Page 53 of Married to My Grumpy Minotaur Boss

I can’t believe no one has stopped us and made us start again. I expect Amy to step in at any moment, but when I glance around she waves us on, perhaps flustered by my grouching. I should really try to keep my temper in check a little better. These people are all my employees for fuck’s sake.

Cedric resettles his wings and continues. “As I was saying, we’re here to make a big decision. Will you continue the experiment, risking the chance to open yourselves up to finding something real? Will you return home alone, and lose the chance to find out if this was your true match?”

This time, it’s me holding back a snort.

Justine glances sideways at me and I resist.

“You’ve had some time to consider your decisions and I hope you didn’t take them lightly. Whatever you do, you have the power to change your future here and now.” He turns to me. “Ronan, what did you decide? Will you renew your vows and take Justine home to see what life could be like with her as your wife? Or will you leave the experiment and never know?”

I shift my weight onto the other hoof, flicking my tail against my thigh. I guess I’m going first, then. I clear my throat. “I will.” I turn over my card to show the three letters I wrote in firm black ink.

Silence. Justine’s eyes open wide and she turns to stare up at me. Even Cedric seems surprised.

She’s going to say yes, isn’t she?

“Justine, what did you decide? Will you renew your vows and go home with Ronan to experience life as his bride? Or will you leave the experiment?”

She turns the folded card to face me. Behind my back, I sense the camerawoman creeping closer, zooming in on what Justine is holding.

She looks at me with apology written in her knitted brows and the little tug on her bottom lip with straight white teeth.

Oh, God. She’s going to reject me.

She flips up the cover. “Yes.”

We stare at each other for another long moment. My heart is skipping beats in a rather alarming fashion and there’s a tightness in my throat that wasn’t there before.

It’s fine. I’m fine.

“May true love prevail!” Cedric spreads his wings and grins at everyone in the room. There’s actually applause from some of the crew.

I don’t know what these people think is going on here, but I guess I should be pleased if it makes good television.

Everyone begins bustling around preparing the room for the post-ceremony interviews before we wrap filming and leave for Heartstone.

Justine sidles close. “Sorry,” she whispers.

“Hmm? What for?”

She winces. “I thought you’d write no.

My stomach lurches. “You don’t want to?”

She colors. “Well... no. I mean that’s not—I don’t mind, but I thought you’d be dead against it.”

My tail flicks while I fumble with an answer that doesn’t sound rude or stupid. Finally, I shrug. “Good for ratings. Might as well make it count.”

Her face falls. “Oh. Yeah. I get it.”

I’m left wishing I didn’t undermine my own need to watch her come apart again. She deserves to know the real reason why I wrote yes. I clear my throat. “And you’re not so bad to have around.” I give her a wink, hoping I’ve kept things lighthearted.

She gives me a shy smile, but it’s not as bright as I’d like it to be.

Now I feel like a dick. I don’t want her thinking there are emotions involved, of course. But after the mind-fuck her ex-boyfriend did on her, she deserves to know she’s sexy as hell.

In fact, she deserves to feel special. I bet no one ever made her feel like that in her life. If there’s one good thing that can come out of this arrangement before it’s time to let her go, at least I can do that.

Besides, the board want me to improve my reputation and pampering my reality TV wife would sure count.

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