Page 3 of How to Marry the Boss

Like Jonathan and Nate, Jake is in business casual attire. His navy-blue dress shirt compliments his tanned skin well. His collar is open, showing the top part of his muscled chest.

I walk toward him. My heart is fluttering as we exchange greetings. I feel my cheeks turning red. We then hug. It’s hard not to notice the smell of cologne. Oh, god, that smell combined with his natural musk is heavenly. As much as I’d love to be in his aroma all night, and every night thereafter, I force myself to pull away.

“Something for the birthday girl,” he says, handing me a pink envelope with my name written in his handwriting.

Even though he’s given me birthday and Christmas presents before, I’m always excited to get something from him.

I stutter. “T-thanks.”

“Always,” he smiles that charming grin that I can’t seem to ever resist. The one that makes me dizzy with delight. And like a school-girl crush, I find it near to impossible to hold back a giggle.

The party continues close to midnight. Josie and I, among the remaining guests, are standing around and socializing on the large patio deck. My best friend and I are on one side of the large pool, while Jake talks with another group of people on the other.

All night, I’ve tried to watch Jake from a distance, hoping to catch his eye. But in doing so, I realize that my planning had only gotten me that far, apart from dressing to impress. After that, like a foolish, hopeless romantic, I thought he’d do the rest and proclaim that he wants me as his.

I’m such an idiot.

“Are you going to stare at him all night?” Jocelyn’s voice pulls me from my thoughts.

I cringe. “Is it that obvious?”

“Why don’t you just go and tell him how you feel? Some guys like a girl to be forward.”

In a perfect world, sure. But I’m not that type of girl. “You know that’s not me.”

“I know. But sometimes we have to do things out of our comfort zone to be noticed or get what we want.”

I shrug. “What can I say? I’m an old-fashioned, hopeless romantic who is infatuated with a man who’s almost ten years her senior.”

“If you really want him, go for it. The world is now your oyster.”

“And if he says no…”

“Then at least you tried. And it’s his loss, not yours. Besides, he’s just a guy, not a god.”

I shake my head. For years, I dreamed about the day I’d tell Jake that I like him. But now that that day has come, I’m suddenly lacking the courage.

“I don’t know if I can do this.”

She pauses as though in thought. And then she looks over my shoulder. “Give me a minute.” Walking over to the openbar, Josie swipes two glasses of what looks to be margaritas and hands one glass to me.

“What are these for?”

“You need some courage? Drink up.” In just a few sips, she all but downs her glass.

I do the same. The drink is strong as I swallow. After I’m done, I look back at Jake. Suddenly the thought of confessing my feelings doesn’t feel so daunting anymore.

I hand Josie my now empty glass. “I’ll be right back.”

“You go, girl!” I hear Josie cheering me on as I start walking around the pool and to the other side. The back of Jake’s head is in my view.

I’m a few feet away when I hear him and his group of guy friends laughing. Feeling awkward, I stand with still quite a distance away for them, so they don’t notice me right away. What should I do? I don’t want to interrupt them. I also don’t want to embarrass myself in front of others. Maybe I should ask to speak with him in private. Yeah, that will work. Less nerve-racking, that’s for sure.

One of the male’s voices pulls me from my thoughts. “Say, Jake. I noticed Mia is looking quite…mature tonight. You thinking about tapping that any time soon?”

What a blunt question. Yet I wait on bated breath for a response from him.

Jake scoffs shaking his head. “Don’t be a fucking idiot, Caleb. She’s Jonathan’s kid sister. Nothing more. I don’t think of her like that.”

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