Page 61 of The Guy Who Became My Grumpy Boss

How was she going to react? I hadn’t planned this far ahead, but there was only one way to go from here, and that was forward.

My lips felt as if they were moving on their own, slowly taking in each inch of her bare shoulder and then the side of her neck. Her fruity lotion (or was it perfume?) had invaded my senses, and all I wanted was more.

How long had it been since I’d said she made me happy? She hadn’t replied. I lifted my head, and a wave of panic ran through me. “Do you want me to stop?”

Stupid. I should have asked her if I could kiss her before I’d started.

“Yes,” Jessica said in a breathless voice.

Had I read her wrong? Was I wrong about all of this? I immediately let her go and stepped away, embarrassment and shame flooding through me.

Jessica turned, and I wondered if she would be angry. Her gaze was intense, and I was about to apologize, but then she came for me.

I’d seen her be assertive at work, but when she grabbed my shirt by the collar and yanked me down to her, I yelped in surprise.

I’m not proud of it, but there it is.

When she kissed me, I froze in shock.

My mind took in everything, including the ferocity of her lips on mine, her free hand weaving through the back of my hair, and the heat of her body against me.

Obviously, she was fine with me kissing her, so I wrapped my arms around her and committed to the action enthusiastically.

I’d never imagined a person could replicate the calm I felt when I arranged flowers. Not that I was feeling calm at the moment, but Jessica didn’t drain me like everyone else. Instead, she energized me. She helped me see things in a new light. She helped me see myself in a new light.

She helped me see the man I could be. A better version of Peter Kim.

I couldn’t picture being alone anymore. I didn’t want to be alone ever again, not if she was near.

I wondered how she felt about me beyond some level of attraction, but I gently pushed the need to analyze the situation aside and stayed in the moment.

Jessica felt perfect in my arms. Soft but strong. Energizing and calming at the same time. We simply worked, like the flowers I arranged. I didn’t know why or how, but she belonged with me.

I belonged with her, if she would have me.

After a few minutes of frantic exploration, I slowed the pace between us. I kissed her deliberately, then went back to her neck.

Jessica giggled at the contact from my lips, and I smiled. “Do you want me to stop?” I said between kisses.

“Nope.” Then she sighed and pulled away from me. “But we have a lot to do.”

I stared into her beautiful eyes, then my gaze dropped back to her lips.

She kissed me once, then said, “I tell you what, we can take a break when we’re halfway done with these baskets.”

I growled. “Halfway?”

She grinned. “We need to get them finished by midnight.”

“Or what, you turn into a pumpkin?” I mused as I grazed my lips along her shoulder.

“No, you turn into a pumpkin.” Her fingers laced into my hair, and she let out a long sigh of contentment.

Unfortunately, she was correct. I would be next to worthless tomorrow for our activity if I didn’t get at least six hours of sleep. “You’re right,” I murmured.

“I know.”

This time, when she stepped away, I let her go. Her absence made my heart ache, and my arms twitched to drag her back, but we had work to do.

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