Page 87 of My Not So Wicked Boss (My Not So Wicked 3)

Emma tugged on my arm and stopped jogging. “Will you please talk to me?”

I had been refusing to since we arrived. I didn’t know what to say. I hadn’t even told Chloe yet. Even though she knew something was wrong, she was so disappointed Miles wasn’t coming with us after he promised he would be here.

Emma pulled me to the side. “Aspen, what’s going on? Where’s Miles?”

“Probably still locked up in his office.” Oscar and Molly had informed me that as soon as he came back into the house after our little discussion, he ran straight up to Henry’s room and promised him he would make it all better before asking Molly to bring Henry to me. Then he warned them all not to bother him and shut himself in his office.

“What happened between you two?”

“I told him the truth about how I feel, and he doesn’t want to try,” I blubbered. “I think it’s time to have a cockroach named after him.”

Emma went to hug me, but instead looked over my shoulder and grinned. “You might want to hold off on that.”

“Why?”

She pointed behind me. “Because your boss is headed our way. And, dang, does he look good. He’s got the David Beckham vibe going on in that stocking cap and tight jeans. Me-ow.” She unceremoniously took Henry out of my arms.

“Hey, give him back.”

She flashed me a devious smile. “I have a feeling you aren’t going to want anyone between the two of you.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I disagreed.

“I don’t think I’m the wrong one here. Turn around.”

Like a child, I refused. Emma nudged me, though, until I complied. Holy mother, she was right, and I wasn’t very happy about it. I didn’t need him looking like a walking men’s cologne commercial. Suddenly the forty-degree weather felt like the Bahamas. Emma pushed me forward. “Go.”

I couldn’t move. I was completely mesmerized by the man walking with a purpose holding a black folder in his hand. Did he bring his manuscript with him?

My mom interfered. She maneuvered her way down the bleachers, waving her report at Miles. “Oh good, you came. Aspen said you wouldn’t be here.”

I cringed.

Miles paused to speak to her at the edge of the field. I couldn’t hear what he said, but he pointed in my direction and Mom nodded before looking my way and giving me two thumbs up. Not sure what that meant. I was about to find out.

Miles approached, making sure to keep eye contact with me. It held me in my place in the middle of the soccer field. When he landed next to me, he was smack dab in the middle of my personal space, intoxicating me with his smell and the thunderous aura that surrounded him.

“Hello, darling,” he said as if he hadn’t left me crying just hours earlier.

“What are you doing here?” I stuttered. I thought we had already hashed out our fate, yet here he was. Was he chasing after me?

“I promised Chloe I would be here.”

“Oh.” Of course. I was never worth the chase.

His lip twitched. “I also brought something for you.” He held up the black folder. “It’s a new contract I drew up. I hope you find the terms amenable.” He handed it to me.

I stared at it, not sure what to make of this. “I told you, I quit.”

“I don’t accept your resignation.”

“I can’t work for you. I need to get back to the girls.” I turned to leave.

He grabbed my hand and pulled me to him. We are talking up-against-his-body, sharing-body-heat close.

“Please don’t,” I begged him. “I can’t be close to you and know I can’t have you.” I started to pull away.

He wasn’t letting go. “Aspen,” he whispered my name as if it was a secret he wanted to keep. “If you truly want me, I am yours.”

I blinked an inordinate amount of times trying to let what he said sink in. “I thought you didn’t want to try.”

“No, my love,” he ran a finger down my tear stained cheek, “I’m afraid to try; there is a difference. But I’m more afraid to be without you. I don’t know if I can be me without you anymore.”

That was probably the most beautiful thing anyone could say to me. “Why the change of heart?”

“I realized it was the first time in my life I couldn’t walk away. No woman has ever affected me the way you have. If you give me the chance, I will do anything and everything in my power not to muck this up. Though I fear I will hurt you on occasion, but never on purpose.”

I ran my hand across his stubbled cheek. “I’m not expecting perfection.”

He took my hand and kissed my palm. “That is a good thing, because if you accept the new contract, you will need to sign a clause stating you acknowledge that I’m getting the better end of the deal.”

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