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2022-09-12 04:12:43
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The Boss: A Cozy Romanceย ย ย 31
She heard Rafaelโs sharp intake of breath but she pulled away from him and stepped towards her father. โWe havenโt forgotten, Dad. Hardly. And as for giving you respectโโ her voice shook as she looked at him,seeing for the first time the mean lines that pulled at his mouth, the coldness of his eyes โโrespect is something that has to be earned. And youโve never done that. Youโve never done a single thing in your life to warrant my respect.โHer father gave a grunt of anger and his shoulders hunched. โYou watch your mouth, girl! No one talks back to me, especially not my own daughter. Youโre not too old for me to put my hand across your backside!โRafael stepped forward with a low growl of warning. โLay one finger on her and Iโll send you somewhere youโll never need money again,โ he promised in thickened tones and Grace put a hand on his arm in an instinctive gesture of restraint.โYouโre not going to stop me from saying what needs to be said, Dad. I wonโt let you threaten me. Iโve
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-09-12The Boss: A Cozy Romanceย ย ย 32
He hesitated and then took her hands. โI suppose at a very young, impressionable age I was given the message that a woman will do just about anything if the price is right. Even give away her child. Amberโs behaviour was simply more of the same; she used pregnancy as a lever to get me to marry her. I never had any reason to change my view of women.โ His eyes found hers. โUntil I met you. I owe you an apology.โHer eyes widened. โFor what?โโFor not believing that you were innocent.โ His fingers tightened on her hands. โThe thing is, Grace, Iโd never actually come across truth and innocence before, so when I finally did I didnโt recognise it.โโYou have nothing to apologise for.โโI hurt you by not believing in you. And I hurt you by not using romantic words when I took you to bed.โ He cursed softly and hauled her against him. โIโm useless with emotions, Grace. Itโs like another language. I just donโt know any of the right words. Youโre going to have to teach me.โHer heart thudded
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-09-12The Boss: A Cozy Romanceย ย ย 33 : Innocent Bride
ALEXANDRA HILL arrived home in Brisbane on a particularly chilly May morning.Sheโd been on a skiing holiday in the Southern Alps with a group of friends. And while it had been freezing in Canberra when sheโd boarded the flight muffled up in a scarf and ski jacket, she hadnโt expected to be grateful for these items of clothing in sub-tropical Brisbane even in winter.But as it went on to be the coldest May day on record, she was still wearing her coat when she stepped out of the taxi sheโd taken from the airportโto find her boss waiting for her on the doorstep of her small terrace house in Spring Hill.Simon Wellford, ginger-haired and chubby and whose brainchild Wellford Interpreting Services was, threw his arms around her. โThank heavens! Your neighbour wasnโt sure if you were due home today or tomorrow. I need you, Alex. I really need you,โ he said passionately.Alex, who happened to know Simon was happily married, removed herself from his clutches and said prosaically, โIโm st
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-09-12The Boss: A Cozy Romanceย ย ย 34
But it was a challenge and it could be really interesting.And there was Simon and his company to consider, not to mention the coming baby โฆโI guess I could give it a go,โ she said, โalthoughโโ she shrugged โโI didnโt that long ago leave my convent, for what itโs worth, Mr Goodwin, only about a year ago.โSomething like amazement touched his eyes. โYou were a nun?โโOh, no. But my parents died when I was seventeen and a boarder at the convent, so I stayed on. The Mother Superior was related to my fatherโmy only living relative. And I boarded with them during my time at university. She died last year.โโIโsee. Well, I was going to say that explains it, but what does it explain?โ he asked himself rhetorically and smiled whimsically.โIt probably explains why Iโm a bit of a plain Jane, why Iโm used to a simple, useful life,โ she told him gravely. โIt doesnโt mean to say I can be imposed upon.โHe stared at her. โYouโre worried that I might be tempted to take advantage of you, Miss
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-09-12The Boss: A Cozy Romanceย ย ย 35
