Page 34 of Secret Marriage To My Bosshole

Chapter twelve

Griffin

Cora walks down the stairs the following evening, looking like something out of a wet dream. Her hair falls in long waves down her back, and her black silk dress hugs every curve of her body to perfection.

I tuck my hand in my pocket, trying to adjust the bulge without her noticing.

Cora smirks as she reaches the bottom step, her gaze dropping to the front of my slacks.

Busted.

She looks up at me with amusement shining in her eyes, the corner of her mouth still twisted upward. “You haven't told me where we were going yet.”

“And I’m still not going to.” I loop my arm around her waist and lead her out to the car. “I thought it would be nice to surprise you and take over the planning for once.”

Cora’s smile makes my pulse race. “Is this something I’m going to like?”

“I sure hope so.” I open the car door for her. She slides in with ease, a high slit climbing up her thigh.

I have no clue how I’m going to get through the evening without touching her, but I’m going to do my best.

This date needs to be the best one Cora has ever had. She deserves everything I have to give her.

I want to make a good impression; otherwise, she might think I’m just toying with her. She could walk back into my office on Monday morning and demand that I sign the divorce papers.

There's no way I’m doing that.

I’m going out with Jake’s younger sister, who also happens to be my employee.

If anything goes wrong, I could lose my best friend and my reputation.

The moment my father finds out that I’m dating an employee, he will do everything in his power to regain control of Blake and Associates.

He’ll say I’m an embarrassment to the family name—though that is nothing new.

It’s worth it, though. Cora is worth all the trouble and drama.

I sigh and rake a hand through my hair, trying to get control of my thoughts. I need to be confident on this date instead of a tangled ball of anxiety.

I get in the car, and Cora looks over at me. I wonder what’s going through her head.

Is going out with her wrong?

Was she right about the divorce?

“Everything okay?” Her eyebrows pull together, and a thin line appears between them. “If you’re having second thoughts about this, we don’t have to go out. We could go back inside and order something for dinner. Pretend that we never wanted to do this in the first place.”

I take her hand, lacing her fingers with mine. “I want to do this. I just don’t want this to end poorly.”

The frown gives way to a smile. “Good. I still want to go out with you. I don’t know how things are going to play out either, and I have to admit that it scares the hell out of me. It’s been so long since I went on a first date.”

“That seems hard to believe.” The engine roars to life, and we leave the comfort of the house behind us, quickly heading toward the unknown. “You’re one of the calmest and collected people I’ve ever met on a first date.”

“Only because I’m freaking out internally all the time.” She laughs and settles back against the seat.

She’s so gorgeous.

It’s only a short drive down the road to the marina. I pull inside the gates and head to the pier where the yacht I chartered for the evening is waiting.

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