Beneath Her Bastard Boss

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The next morning, Blair woke up feeling like she’d been hit by a truck. Which, technically, it may not have been a truck, but the SUV that had hit them was the next best thing. Her ribs ached, her head was pounding.

She stretched out an arm to Roman’s side of the bed, only to find it cold and empty. Looking at the clock on Roman’s side so she didn’t have to turn over to see hers. It was early 6am; she had only slept a few hours. No wonder her eyes felt like sandpaper.

Blair got up to hunt Roman down. She found him in his office, still wearing yesterday’s clothes, surrounded by papers. A coffee cup was within easy reach. He looked like he hadn’t slept at all.

“Please tell me you didn’t stay up all night,” she said, settling carefully into the chair across from his desk.

“I couldn’t sleep. Too much to think about.” Roman looked up at her, and she could see the exhaustion on his face, but also something else–relief that she was awake and moving around. “How are you feeling?”

“Like hell. But functional.” Blair accepted his coffee. He handed her gratefully, their fingers brushing as he passed her the mug. The simple touch sent warmth through her that had nothing to do with the coffee. “What have you been working on?”

“The plan. If we’re really going to do this thing with your uncle, we need to be smart about it.” Roman stood and moved around the desk, settling on the edge, so he was closer to her. “Peters has been running surveillance on your aunt and uncle’s house and office. He’s definitely panicking. Made six calls to the bank yesterday, and he was seen pacing the parking area at the office.”

“Good. Panicked people are sloppy people.”

“Exactly. But we still need to be careful. This isn’t some corporate negotiation where the worst thing that happens is you lose money.” Roman reached out and brushed a piece of hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering against her cheek. “If we screw this up, I lose you. And that’s not happening.”

The way he said it… like losing her would destroy him. It made Blair’s chest tight with something that wasn’t fear. This had to be more than just convenience and lust. Because she knew she loved him. Loved him in a way she had never felt for Dan.

“So what’s the plan?” she asked, leaning slightly into his touch.

Roman turned his laptop so she could see the screen better, but he stayed close enough that she could smell him. “We make him think you’re dead.”

“What?”

“Think about it. The car crash last night was pretty bad, not terrible, but people die from head injuries all the time. What if you didn’t make it? What if you died from your injuries at the hospital? Swelling on the brain.

Blair stared at him. “You want to fake my death?”

“Only temporarily. And only to Peter.” Roman’s hand found hers, intertwining their fingers. “If he thinks you’re dead, he’ll relax. He’ll think his problem is solved.”

Blair looked down at their joined hands–his larger, rougher from years of work, but gentle when they touched her. “But how do we-”

“We control the information flow. Peters has contacts at the hospital who can help us fake medical records. We put out word that you died from complications from your head injury.”

thinking it through. Roman’s thumb was tracing small circles on the back of her

know I’m alive, right? I mean, they saw me last

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Chapter 69

you got hurt more.”

*

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tell them to act devastated. Really sell it.” Roman pulled up another file with his free hand, unwilling to let go of her. “The funeral would be in three days. That gives Peter time to get comfortable, maybe even start trying to hide his traces. He

are not putting my

to your sisters? Plus, he will need time

to admit, it was a good plan. Dramatic as hell, but

voice was soft,

if he doesn’t confess? What if he

second part of the plan comes in. While he thinks

“And Kellner?”

this morning trying to board a flight to Mexico.” Roman’s expression was satisfied, but his grip on

the tension leave

the hospital that your condition took a turn for the worse during the night.” Roman closed the laptop

him–really looked at him. Dark circles under his eyes, stubble on his jaw, clothes rumpled from being worn too long. He’d been planning this all night, working out every detail to

“Roman?”

rough with

know this isn’t what you signed up for when you asked

quiet for a long moment. Then he cupped her face

apparently homicidal relatives.” His eyes were intense, searching her face. “I don’t give up on things I want. And I want you. Forever. No matter what we have to go through

the best

than I thought possible.”

murmured back, his lips barely brushing hers. “It

at the screen and felt her blood

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Chapter 69