Beneath Her Bastard Boss

Chapter 109

Sutton stood at the bus stop after her first day in the development team, which had been a whirlwind… no, the whole day had been a bloody tsunami of emotions, starting with the confrontation with Luca to proving herself to the skeptical dev team. At least she’d texted Blair earlier to confirm she was okay and to let her know she and Keira would still be coming over tonight.

The sky darkened ominously overhead, gray clouds. Perfect. It looked like rain. Great, this was all she needed to get wet to the skin. Just what she needed to end the day.

She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, glancing at her phone to check the time. Her bus was already five minutes late. Other people waiting for buses huddled under the small shelter, everyone avoiding eye contact. It was the thing she hated most about the city.

The first drops of rain began to fall, spattering the sidewalk with dark circles. Sutton edged closer to the shelter.

A sleek black car slowed beside the curb, before the passenger side window rolled down. Sutton’s stomach tightened as Luca leaned across the passenger seat, his dark eyes on hers.

“Get in,” he ordered.

Sutton didn’t move. She was not impressed with his tone. “I’m taking the bus.”

“Sutton, it’s raining.” As if on cue, the rain started to speed up, cold drops sliding down her neck.

“Really, I would never have guessed without you pointing that out,” she shot back, pulling her jacket tighter. Several people at the bus stop were watching now, the little standoff and the expensive car catching attention. People really could be nosy.

Luca’s jaw tightened. He didn’t like her defying him. Well, tough. “Sutton, the longer you stand there arguing with me, the more likely someone from the office will see us. Or worse, the media could snap a photo. Do you really want that?”

Well, shit. The last thing she needed was to end up in some gossip column connected to Luca De Santis. No one in the USA had figured out yet she was Audrey. She wasn’t as well known as Luca, but if someone made the connection before, she had a chance to prove herself as a programmer… no thanks.

That thought had her glancing nervously toward the office building just down the road, where some employees were still coming out the main doors.

“Fine, whatever.” She huffed, moving toward the car, and yanked the door open. She hauled her pregnant, damp self into the low damn car like it didn’t piss her off every step of the way.

The interior was lovely and warm. It smelled of leather and Luca’s cologne and him, that familiar scent that used to cling to her skin after nights in his

arms.

To stop herself from thinking of that, she fastened her seatbelt, careful not to meet his eyes.

“Where to?” Luca asked, pulling into traffic.

Sutton glanced at him, surprised. “You don’t know where I live?”

“Listen, Sutton, I may have finally tracked you down, but I haven’t had time to find out everything.”

“Yet?” she replied, one eyebrow raised.

“Yet,” he agreed, not denying anything.

The word hung between them before Sutton gave him her address reluctantly, watching as he entered it into the car’s navigation system.

They drove in silence for a few blocks, raindrops racing each other across the windows, the wipers creating a hypnotic rhythm. Sutton could feel Luca’s gaze flicking to her every so often.

“You’re taking the bus every day?” he finally asked, disapproval in his voice.

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Chapter 109

“Yes. It’s convenient.”

“It’s not safe.”

turned to face him. “I’ve been taking public transportation my entire life, Luca.

he pointed out, his knuckles whitening on the

our child,” she corrected automatically. “And I’m perfectly capable

“But you’re pregnant.”

noticed. I thought it was just a food baby,” she deadpanned, resting a hand on her

frustrated sound. “This is no joking matter, Sutton. You shouldn’t be standing on crowded buses or subway

She shook her head. “I can’t live my life based on what–ifs or maybes…

goes around.”

isn’t about hypotheticals. It’s about you taking

a strong movement that made Sutton wince. Luca

he asked, concern replacing

have guessed he would notice. “I’m fine. The baby’s just active today.” She rubbed

emotions.”

“May I?” he asked, his

request caught her off guard. Her instinct was to refuse, to keep that boundary firm. But

Not while you’re driving,” she

to the road, but the tension in the car had

to Sutton’s cheeks. She turned her head to look out the window so he wouldn’t see. She couldn’t help her body’s

him.

a car service pick you up and drop you off,” Luca said

a balloon but one prick and it was gone. God, she felt like she was channeling Keira right now. The only difference is Keira would have said it, not just thought

“No.”

“Sutton…”

said no, Luca. I don’t need a car service. I don’t need

your life. It’s about taking care

and

of myself just fine without you, remember?” she

locked together. “Because I didn’t know

countered. “Because you called me a liar and a slut and walked

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Chapter 109.

windshield now,

tight with restraint. “One I’ve regretted every day since. But

be

when those decisions put you

exploded. “I’m pregnant, not made of glass. Millions

carrying my

rubbing her temples where a headache was forming. “This is exactly why I should just say

not making demands,

I didn’t

you need it! Plus, you are still

stop in front of her

rose and fell rapidly, her face flushed with

said finally, his voice softer. “I just want

I told you, I have been just fine without you,” Sutton replied, but the fire had gone out

that? I’ve missed six months of this pregnancy. Six months I can never get back. Let me do this, Sutton. Not because you need it, but because I

raw honesty of it, reached past her defenses. She looked at him, really looked, and saw the regret etched in the

just forget what happened,” she said