Page 52 of Tempted By the Bosshole

“Better than Oreos and Die Hard?”

“I’ll probably deny it tomorrow, but yeah.”

“Then let’s call cookie baking, stir fry, and sappy holiday movies our new tradition.”

She laughs and thanks me, then joins Laurel in the kitchen.

Steve makes his way to the sofa and sits beside me, looking over his shoulder at the women bustling around the stove. “Seems like that’s going well.”

“Surprisingly, yeah.” I fill him in about her mother’s death, and my big-hearted brother is full of sympathy.

“I don’t blame her for not celebrating the holidays, but I’m glad she has you to help her see Christmas differently.”

“Well, I wouldn’t say I changed her outlook in a day. That would be giving myself far too much credit, but I’m hoping by next Christmas, that we’ll have a new reason to celebrate, one with ten fingers and ten toes…”

His jaw drops. “You’re already trying to get her pregnant?”

“You knew I was going to. I started the minute I said ‘I do.’”

He claps me on the back. “Fingers crossed it all works out. You’ll be a great dad.”

“From your lips to God’s ears.”

“You heard from Izzy’s father?”

“No, and it’s weird.” But is it? The asshole has ignored her most of her life. Maybe he really doesn’t give a shit. And the fact that I may not get a rise out of him doesn’t bother me as much as I thought it would.

My brother shrugs. “I hope everything comes together for you two. The more I watch you together, the more I think you’re a good match. You give her balance and stability. You’re solid, and she can count on you—something it doesn’t sound like she’s ever had from a man in her life.”

I nod. “You’re right. What do you think she gives me? And if you say a piece of ass, I’m going to deck you.”

“She does, but she also gives you something real. Nothing you had with Julia was.”

He’s right, and I hate that I didn’t see it until she and Doug stabbed me in the back.

“In fact, I’ve never seen you like this. You’re smitten.”

It shows? I wince. “Yeah, didn’t account for that.”

Steve chuckles. “Karma.”

“Laugh it up. I know I started this to get back at that son of a bitch I was once in business with, but Isabella is…”

“Perfect for you?”

“I’m starting to think so.” Is that why I keep wondering if I’m in love?

Aren’t you?

“At least you’re wising up,” Steve says. “What you need to do is stop giving a shit about Douglas Shay, choose Izzy, and let your happiness be your revenge.”

It sounds so simple, and on some level, I suspect he’s right, but… “That fucker would skate scot-free.”

Steve shrugs. “Would he, though? Really?”

“He took over a million dollars from me.”

“Like you said, he paid you back. Are you mad he was having an affair with Julia?”

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