Page 87 of Dear Grumpy Boss

But for now, tonight, Elise was mine.

The flight back to Colorado was subdued, but at least Elise sat beside me. With my hand tucked in the crease of her thigh, I spent most of my time reading emails and reports, glancing over at Elise intermittently.

She read a paperback for half the flight, absently stroking my hand and wrist every once in a while.

With a sigh, she closed the book and her eyes.

“Finished?” I asked.

Her lips tipped up. “Yeah.”

“Good ending?”

Her eyes fluttered open, and she turned to me. “A happy one.”

I smirked. “Fiction then.”

She dragged her hand down my face. “Shush, you cynic.”

“Realist. How many happy endings do you personally know about?”

“Plenty. Aren’t your parents married?”

I shifted in my seat, squeezing her thigh. “They’re not a prime example of everlasting love, Elise. Try again.”

My parents’ marriage was for show. They may have loved each other at one time, but I had no memory of affection between them. These days, they shared a home, but their lives were entirely separate. I was fairly sure that wasn’t the kind of happy ending in Elise’s books.

She tapped the divot in her chin. “Rebecca.”

“Should I know who that is?”

“You should since she works for you. Rebecca is married to her high school sweetheart, Sam. She still blushes when she talks about him. So, I’d say, yeah, happy endings are real.”

“Hmmm.” I angled my upper body toward hers, my nose brushing hers. “I think I need a bigger pool to believe it.”

“We’re not in California anymore, West. What are you doing?”

“We’re not home either.” My lips brushed hers. “Give me another hour or two.”

“Aren’t I out of your system yet?”

Cupping her jaw, I sucked her bottom lip between mine. “Getting there. Another hour or two and I’ll forget what you sound like when you come. It’s already getting hazy.”

“Wow, I feel sorry for you.” She licked the seam of my mouth with the tip of her tongue. “I’ve completely forgotten what you feel like in my mouth. In fact, I’m not entirely certain who you are.”

“Strange that you’re kissing me.”

“Well, you started it. I thought it would be rude if I pushed you away.”

With a huff, I fell back in my seat. She grinned at me before picking up her phone and opening the Kindle app.

“Do you have another book to read?” I asked.

“Mmmhmm. I downloaded a horror story.” Her eyes flicked to mine. “Don’t worry, there’s no happy ending. I read spoilers. Everyone dies except for the hero, who spends the rest of his days all by himself in a big, empty penthouse, counting his money.”

I pinched her inner thigh, making her squeal. “I’m reporting you to HR for insubordination.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Do your worst, Mr. Aldrich.”

---