Page 53 of Dating the Boss
“I might be putting in a notice soon,” he quietly said, facing the closed door.
“What kind of notice?”
He looked at me over his shoulder. “To leave. I’m looking for another job.”
“What?” I stood from my desk. “Why?”
Hazel eyes narrowed. “You know why, Daniel. I thought I could do this… work so close to you and pretend like nothing happened between us… but I can’t. It hurts too much.”
Panic rose in my chest, though I concealed it well behind indifference. “If that’s what you feel is best, I won’t stop you.”
“Really?” Reed gritted his teeth as he stepped toward me. “I say I’m leaving and you don’t even care?”
“Idocare. You’re the best assistant I’ve ever had, and you’ll be missed.”
He recoiled as if I’d slapped him. I guess I might as well have. My words weren’t what he’d wanted to hear. They weren’t meant to be cruel, but that’s how he’d taken them.
“Well, I’m glad you’ll miss me as your assistant, Mr. Sawyer.” Reed’s chin shook. “I hope the next one you get doesn’t get stranded with you somewhere. They’ll only wind up heartbroken when they see firsthand how amazing you are, just to be torn to shreds when you cast them aside like trash.”
“Reed…” I strode forward.
“Don’t.” He put a hand up. “I know you probably think I’m being ridiculous, but I have to do it for my mental health. Being around you after—”
I took his face in my hands and kissed him.
He grunted against my mouth and pushed against my chest. But then his fingers curled in my shirt, and he tugged me closer, returning the kiss. The world righted once more as I held him in my arms, our lips moving together. I grazed a hand down his back, growling a little as my fingers slipped beneath the bottom of his shirt and touched his soft skin.
“I thought you said we couldn’t do this,” Reed said after tearing from my lips, his chest rising and falling with his panting breaths.
“We really shouldn’t.” I cupped his cheek. My heart dipped when he turned his face and kissed my palm, his big, hazel eyes meeting mine. “But damn if I’m gonna stay away from you. I can’t. I’m too selfish.”
“I don’t want you to stay away.” Reed softly smiled and gripped my waist. “What does this mean?”
“I don’t know.” I truly didn’t. “But I’m done fighting against what I want.”
“And I’m what you want?”
“Yes.” I kissed him lightly on the lips. As happy as I was to be there with him in that instant, I was also terrified. “If anyone at work finds out, my reputation and my job will be on the line.”
“Guess they better not find out, then,” he said, resting his face on my chest and holding me tighter. “We can pretend nothing’s going on while we’re here and then fuck or whatever outside the office.”
“You’d be okay with that? Keeping it secret?”
“It’s not the first time,” Reed responded. “Before I came out, I had a few secret relationships.”
“The last thing I want to do is make you relive that.”
“I can still quit,” he suggested. “Then it wouldn’t be a problem.”
“I don’t want you quitting a good job just for me. Besides, what other job would you find that pays better than this one and offers the same benefits?”
“Not many, sadly.” Reed stood on his tiptoes to nuzzle my neck and then stepped away. “I’ve searched everywhere already. And to be honest, I love my job here and hated even considering leaving. Sure, it can be monotonous at times, but I get to be creative and my ideas count. I feel like I really make a difference here.”
“You do,” I said. “I wasn’t flattering you when I said you’re the best I’ve had.”
The corner of Reed’s mouth twitched. “The best you’ve had, huh?”
“Get out of my office,” I said, crossing my arms. But I couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across my face. “And don’t make any dinner plans for tonight.”