AT FIVE minutes to siX that evening, Alex barrelled into the foyer of Goodwin House with her hair and scarf flying and a variety of shopping bags hanging from her arms.She looked around breathlessly for the penthouse buzzer and was intercepted by the commissionaire. She gave him her name and told him who she needed to see. He looked doubtful for a moment but led her to the penthouse liftโhe had the grace to look apologetic when her name was received in the affirmative and the lift doors opened on cue.โThirty-fifth floor is what you need, maโam. Have a good evening!โAlex pressed thirty-five and prepared to part company with her stomachโshe didnโt like lifts, but this one turned out to be painless. And on the thirty-fifth floor it opened directly into Max Goodwinโs penthouse.It wasnโt Max who greeted her, however, it was a man of about forty who said pleasantly, โMiss Hill, I believe? Iโm Maxโs domestic co- ordinator, Jake Frost. Iโm afraid heโs running a few minutes late. Would
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-09-12The Boss: A Cozy Romanceย ย ย 36
โYou donโtโyou donโt,โ he said as his dark blue gaze roamed over the very au naturel girl heโd hired as an interpreterโactually ratherrefreshingly natural, he found himself thinking suddenly, โneed to go overboard.โAlex hid a smile. โMr Goodwin, since I have it on good authority I would feel like Cinderella otherwise, I intend to do what is necessary not to feel that way. But I donโt intend to go overboard. If anything, I was a restraining influence.โIt dawned on Max that this girl had turned the tables on him, that, far from being crushed by his makeover request, she was even laughing at him. โHow so?โ he queried with a tinge of foreboding.โI kept reminding your Mrs Winston, who is a dear actually, and the wardrobe co-ordinator, that, while I didnโt need to look like Cinderella, I didnโt need to outshine the guests either. And itโs only the clothes youโre paying for.โHe narrowed his eyes. โThatโs not necessary, Alex.โShe shrugged. โIt is to me. That side of it is rather pe
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-09-12The Boss: A Cozy Romanceย ย ย 37
Alex had quailed inwardly at the prices, but Margaret had confided that theyโd be but a drop in the ocean for Max Goodwin.The result was beautiful materials, linen, silks, fine wools and crรชpes.There were three pairs of new shoes and sets of exquisite underwear.But a frown grew in her eyes as she stared down at it all. Very lovely, but quite different from her normal attire. Would the flair to wear them come from them? she wondered.Then a strange little thought struck her. How would Max Goodwin view her in these elegant clothes?To her amazement she felt her pulse beat a little heavily at the thought, and she had to take several deep breaths. She had also to remind herself that she needed to be very, very professional in her dealings with him โฆThe next day seemed to fly past.The cocktail party was to be held in the penthouse, starting at siX p.m. but Margaret Winston had asked her to be there by five-thirty. In themeantime, she did have a bevy of appointments and thereโd
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-09-12The Boss: A Cozy Romanceย ย ย 38
IT WAS Margaret Winston who saw Alex freeze with a trapped look in her eyes like a deer caught in headlights.ItwasMargaretwhoprotested,โBut,MrGoodwin,shelooks wonderful!โโWonderful?โ Max Goodwin grated. โShe looksโโHe didnโt get to finish because Alex came alive and whirled on her heel and ran for the lift.He caught her with her finger on the button and took hold of her elbow. โIf youโll allow me to finish, Alex,โ he said tersely, โI was about to say you look drop-dead gorgeous.โAlexโs head came up and she looked at him incredulously. โYouโve just made that up,โ she accused huskily. โPlease let me go.โโNo. Come with me.โ The pressure on her elbow increased and he steered her out of the foyer into a side room, a smaller, more informal sitting room with comfortable armchairs done in restful shades of green. He closed the door behind them. โI meant it,โ he said.โBut that doesnโt make sense.โ Alex clasped her hands in front of her and prayed she wouldnโt burst into
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2022-09-12
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The Boss: A Cozy Romanceย ย ย 78
