Page 44 of Dear Grumpy Boss

Over and over again, I come inside her. I demand she give me her throat. I demand to eat her out after we demolish the dinner because I’m voracious for her. Only her. I demand she tell me more of her plans for the bookstore. I demand that she move in with me tonight. I demand she marry me as soon as I can procure a license.

She says yes to every craven demand I make of her, except the last. Because she wants her grandparents present for the wedding.

I’m not happy about the waiting, but I say yes because she’ll be mine forever.

My Mouse.

My Sasha.

My forever love.

Epilogue

Sasha

Six Weeks Later

I walk throughOne More Page, my dream come true, as if I’m floating on clouds. The bookstore opens to the public in two hours, and my heart flutters like the pages of an open book in a windstorm.

Two weeks since Zayn left on a trip to China, but it feels like a lifetime. Getting things ready for the opening kept me busy but now, knowing he’s on his way back tonight, makes my heart pound dangerously in my chest.

It’s the first time we’ve been apart and I’m not ashamed to admit that I didn’t cope well. Good thing my grandparents are back because I’m so ready to marry him, ready to start our life together.

After the night he proposed, I moved into his penthouse the next morning, packing up as much as I could in the one hour he gave me. But I returned home after he left for Beijing.

Only to discover another bit of life-changing news... a thousand butterflies flutter in my stomach as I wonder how he will react to this last bit.

Sighing, I rub my face against the sleeve of my shirt—his shirt—and drag in a deep breath.

Sweetness drifts in from Devil’s Donuts, the donut shop my best friend Mariska runs next door, the sugary warmth curling around me like a hug. A wide archway connects the two spaces, framed by a vintage wooden sign that reads Books & Bites, inviting customers to grab a book and a warm donut in one seamless, cozy experience.

Smiling to myself, I walk around, checking everything one more time.

Shelves line the walls, stacked high with crisp new books and well-loved secondhand finds. Cozy reading nooks, complete with plush armchairs and soft lighting, nestle between the shelves. The best seats in the house, though, are the window alcoves—wide, cushioned benches piled with throw pillows, positioned so they can watch the world outside while they escape into another.

Through the rain-streaked glass, I see downtown Seattle moving in a misty blur. Traffic lights reflect off the slick pavement, pedestrians huddle under umbrellas, and cherry blossoms tremble in the breeze, their pale pink petals scattering onto the sidewalks.

“You’re glowing.” Mariska leans against one of the shelves, arms crossed, smirking. “Either you’re high on the smell of books, or it’s the thrill of Zayn returning.”

I bite my lip, barely containing my excitement. “Latter,” I whisper, my heart thrumming.

Tonight, I’m going to tell my grumpy, possessive boss that he’s going to be a dad soon. I laugh at how I still call him ‘boss’ in my head. Given how bossy Zayn is, especially when he’s driving me towards the edge, it fits.

Nathan strolls in, with his stepdaughter Sophie and her friend/paid companion Jasmine. The young women’s awed squeals ring through the space as they shake off the drizzle.

“Sasha, this is incredible,” Sophie says, the delicate angles of her face set in wonder. With her blond hair pulled tight, she looks like a doll. “It feels like the kind of place you walk into and never want to leave.”

“That’s exactly what I want the customers to feel,” I say, heart full to bursting.

“And these nooks? Perfection.” Jasmine’s tone is soft as she sinks into one of the cushioned window seats, stretching her legs across the bench. She presses her cheek to the glass—hiding the large dark birthmark from the world. I wonder if she knows how frequently she does it.

“Will you keep me in mind if you need help around the store, Sasha?” Jasmine’s voice lowers into a whisper, her gaze on Nathan standing a few feet away. “I graduate in June, and it will be lovely to work for you.”

Before Sasha can reply, Sophie reaches her friend, blue eyes confused. “Why do you need another job, Jazz? If dad’s not paying you enough, I’ll talk to him.”

“What? Of course not.” Jasmine grips Sophie’s hand, as if she’s afraid she’ll bring Nathan’s attention to her. “Mr. Grayson’s more than generous.”

I bite a smile at how primly she says Nathan’s name and yet, there’s so much longing in it. Is it only me who can see this?

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