Page 85 of My Not So Wicked Boss (My Not So Wicked 3)

I think Chloe was right—I needed to tell him the truth, but after his friends went home. Well, one friend in particular. I was tempted to back out of going to the comedy club with them tonight, but my friends were curious about Miles’s friends, especially the ex-lover. I’ll tell you this, she had some nerve. You would never catch me staying at Leland’s house, and that’s not only because he couldn’t afford a house.

Miles said he would take care of Henry this morning when he woke up, but I couldn’t help but head over to check on him. I missed the tyke, and there was nothing like his sweet smile first thing in the morning. I let Chloe sleep in since her game wasn’t until mid-afternoon. I arranged some scones on a plate and wrote a thank you card for Miles before I made my way to the main house. The trek each morning on the cobblestone path was getting colder and colder. My hoodie and athletic pants were barely adequate to keep me from shivering.

When I walked in through the mudroom, I was surprised to hear voices so early on a Saturday. More surprising was to hear my name. I stopped and listened more intently. It sounded like Miles and Oscar were in the kitchen.

“Bloody hell, what a mess you’ve created for yourself. Why don’t you just fire Aspen already then?” Oscar asked.

My breath ceased, waiting to see what Miles would say.

“Believe me, if that would solve the problem, I would do it now.”

The plate and scones dropped to the tile floor, making an earsplitting clang when the plate broke in several pieces. Dammit. I stood there looking at the broken glass and crumbled scones, shaking, not sure what to do. He wanted to fire me? Penelope was right. I was a naïve poppet. In my panicked state, I left the mess and headed for the door.

Miles and Oscar came rushing in to investigate before I could escape. Their wide eyes looked between the mess on the floor and me.

I didn’t even bother looking at Oscar, it was only Miles who needed to hear what I had to say. “I quit.”

I ran out the door before I could even comprehend what I just did. But on some level, I must have known since I burst into tears. The ramifications began to swirl in my mind as I ran toward the cottage. The most beautiful place I had ever lived. The place where my daughter slept peacefully, not knowing her mom was disrupting her life. And then there was Henry. How was I going to leave him? A loud sob escaped me.

“Aspen,” Miles called after me. “Please, stop.”

Not happening. I had to pack and disappoint my daughter. After that I needed to figure out what was wrong with me. Or buy a cockroach. Probably both.

Miles caught up to me. He grabbed my hand moments before I made it to the cottage’s front porch. “Bloody hell, woman.” He turned me toward him. Did I mention he was only wearing pajama pants? He chased after me barefoot and half-naked. By how perky his pecks were and all the goosebumps that covered him, I would say he was uncomfortable to say the least. I was so heartsick, though, I didn’t even care how beautiful his body was or that he must have been freezing.

He pulled me toward him, though I put up a fight. “Aspen, what’s happened? Why would you quit?” His teeth chattered.

“I figured I would beat you to the punch. I heard you tell Oscar you wished you could fire me.” I yanked my hand away from him.

He scrubbed his hands over his face. “What you heard was taken out of context.”

“Was it? Because Penelope said this would happen.”

His jaw clenched. “Please, let’s go inside and discuss this.”

“No. It was a mistake to think I could work for you. I can’t do this anymore. I can’t pretend that I don’t have feelings for you. That I don’t want to entangle our lives, romantically, emotionally, and every other way. But I’m going to believe you and leave before you hurt me.”

Miles’s shivering ceased. He stepped closer. “Why do you think I said I want to fire you? I hate having that bloody contract between us, but I know it’s what keeps you safe from me. If you think for one second that I don’t want you, that you don’t keep me up at night wishing you were sharing my bed, wishing I could be the man you deserve, then you are sorely mistaken. Never before has a woman bewitched me the way you have.”

He ran the back of his cold hand down my wet cheek. “From the moment I met you, I knew there was something special about you, more than just reminding me of Isabella. Your goodness became more apparent as I’ve watched how you’ve taken care of Henry and me.”

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