โARENโT you going to the gym any more?โ Rhiannon asked two days later. โThis is the third day in a row youโve missed.โ Georgie scrubbed at her red eyes. โI donโt want to run into Ben-Break- Your-Heart Blackwood,โ she said. โIโm going to switch my membership to another gym.โ โPoor you,โ Rhiannon said, as she stroked Georgieโs head. โHe really did a good job on you, didnโt he?โ Georgie blew her nose and tucked the sodden tissue into her bra, joining the others for a lumpy potato effect. โIโm so dumb when it comes to dating,โ she said. โIโm not going on another date for siX months, I swear it.โ โThatโs a long time, Georgie.โ โI donโt care,โ she said as she got to her feet. โIf I so much as look at a man with a view to dating him, Iโm going to donate a thousand dollars to the hospital research foundation โฆ no, make that five thousand dollars. That should make me think twice before I fall into the same trap again.โ โWow, thatโs a lot of money,โ Rhiannon said. Georgie set her shoulder
The Boss: A Cozy Romanceย ย ย 77
โONE hundred, two hundred, three hundredโโโStop,โ Rhiannon said as Georgie counted out the hundred-dollar bills the following morning. โI have something to confess.โGeorgie let the next note flutter to the table. โWhat?โ Rhiannon bit her lip. โIโve been seeing someone.โ Georgieโs eyes went out on stalks. โYou have?โRhiannon nodded. โI was going to tell you a couple of days ago but I wasnโt sure if the guy felt the same way about me. We werenโt really dating โฆ. sort of catching up.โ She gave a little grimace and added, โSorry.โโWho is it?โ Georgie asked. โAnyone I know?โ โJules Littlemore.โGeorgie gaped at her. โJules?โโWhy are you so surprised? Heโs a really decent man. I know heโs a couple of years younger than me but Iโve always liked him and when he kissed me I sort of โฆ fell in love with him.โโIโm really glad for you, Rhiannon,โ Georgie said. โJules is a great guy and perfect for you when I think about it.โโSo youโre not angry at me?โโNo,โ she said, smiling at he
The Boss: A Cozy Romanceย ย ย 76
BEN answered the door with a towel hitched around his hips, his hair still dripping from his shower.โOh โฆ sorry โฆโ Georgie bit her lip and tried to keep her eyes north of the border. โUm โฆ I picked a bad time to drop in on you.โโNot at all,โ he said, stepping aside to let her in. โI just got back from the gym.โ He closed the door and added, โI thought I might have seen you there. You didnโt hang around at the hospital so I thought youโd gone straight there.โโIโm so sorry I didnโt keep our appointment,โ she said. โI got a bit distracted by โฆ by something that happened just after I left you with Mr Tander.โHe frowned as he looked down at her. โJonathan Tander didnโt have another go at you, did he? I left him with the hospital chaplain in the relativesโ lounge. Did he somehow track you down again?โShe shook her head and cupped her elbows with her crossed-over hands. โI had a bit of a run-in with Richard DeBurgh โฆ well, not exactly a run-in, more of a misunderstanding โฆ of sorts
The Boss: A Cozy Romanceย ย ย 75
GEORGIE didnโt leave anything to chance the next morning and left extra early so she could turn up on time in Theatre for Emma Stanleyโs case. She had found it hard to sleep the previous night, thinking about the young girl who had so much at stake, not to mention Ben, who as Emmaโs neurosurgeon had so much pressure on him to perform a miracle when the chance of one was not very likely.Linda greeted her as she came into the change room. โTough morning this one,โ she said. โBenโs really feeling it. He hides it pretty well but Iโve worked with him long enough to know the signs.โโHe told me about the case yesterday,โ Georgie said as she put her bag into one of the lockers. โItโs hard, what life tosses up, isnโt it?โโSure is,โ Linda agreed. โThe parents are such lovely people who would move heaven and earth to get their daughter back to full health. I only hope Ben can pull this one off. Mind you, if anyone can, he can. Heโs got that steely determination to succeed where others woul
The Boss: A Cozy Romanceย ย ย 74
BEN had to force his eyes to stay fiXed on Georgieโs face as she opened the door at his summons. She was dressed in a knock-out pink dress that skimmed her slight curves and highlighted the healthy glow of her skin. Her hair was loose about her shoulders, its sun-kissed light waves full of body and bounce, making his fingers twitch yet again to reach out and thread through its silkiness. Her perfume drifted towards him, a different one this time. It was a subtle but totally intoXicating scent that reminded him of sun-warmed honeysuckle.โHannah is waiting in the car,โ he said by way of greeting, not able to think of anything else on the spot. โShe had a good day today. Thank you.โGeorgie followed him towards the lifts. โI had fun, too,โ she said. โSheโs a lovely girl and great company.โHe stabbed at the lift button without looking at her. โI canโt help worrying about her,โ he confessed with a small frown. โSheโs lived in the country all her life. Sheโs not as street smart as city
