Page 81 of Dating the Boss
A knock on my window made me yelp.
“You coming in?” Regina said, the wind whipping her hair in her face. “It’s cold as balls out here.”
“Best not keep my sister waiting,” Daniel said, sighing as he shut off the car.
Grinning, I opened my door and rushed toward the awning. It had started to rain. Of course. Once inside the bar, the four of us found a tall table in the corner and settled in, taking off our coats. Daniel looked too damn snuggly in his navy blue sweater and jeans, droplets of rain shining in his dark hair. When our eyes met, he smiled.
My heart fucking melted.
“First round’s on me,” Regina said, then asked what we wanted. Margaritas all around, sugar instead of salt.
Allie’s was a gay bar, so I felt right at home. A small dance floor was at the back of the bar, the space lit up with flashing neon lights. Women made out against one wall, and two men played pool together near our table. When one bent over to shoot, the other smacked him on the ass.
After two margaritas, I grabbed Daniel’s hand and dragged him from the table.
“What are you doing?” he asked with a laugh as I tugged him along behind me toward the back room with the dance floor and louder music.
“Dancing,” I said, smiling up at him.
“I don’t dance,” he said once we were on the floor. But he slid a hand to my lower back and linked our fingers with the other anyway. The music transitioned to a slower song. Probably because of the Valentine’s Day theme. The song was “Yours” from Ella Henderson.
And fuck it was the truth. I was so his.
“That’s okay.” I rested my cheek on his chest. “We can rock from side to side and still look cool.”
He chuckled and held me tighter.
As we danced, I closed my eyes and breathed him in. The hole in my heart that I’d had for so many years as I’d chased after men, desperate to be loved, to feel like I was worthy, was all but nonexistent now.
Daniel made me whole. I didn’t have to be anyone but myself when around him. He’d seen all sides of me: the dressed-up side and the “me” at the ass crack of dawn with messy hair, sleepy eyes, and morning breath. And he was still here, in my arms.
I nestled closer.
“Reed?”
I glanced up at him. His gaze flickered to my mouth before lifting again, and his blue eyes shone with that tenderness that made my heart swell.
“I love you,” he said in a silky-smooth voice. “I wanted to pick a more romantic time to tell you, but I don’t want to hold it in anymore. I’m crazy about you, Reed. You make me happier than I’ve ever been. I know it’s soon, too soon probably, but goddammit, I love you.”
My eyes watered, and it took me a moment to process his words.
“I love you too,” I said. We had stopped moving as the other couples continued dancing around us. “I feel like I’ve known you all my life. Weird, right?”
“Not at all.”
We sealed the confession with a kiss. A kiss that was, unfortunately, cut short.
“Reed?” a familiar voice said from beside me.
I opened my eyes and looked to the right. My heart dropped into my gut, and the breath left my damn lungs. “Jennifer?”
Oh god, this can’t be happening.
Her eyes grew wide as she looked from me to Daniel. “Mr. Sawyer! Um. Hi.” She looked about as horrified as I felt. “Crazy seeing you two here. Together.”
Daniel stiffened, but he didn’t release me. I felt the unsteadiness of his hands on me, though. They held a slight tremble. Although I hated it, I pulled away from him and faced her.
“Hey.” I rubbed the back of my neck, so nervous I could puke. “What brings you to Allie’s?”
