Page 51 of Secret Marriage To My Bosshole

My stomach growls loudly in response, and I burst out laughing. “I think it’s time we go back to the house and get something to eat.”

“My chef is making dinner as we speak. We can sit out on that little balcony off the bedroom to eat.” Griffin takes my hand as we head down the path to the road.

The drive back to the house is short. Green pastures surround us, and clouds roll in overhead.

I lean back in the seat, watching the sheep roam on either side of the road.

“It’s so beautiful here. It might be nice to retire to Ireland one day.” I glance over at Griffin, trying to gauge his reaction.

If I’m planning for a future, I want Griffin to be part of it…

Griffin looks out his side of the window at the cows in a pasture before glancing back at me. “Sounds like a nice retirement spot. We could get a castle. Or a farm.”

I grin and tie my hair back, tired of the wind whipping it around my face. “We could have both. There has to be a castle with a farm for sale somewhere.”

Griffin laughs and pulls into the driveway at the house we’re staying. “I’m going to get cleaned up before dinner.”

“Okay. I’m going to chill here for a bit and then take a rinse.” I stretch as I get out of the car before sinking into one of the chairs outside.

Griffin heads into the house while I take some time to answer work emails. Sophie and Kaleigh have a stream of messages that I reply with quick, short responses.

I would rather talk about the trip with them in person—though I’ll have to play it off as a work trip to Kaleigh.

As much as I wish I could send her the cute pictures I’ve taken with Griffin, I still don’t want the news getting around the office.

Not until Griffin and I are ready to go public with our relationship... and certainly not before we tell my brother.

After I take a shower, I pull on the dress I’ve been saving for a date night.

The dress is a stunning shade of midnight blue. Its off-the-shoulder neckline adds a touch of elegance, while the flowing skirt brings a sense of movement—the fabric shimmers subtly in the light.

When I step out onto the balcony, stars linger in the sky, and Griffin is pouring a bottle of white wine into the glasses.

He looks up with a big smile and puts down the bottle to pull out one of the chairs. “You look beautiful tonight.”

“You clean up nicely yourself, Griff.” My gaze drags down the dark shirt and jeans he wears before my gaze meets his. “This is still surreal.”

Griffin sits down in the chair beside mine and lifts the silver lids off the plates to reveal plates of lobster fettuccine. “I know. Honestly, the last several weeks have been surreal.”

Butterflies erupt in my stomach as I take a sip of the wine. “I keep thinking about what this means for us and our future. And then I start thinking about having to tell Jake.”

Griffin twirls some of the pasta around his fork before popping the bite into his mouth. “I’m worried about telling him too. We know he’s going to be upset. He knows my track record, and he isn’t going to think the best of my intentions with you.”

I give him a teasing smile even as my stomach ties into knots. “And what are your intentions for me?”

Griffin looks up at the stars, sipping his wine as I eat some of my food.

The silence stretches between us, warming my whole body as he looks back at me.

A shiver runs up my spine as he gets up from his seat. He slowly takes my chin and gently pulls me closer to him.

Griffin brushes his lips across mine. “My intention for you is for us to spend a very long time loving each other.”

“You… you love me?” I trace my fingers along his jaw as my heart pounds against my ribcage.

Griffin nods, warmth shining in his eyes. “I love you, Cora. I’ve been in love with you since the moment you walked into my office and made my life hell. Everything else we can figure out together.”

Blood rushes in my ears as I lean closer, kissing him quickly. “I love you too.”

---