Page 64 of Broken Boss

“Don’t knock it till you try it, alright? Besides, a lot of single women take up pottery.”

“Ah, there it is. You finally took my advice and got into the dating world!”

“Er, not exactly. But I’m being open-minded. Actually, I wanted to talk to you about a related subject.”

“Related to pottery?”

“No, to women.”

I wince and Grant sighs, both of us ready to act out an age-old conversation. Grant tries to convince me that settling down is worth it; I insist it’s the last thing I need.

But these days…

“I noticed you haven’t been in the papers much over the last month or two. Have you given up on dating? I thought it was your favorite hobby.”

“Ha, ha. No, I’m just…focusing more on work.”

And a particular woman at work. But he doesn’t need to know that.

“Well, I just spoke to Nate, who asked if I was bringing a guest to the wedding, and it made me curious as to what your plan is. Do you have a lucky lady picked out already, or are you going to spontaneously ask the first beautiful woman you see step out of a cab?”

I can’t help grinning, because that’s actually something I’ve done before. For a second, I think about admitting that, yes, my plus-one is going to be completely on the fly. Some woman I can have a nice, superficial evening with, someone fun and easy on the eyes.

Then Autumn’s face flashes through my mind.

Her serious eyes.

I realize that all I really want is her. If I have to spend the night with anyone, I want it to be her.

“I don’t know.”

Grant stares at me, the humor gone from his eyes. He squints.

“Alright, son. I think it’s time to come clean. You’ve been hiding something for a few weeks now.”

Not something—someone.

The exhaustion of the last few days sets in and my shoulders slump. I’ve barely been keeping it together. Autumn is distant, I’m trying to reconcile the waves of violence and protectiveness I keep feeling, and there’s no point in denying anymore that I’m head over heels for her.

So I tell the truth.

“I met someone.”

Grant nods slowly. Out on the floor, there’s a flurry of movement. Autumn is leading her client and a few members of her team toward one of our conference rooms. My eyes are glued to her—her curves, the swing of her hair as she looks over her shoulder to speak to them, the serious expression on her face.

Guiltily, I glance back at Grant.

Realization spreads across his face.

“Oh, Chris.”

“It’s bad,” I groan, sitting back heavily. “I didn’t mean for it to turn into anything serious…”

“It shouldn’t have turned into anything at all. You know my feelings on workplace relationships.”

His voice is chilled, cold, his eyes flat. Is he thinking of Lenore? Of falling in love with and losing her?

“They’re the same as mine, Grant, but this was…”

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