Page 54 of How to Marry the Boss

Standing from the couch, I watch her open the door. Our eyes lock on each other. Suddenly I feel like I’ve just walked into an arena, only I’m not fighting to win. I’m fighting not to lose her.

“Hi.”

“Hi.” She approaches slowly. “We should talk.”

Earlier today, I would have agreed. Now I struggle to see a reason for it. “Do we?”

“I think it’s important.” Now that I see her face, her eyes look redder than normal. Has she been crying?

They could be tears of joy.

Then why does she look so defeated? As if she might start crying all over again. Not tears of joy, but sadness.

I look down and away. “Okay. What do you want to talk about?”

“Is something wrong, Jake? Between you and me?”

“No,” I lie. “Nothing at all.”

“You’re giving me the cold-shoulder, and you won’t look me in the eye. What would you call that then?” she snaps.

“Don’t you have somewhere to be?”

“No. Where do you think I should be?”

With me, but I guess that idea is moot. “I wouldn’t have kissed you if I’d known you were going to choose him anyway.”

“Choose him? All I did was drop him off at the airport.”

Says her. “Of course you’d choose him; he’s your boyfriend. It just would have been nice if you told me who you wanted to be with before all of this.” I point between us.

“Jake, listen to me. Vance had a family emergency, and needed a ride to the airport. I couldn’t just tell him to fuck off.”

“Don’t lie to me anymore,” I yell.

“I’m not.” Tears stream down her face.

“I have feelings for you. I’ve had them for a long time.”

She pauses. “You weren’t BSing me?”

“Of course not. And I thought you had them, too. Guess I was wrong.” I start to walk away. “I’ll move my stuff out by tomorrow.”

I never intended to walk away. I didn’t plan on parting ways like this. But now, what’s the point of staying if the one you love would rather be with someone else? I’m crushed that she’d choose him over me. I’m angry that she let me believe that we had a chance. Why didn’t she say anything before? Why wasn’t she honest with me about how she felt? Am I the person every woman fucks before they find the love of their life? And I thought Mia was different, that I could be her one-and-only.

I’m almost to my room when a gentle hand brushes mine. So soft and warm. Mia’s touch is too tempting to resist.

“Don’t go,” she speaks softly.

I can’t look at her. I’m afraid if I do, I’ll break down.

She walks around to face me. Her expression is soft with either compassion or pity. I’d rather not have either. I’m not a charity case. But I can’t help myself. I lean into her touch as she holds my face with both hands. Her body is so close to mine. My heart races. Despite my protesting brain and my breaking heart, my dick salutes her.

Before I know what’s happening, she leans forward and touches her lips to mine with a tender kiss. Why? I should pull away. Nothing I could do now will change her mind.

But she is my weakness.

That’s the one thing I can’t deny about her. I find myself enraptured. Why do I keep torturing myself with this hope?

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