Page 69 of Boss Me

“Cooper.” Mateo’s tone held a warning.

I approached him where he stood, hand on the front door’s handle.

“Door’s unlocked,” he said. “And I know I checked it when we left. You two get back in the car and lock the doors.”

Coco barked at full volume when I pressed Ben back into the SUV. I scooted in behind him and reached into the driver’s seat to hit the door-lock button.

“What’s going on?” Ben pulled Coco into his lap and stroked his sides until he quieted. The dog stared forward at the front door like he could see through it.

“Mateo thinks someone might be inside. He’s checking it out.”

“Is Mateo going to be okay?”

“If he’s not out in five minutes, I’ll go in.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“No.” I put a hand on his shoulder and stared into his startled eyes. “You’ll stay out here. Where it’s safe.”

“Take Coco with you.”

I scratched the dog’s head. “Okay. He can save the day again by biting the bad guy’s ankle.”

Mateo emerged from the house and jogged to the car. I unlocked it for him, and he poked his head inside.

“All clear,” he said. “A mix-up with housekeeping. New guy thought he was supposed to do your place.”

A housekeeping cart bumped through the front door. The man who pushed it was almost too bulky for his uniform to cover him. The buttons strained, ready to pop off. He limped behind the cart on the path and gave us an embarrassed wave. Coco growled.

“Luis should know about this. And he should get him a better-fitting uniform.” I reached for my phone.

“Don’t.” Ben put a hand over mine. “It was an honest mistake. And he’s new. I wouldn’t want him to lose his job over this.”

Ben was always so thoughtful about people in service. I slipped my phone back into my pocket. “Okay.”

“Thanks.” He kissed my cheek. “I think I’ll go inside and take a nap.”

I lifted my hand to his cheek and redirected the kiss to my lips. “Sounds good. I’ve got a special dinner planned.”

“Mmm.” The sound shot straight to my groin. “I like the sound of that.”

It had been a long time since I’d made out in a car, but if Mateo hadn’t been standing there, and if Coco hadn’t been growling and scratching at the window, I might have tried it. But, circumstances being what they were, I opened the door and grabbed Coco around the middle so he wouldn’t chase the housekeeper. I tucked him under my arm and helped Ben out. Our walk through town earlier had to have been rough on his ankle.

While Ben napped, I visited the weight room, and afterward, I picked up a few essentials from the personal care section of the gift shop. Essentials I hoped to use later with Ben. I spoke with Luis about the plans for dinner, but as I’d promised Ben, I said nothing about the wayward housekeeper.

Luis clapped me on the back. “Good luck, my friend. I’m glad you’ve found love at last.”

My eyes must have gone wide because Luis laughed. “Don’t tell me you haven’t told him how you feel.”

“I—no. How do I feel?” Besides possessive as fuck whenever Mateo laughed at one of Ben’s jokes. Elated when Ben kissed me. I even loved wearing that ugly-as-fuck iguana shirt he’d chosen for me.

“I think you know. You only need to admit it to yourself. And to him.”

Was Luis right about how I felt? I turned it over as I jogged back to the bungalow, clutching my bag of supplies. I’d never been in love with anyone except Jackson. And I knew even when it happened that my feelings weren’t healthy. The crush in my chest when I was with Jackson wasn’t warm and fizzy like it felt with Ben. With Jackson, it was always pain because I knew he didn’t feel the same about me. No matter that he’d kissed me a couple times when he was drunk, Jackson was completely straight. I’d known from almost the first day I’d met him that I had no chance with him.

And yet I’d pined over him like a teenager over a rockstar crush. Why? Why had I done it for fifteen years? I’d thought it was because we were as close as brothers. Best friends who were a hop and a skip from lovers if only he’d wake up and see how I felt about him.

When he married Alicia, I figured it couldn’t last. He’d never had a serious relationship. Plus, despite all his flaws, I’d still hoped he and I were meant to be together. It was why I’d picked up every bit of work he’d dropped. So he’d know I’d be there when it all fell apart. But the night their baby was born, when I’d seen the exhilaration in his eyes as he held his new family close…

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