Page 103 of The Guy Who Became My Grumpy Boss

Jessica grinned and kissed me back. Her warm lips molded to mine.

Marissa had said that she completed me. Is this what she’d felt for me?

“You haven’t answered my question,” Jessica reminded me, her lips still touching mine.

“I don’t know if you’ll understand the significance of this, but I didn’t plan this conversation.”

Jessica sat up and blinked. “Really?”

“I wanted to understand what we were—what we could be—without my expectations getting in the way.”

Jessica studied me. I felt her eyes taking in everything about me—a scrutiny I hoped I would pass.

“Have you ever heard of a grand gesture?” she asked suddenly.

I shook my head.

She laughed and sat up, sadly leaving some space between us. However, in a casual gesture that I would be analyzing for hours later, she pulled one knee up on the bench, which pressed on the side of my leg. She took my hand again. “Have you ever seen a romance movie?”

“I have.”

“Do you have a favorite?”

Questions about favorites were hard. “No.”

Jessica laughed again. “That’s okay. The grand gesture happens near the end of the movie. It’s when, usually, the man runs after the woman who is about to leave after she’s given up on the relationship. Or he does something public and potentially embarrassing to get her back.”

None of that sounded comfortable to me.

Jessica went on, and my hand settled on her knee. “Sometimes the guy will dodge security at the airport in order toget to her before she boards the plane.”

I frowned. “Don’t they get arrested.”

Jessica waved a hand. “That all happens after the story ends and doesn’t matter, because the important thing is that they’re going to be together.”

That didn’t sound logical to me, but I kept my mouth shut.

“Other options include the man singing to the woman in front of a crowd to confess his love, or even hijacking an event to steal the microphone to do the same.” Jessica smiled. “Stuff like that.”

As she spoke, I felt my throat closing off.

Is this what she expected from a man? If so, we would not work out together. I wasn’t that guy. I would never be that guy.

Jessica reached out and touched my cheek, turning my face to hers.

When had I looked away?

“Hey, I’m not expecting any of this from you.”

Was she telling the truth? I hoped so.

“In fact.” Jessica’s hand dropped to my chest. “You’ve just given me a grand gesture.”

“I have?”

“Sure have.” Jessica stretched toward me, and I leaned down to kiss her again.

But I was confused.

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