The CEO Buys in (Wager of Hearts #1)

“Ms. Russell.”

 

 

Chloe sat up abruptly. Cavill stood at the foot of the chaise, looking down at her. She’d nodded off while she waited. “Sorry,” she said, swinging her legs over so she could stand up. “It’s late.”

 

Cavill nodded. “I’m not going to mislead you. Nathan doesn’t want you in his bedroom, but I’ve insisted.”

 

She had to swallow a nervous giggle at his phrasing.

 

The doctor looked away and then back at her. “I’m sorry if he’s not as appreciative as he should be.”

 

Once again, she read the strain on Cavill’s face. “Is he still very sick?”

 

The doctor made a gesture of uncertainty. “Fevers often go back up.” He wasn’t indulging the whim of a rich and important man; he was worried about his friend.

 

“I’ll do whatever I can.”

 

Cavill gave her a tired smile and walked beside her into the master suite.

 

Trainor was sitting up in the bed, his broad shoulders and chest covered by a dry dark-green T-shirt. His damp hair was neatly combed, and his eyes were unclouded by fever. When his gaze fell on Chloe, his mouth tightened. “Your presence is entirely unnecessary. Please allow Ed to send you home in a car.”

 

“Your doctor believes I should stay,” Chloe said.

 

“My doctor is an infuriating ass.” Trainor turned his glare on Cavill.

 

“You’re too weak to throw her out bodily,” Cavill said, “so you might as well be gracious.”

 

“I can fire her,” Trainor said, although Chloe detected a lack of conviction in his voice.

 

“Then I’ll hire her,” the doctor replied.

 

She felt caught in the clash of the titans as the two men squared off.

 

Trainor sagged back on the pillow. “You win this round, Ben. Just leave me the hell alone.”

 

“Gladly,” Cavill said, picking up his bag. “I don’t envy Ms. Russell having to spend the next few hours in your unpleasant company.” He turned to Chloe. “Arvind knows what to do medically. Your job is to calm the savage beast.”

 

Trainor muttered something unflattering under his breath, and Cavill chuckled as he walked out the door.

 

Chloe stood beside the cot, wondering if she was supposed to talk to her boss or encourage him to sleep. Trainor lifted his head and locked his gaze on her. “You can sleep in the guest room. If I become uncontrollable, Arvind can call you in to the rescue.” His tone became heavily ironic.

 

Now what was she supposed to do? “Dr. Cavill told me to stay in here.” She cast a glance of appeal at Arvind. He nodded.

 

“Oh, for God’s sake, sleep wherever you want.” Trainor closed his eyes. Now Chloe could see the dark circles under his eyes and the way the skin stretched too tightly over his cheekbones.

 

She felt awkward lying down on the cot even though Trainor wasn’t watching. Her gaze landed on the paperback on the bedside table. “Would you like me to read to you?”

 

His eyelids snapped open and he skewered her with a look of utter disbelief. “In the middle of the night? No, I would like you to let me sleep.”

 

She was tired and worried about Grandmillie or she wouldn’t have snapped. “I don’t want to be here in the middle of the night either, but your friend is concerned about you, so I agreed to stay as an act of kindness. Clearly, that quality is wasted on you.”

 

She heard the nurse hiss in a breath as Trainor stared at her. Now he would fire her, and Cavill wouldn’t be around to rehire her. She squared her shoulders and met his eyes straight on, refusing to show how horrified she was by her outburst.

 

Incredibly, the corners of Trainor’s mouth twitched. “It’s completely wasted on me. Remember that in the future. Now go to sleep, my grumpy little temp. We’re none of us at our best at this hour.” He shifted downward on the pillows and turned onto his side so his back was to her.

 

She sank onto the cot, her eyes tracing the line of Trainor’s spine under the form-hugging T-shirt. She could see his shoulder muscles flex and shift as he settled into a more comfortable position. It was weirdly intimate to listen to his breath begin to slow and even rasp in a near snore.

 

Dropping her head into her hands, she massaged her temples with her thumbs. He hadn’t fired her. However, he wouldn’t be going to work for at least a day or two, so that left her without a position in the executive suite. She sighed. So much for the extra pay she had been counting on.

 

She flopped over sideways and brought her legs up onto the cot, pulling the pillow under her head and giving it a frustrated punch.

 

As always, it was the people like her who lost out when the big wheels had a problem.

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER 6

 

 

 

 

 

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