Page 3 of The Boss's Hideaway Baby

“Sir, Anna is here for you.”

I frown at the clock. Is it the end of the workday already?

Nope. It’s only four. So what is my date for tonight doing here so early?

“Send her in,” I say, and hang up.

Anna walks in with a smile on her face, and I try to return it as naturally as possible. Her long, brown hair falls in loose curls down her back, and she’s wearing a form-fitting red dress that hugs her curves in all the right places.

“Hey,” she says. “I hope it’s okay that I came early.”

“Of course,” I reply, trying to keep the surprise out of my voice. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, everything’s fine,” she says, her smile faltering a bit. “I just wanted to talk to you about something.”

I feel a knot of anxiety form in my stomach. This can’t be good.

“Sure, what’s up?” I ask, trying to sound casual.

We’ve been on a handful of polite dates over the past couple months, but there’s no real spark between us. I know she wants more, though. It’s in the way she looks at me and touches my arm when she laughs.

Anna takes a deep breath and looks down at her hands. “I needed to talk to you before we go tonight and just find out… what page we’re on. Where do you see this relationship going? We’ve been seeing each other for a while now, and you haven’t even kissed me.”

I sigh. Shit. Here we go again. I’m going to need to explain to her that I’m just not interested in a relationship. It’ll suck. She’ll be hurt, maybe even pissed.

“Look, you’re great,” I begin carefully. “But I think we want different things here. I’m just not looking for anything serious right now.”

Anna’s face falls, and I can see the disappointment in her eyes. “Oh,” she says softly. “I see.”

“I’m sorry,” I say, feeling like a complete asshole. “I should have been more upfront about my intentions from the beginning.”

Anna nods slowly, still not meeting my gaze. “I just wish you had told me sooner.”

“I know,” I say, feeling guilty. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to hurt you.”

Anna looks up at me then, and I can see the tears glistening in her eyes. “It’s not fair,” she says, her voice choked with emotion. “I really like you, and I thought you liked me too.”

“I do like you,” I say, feeling a pang of regret. “But I’m just not ready for anything serious right now.”

Or ever.

Anna nods again, wiping away a tear with the back of her hand. “I understand,” she says softly.

I can see the pain etched across her face, and I feel terrible. I don’t want to hurt her, but I also can’t force myself to feel something that isn’t there.

“I’m sorry,” I say again, feeling my own eyes starting to water. “I don’t want to be the bad guy here, but I also don’t want to lead you on.”

Anna nods again. “I get it,” she says, her voice flat. “I think I should go.”

With glistening eyes, she leaves without another word. I instantly feel like a jerk. She didn’t deserve to be strung along.

As the door clicks shut behind her, I lean back in my chair. Why do I keep sabotaging any shot at a real connection?

I hate hurting people, but I also hate the idea of settling down. I’m not ready for that kind of commitment, and I don’t know if I ever will be. Maybe deep down I don’t believe I’m capable of intimacy. That I’ll only end up disappointing whomever I’m with, just like my parents disappointed each other.

I run a hand through my hair in frustration. Another burned bridge. Story of my life.

Unfortunately, now I’m dateless for tonight.

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