Page 32 of The Boss's Hideaway Baby

“Definitely not unwelcome.” She chuckles softly.

Suddenly, I become acutely aware of how close we’re sitting. Our shoulders are brushing against each other, and the warmth of her body seeps into mine. The air between us seems to grow heavy, charged with an unspoken desire. For a moment, our eyes lock, and I find myself leaning in closer, lips parting slightly.

I hear her quick intake of breath, see her eyes searching mine… She wants this just as badly as I do.

But then reality slaps me in the face. This is my assistant! What am I doing?

I pull away, my heart racing. “I’m sorry,” I stammer, my face flushing with embarrassment. “I shouldn’t have… I didn’t mean to…”

She looks away, her cheeks reddening. “It’s all right, Nathan.” She avoids my gaze. “I don’t know what I was thinking either.”

Her response causes a sharp pang in my chest, but I swallow it down. This isn’t the time or place for anything more than friendship. We’re both too vulnerable, and we need to focus on getting through this storm.

“Let’s just enjoy each other’s company and forget about it, okay?” I suggest, attempting a smile. She nods, still not meeting my eyes, and we both stare into the flames, the unspoken moment hovering between us like a fragile, untouchable thing.

The fire crackles, casting flickering shadows on the walls as we sit side by side on the rug. I can’t stop myself from glancing at her again, her face illuminated by the warm glow of the flames. Her eyes seem to sparkle, and I wonder if she’s as affected by our almost-kiss as I am.

“Maria,” I begin tentatively, my fingers absently tracing the pattern on the blanket covering our legs. “When you said you didn’t know what you were thinking… did you mean that you’re not interested in…” I trail off, unable to voice my fears directly.

She hesitates for a moment, biting her lip before replying. “It’s not that, Nathan. It’s just… complicated.”

I nod, understanding all too well the myriad reasons why starting something between us would be difficult. As her employer, there are certain lines I shouldn’t cross, and yet I find myself drawn to her like a moth to a flame.

“Believe me, I know,” I admit quietly, my gaze dropping to the dancing flames. “There are so many reasons why we can’t date. But it doesn’t stop me from wanting to.”

She shifts closer, her shoulder pressing against mine. “If things were different, if we weren’t in this situation, would you still want to?”

Her question catches me off guard, and I’m surprised to find myself grappling with the urge to open up to her. I’ve never shared my feelings so candidly before, but there’s something about Maria that makes me want to be completely honest with her.

“I think you’re an incredible woman, Maria. You’re smart, talented, and compassionate. I’ve always been impressed by how you handle yourself under pressure, and I can’t deny that I’m attracted to you.”

“Then why don’t you show it at work?” she asks, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Boundaries,” I reply, remembering my determination to keep things professional between us. “It’s important to maintain a certain level of distance when we’re working together. But now, with everything that’s happened… it’s hard not to let those boundaries blur.”

She nods, her gaze thoughtful as she considers my words. “I understand. And I appreciate your honesty.”

I let out a small sigh, feeling a mixture of relief and frustration. Opening up like this is both liberating and terrifying, but I know that it’s necessary if we’re going to navigate this storm together.

As the fire continues to burn, casting its warm glow around us, I can’t help but think about what could have been if circumstances were different. They’re not, though.

And there’s a reason I didn’t directly answer her question about dating her if things were different.

You could take away the precarious situation we’re in, and you could take away the fact that she’s my employee. But even if we had met in a bar, I wouldn’t be able to give her anything beyond a few dates.

Because that’s just not me. It never has been, and it never will be.

Sometimes I dream of being different, but I’m not that naïve. A tiger doesn’t change his stripes, and if I care about Maria — which I do — it’s up to me to protect her from my bite.

CHAPTER 12

MARIA

The morning light filters through the cabin windows, casting a soft glow over the peaceful moment. I lie awake on the couch, my thoughts drifting back to last night. Nathan is still asleep on the floor in front of the now-cold wood stove, his chest rising and falling with each breath. The quiet is almost tangible, wrapping around us like a gentle embrace.

What if we had kissed last night?

My heart flutters at the thought, but I quickly push it away. It’s easy to get lost in a fantasy of the two of us staying here in Montauk and playing house, but I know that’s far from reality. Once the men who are after him are caught, we’ll return to our lives in New York — me as his assistant, and him as the billionaire playboy.

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