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“Ah.” I nod in understanding. “Well, you’re the hottest furry orange tiger I’ve ever seen.”

He squints his brows. “I bet you say that to all your furry suitors.”

“You caught me.” I shake my head before capturing his mouth with mine once more.

* * *

“So this is it?”Boss asks, standing in front of my parents’ beautiful home.

“This is it. My location of residence for the past twenty-four years. Until today.” I wink, squeezing his hand.

After giving my place of employment a two-minute notice, I quit. Not the most professional thing to do, no, but I couldn’t care less. I’m packing up my shit and moving in with my man.

Sayonara, Jacksonville.

Hello, Chicago.

Let’s face it, the city doesn’t matter. I’d move anywhere to be with Boss.

“Mom, I’m home,” I call out as soon as I open the foyer door.

I didn’t see my dad’s truck in the drive, so he should still be at work. However, one can never be too careful. I’ve caught my parents in full-on hot and heavy midafternoon sex more times than I’d like to count. There must be something about the time between lunch and dinner that turns my parents on.

My mom rushes out of her room, pulling a brush from her hair. She’s flushed and looks like she just ran five miles. “Hey, you’re home early. I thought you were getting off tonight. You just missed your father.”

Yep…and there it is.

Thank God for small miracles.

She lifts her gaze for the first time, her eyes going wide when she sees that I’m not alone. A smile forms on her face at the sight of Boss.

“Mom, this is Boss. He surprised me at work for my birthday,” I say.

She claps her hands together and rushes toward us. “Oh, that’s great.” She extends a hand toward Boss. “It is so nice to meet you. Alexa hasn’t stopped talking about you. You are even more handsome than she described.”

I furrow my brow. “Down, girl,” I tsk. “And that’s not possible because I literally said that he’s the hottest guy I’ve ever seen.”

Boss chuckles at my side and shakes my mother’s hand. “Please call me Tony.”

“Tony. Okay.” My mom nods. “Well, come in, please.” She extends her arm toward the living room. “Can I get you something to drink? Lemonade, iced tea, water, a beer?”

“Iced tea would be great,” he responds.

“Uh, your one and only daughter will take a lemonade, Mother, thanks.” I roll my eyes and look at Boss. “Apparently, I’m chopped liver.”

The corner of his mouth tilts up. “Well, you are twenty-four and live here, so I think that means you’re fully capable of getting your own beverage.”

I gasp in mock disgust. “Rude. It is my birthday. Remember?”

“Right.” He laughs.

My mom meets us in the living room with a tray of drinks. “Let’s go sit on the patio. It’s such a nice day.”

We follow her outside; Boss and I take a seat on the oversized porch swing.

“So you just decided to surprise her with a quick birthday visit?” Mom asks Boss.

He shrugs. “Pretty much. I missed her and wanted to see her…so here I am.”

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