Page 86 of Broken Boss

“Right…”

“And you’re in love with her.”

With a heavy sigh, I give in—there’s no point arguing this. Nate can see right through me.

“I am.”

“Okay. So have you told her that?”

“Of course not! Did you not just hear everything I’ve been dealing with for the last few weeks?”

“Doesn’t matter.”

“You keep saying that. It does, in fact, matter.”

“Why? Does it make you love her less?”

“No, but?—”

“Then what’s your plan? Let her go? Keep living alone in that empty house and continue avoiding a real relationship and commitment?”

My mouth snaps shut. I glower at Nate, who gives me a smirk that I rarely see grace his lips.

“What’re you so afraid of, Chris?” It’s a serious question and one that goes right to the heart of the matter. I shift uncomfortably in the chair.

“I just don’t see how things could possibly work out.”

“For you and Autumn?”

“No, Autumn is wonderful. When all of this is behind her—she’s a sharp lawyer, Nate. Brilliant. Competent. It’d be a blow if the firm lost her. And on a personal level, she’s going to be an amazing mom someday.”

“Okay, so again—what’s keeping you from telling her you’re in love with her? And the life you want?”

I clamp my mouth shut so hard it feels like my teeth might crack from trying to keep the words in that have been banging around in my head for months. Years, really. Long before Autumn.

“I just…I think I’ll be a shitty dad.”

Nate looks surprised. His hands grip the arms of the chair as we stare at one another. “What would make you think that?” he asks with a sympathetic tone.

I roll my eyes again, not wanting any of it. Putting my walls back up.

“Oh, come on, Nate. Look at where we came from, who our father figure was. Do you really think I have a shot at turning into a good dad?”

He levels me with a look. “Do you think I’m a shitty dad?”

“Wha—of course not! How could you even?—”

“Exactly. I feel the same way about you saying it, Chris.”

“But you have kids already, Nate. And you have Gen to keep you on the straight and narrow.”

“And you’ll have Autumn. You said it yourself, she’s a strong woman. Do you really think she’s going to let you slack off?”

A small smile lifts my lips at the thought. Her sharp eyes and the way she wrinkles her nose when she’s calling bullshit on me.

“No.”

“Alright. That settles it, then. You need to go home and tell her. And obviously, fix this whole situation with Stephen and Kieran. Put the right man behind bars.” He shifts, rubbing at his chin again. “Are you worried about what it’ll do to your career?”

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