The Boss: A Cozy Romanceย ย ย 73
BEN called Hannah on her mobile to arrange a meeting place and half an hour later caught sight of her and Georgie sitting on the grass near the Hyde Park fountain, a pair of ibis coming closer and closer for the crumbs Georgie was tempting them with.โEven the animal kingdom isnโt safe from her natural beauty and charm,โhe muttered under his breath as he made his way towards them.โHi, Ben, look what I bought,โ Hannah said, leaping to her feet and showing him her jeans and top inside the boutique bags she had in her possession.โMmm, very nice,โ he said. Swinging his gaze to Georgie, who was still sitting cross-legged on the grass, he asked, โWhat did you get?โโSore feet,โ Georgie said wryly, as she made to get up.He smiled and offered her a hand, pulling her up so strongly she tumbled forward into his arms.โOoh!โ she said breathlessly, her hands flat against the hard wall of his chest.โThatโll teach you to wear those ridiculously high heels all the time,โ he admonished h
The Boss: A Cozy Romanceย ย ย 72
BEN had seen Emma Stanleyโs MRI scans two weeks ago but there had been considerable change in her condition since then. The young siXteen-year-old track and field star had a tumour on her lumbar spine, which thankfully was benign, but that didnโt mean she was out of the woods by any means. The tumour was pressing against the cauda equina, causing numbness in her buttocks and weakness in her legs.Surgery was the only option but there were huge risks involved, especially as imaging had shown the tumour was extensive and its removal had the potential to cause damage to multiple nerve roots. She had fallen several times over the last few days and her parents had panicked and contacted him directly rather than wait until Monday to see him in his public clinic, as he had advised them to do.Ben sat Emma and her parents down in his office. Taking his own chair, he began to run through the risks. โI know weโve talked through all this before but as Emmaโs symptoms have worsened it wonโt hur
The Boss: A Cozy Romanceย ย ย 71
BELINDA BRONSON was coming out of the gym on Friday evening as Georgie was going in. โJust the person I wanted to see,โ she said, pulling Georgie to one side away from the cluster of members near the front door.โI was going to say the very same thing to you,โ Georgie said with a little frown. โI got into heaps of trouble over talking to you about the Tandersโ accident.โBelindaโs expression turned cynical. โThat kind of figures,โ she said. โI spoke to a mate of mine in Trafficโhe must have pressed a few too many sensitive buttons. He told me Mr Tander is a legal eagle. Lawyers always think theyโre above suspicion and that the legal system they represent and defend so volubly in court doesnโt apply to them outside it.โโYeah, well, heโs not just any old legal eagle,โ Georgie said. โHeโs a high court judge. If heโs serious about going ahead with this, my career is over.โBelinda tapped her top lip for a moment. โYou know, it might be worth having a deeper look into this,โ she said.
The Boss: A Cozy Romanceย ย ย 70
GEORGIE was totally exhausted by the time her list with Richard DeBurgh ended and she still had three more hours of on call before she could finally relax. Richard had been encouraging towards her but he was nothing like Ben in Theatre. Richard had a tendency to snap at the nursing staff if instruments werenโt handed to him quickly enough, and when a patient with a meningioma had a major venous bleed from the sagittal sinus he swore as his tension level rose, which made everyone feel on edge. At one point he bellowed at Georgie for bumping the microscope while he was suturing the sagittal sinus bleed, and although he had moved it himself, she knew there was no point in trying to defend herself.Linda Reynolds, the scrub nurse Georgie had met in Benโs theatre on her first day, caught up with her in the female change rooms once the list was over.โSee what I mean about there being a waiting list to work on Benโs lists?โ she said as she stripped off her theatre scrubs. โRichard is fine
