying clearly despite the distance.

I wipe at my face, shaking as I walk down the hall toward him. His cold gaze never leaves me, and the restrained anger I see in his face makes my stomach twist into a painful knot. Oh, God. I can already tell that this is it. There’s no way he’ll let it slide, and I’m going to lose my job… and him. The thought sends a fresh wave of tears spilling down my cheeks.

“Close the door.”

I do, pushing it shut behind me and trembling as I lean back against it. Dax’s fists are clenched at his sides, and for a man who never loses his cool, the sight is proof that I’ve pushed him too far. His throat works for a moment before he finds his voice. He’s standing in front of his desk—exactly where he usually bends me over—and he stays where he is, maintaining the painful distance between us.

“You’re late,” he finally says, a muscle twitching in his jaw.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper, daring to hope for a moment that he’s going to let it slide after all. Then those hopes are dashed.

“You’re fired, Bree,” he says, his eyes burning into me.

I freeze, my worst fears coming true. I want to beg him to change his mind, but I know I’ve brought it on myself. I want him to change his mind without me begging—I want him to tell me that he wants me to stay, that I’m worth making exceptions for, that he sees how hard I’m trying to please him, that I matter to him for more than my ability to run his office well—but I know that those wishes are just as much of a fantasy as the one that made me late.

My heart feels like lead in my chest, and when he doesn’t say anything else, I know that there’s no hope. I nod jerkily, not able to form any words past the constriction in my throat. I turn to go, needing to get away from him before I lose it completely. My hand keeps slipping on the door handle, and I wipe viciously at my face as the tears come anyway.

I don’t hear Dax move, but suddenly he’s standing behind me, close enough that I can feel the familiar heat of his body. I don’t have to turn around to know how close he’s standing, and I tense against the impossible desire to lean back against him and seek comfort from the devastation welling up inside me.

“You promised me you would follow my rules,” he hisses, his breath scorching the back of my neck.

“I meant to,” I whisper. “I’m sorry.”

“I gave you what you said you needed.”

“I know,” I say, flinching at the disappointment in his voice. “I… I… I never meant to let you down.”

His hands close around my upper arms, squeezing too tightly. I close my eyes, welcoming the contact, even though he’s touching me in anger.

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