Page 38 of Hiding for the Holidays
Instead of taking the usual way home, he takes a different road today, one that seems to lead us out of town and into the mountains. I don’t feel nervous about where he’s taking me. Maybe I should, but I trust him.
He’s driven me to and from work every day, making sure I’m always wearing his helmet. He’s been teaching me how to defend myself and how to throw punches or a well-placed kick. I never feel safer than when I’m with him.
My arms tighten at that thought as we seem to move up the mountain.
He’s your boss, Rosie!
I scold myself, and try to remember that just because he’s helping me doesn’t mean there’s anything more between us. Even if he does kiss my forehead every night before telling me to be a good girl and reminding me to text him later. That’s totally a thing bosses do… right?
And as much as I liked Asher, likereallyliked Asher, I also felt strong feelings for my other bosses, too.
His bike rounds a bend, then he pulls off into a small dirt patch that looks like it’s used as a makeshift parking lot, but would only fit three cars. He switches the engine off, and I climb off and lift the helmet from my head as he stands beside me.
“What are we doing here?” I ask, gazing around to see why he chose this place to stop.
“I wanted to show you something. We can’t take the bike here once the snow falls, so it might be our last chance.” He takes the helmet from me and places it on his handlebar, then grabs my hand and leads me away from the road to the other end of the dirt lot.
My heart leaps at his touch. Now he’s holding my hand?
He’s your boss, he’s your boss, I chant over and over in my head to stop me thinking of this as a date.
“Here, see?” He pulls me to the edge, and I can now see we’re at the edge of a lookout. You can see for miles all around, and down below I see a town.
“Is that Silent Pines?” I ask, taking a small step forward to try to peek further over the edge.
“Careful!” he says, pulling me back against him as he wraps his arms around my shoulders. My hands shoot up to grab his forearm as my heart thumps heavily.
He doesn’t let me go, and I don’t pull away. I feel his chin rest on my head as he breathes steadily behind me.
Okay then…
Was this normal for him? It certainly wasn’t for me. But I enjoy his comforting embrace, so I try to relax and enjoy the view.
“Below is Silent Pines, and to the right is Maple Ridge,” he says, answering the question I’d completely forgotten I’d asked.
His phone buzzes, making me jump. He smirks at me as he pulls it from his pocket and grabs my hand, leading me back to the bike.
“It’s Leo; he’s wondering where I am.” I nod, reaching for the helmet as he asks, “Do you want to come back to our place for dinner?”
I look into his warm brown eyes. Now he’s asking me to dinner? I’m desperate to ask what this is between us. I know this isn’t normal for a boss and employee, but I’ve never felt like their employee. They never tell me what to do or when to come to work. I’ve been dictating my own hours from the start, and, if anything, I’m the one bossing them around, telling them how to dress and how to run their business.
Besides, I can’t ask him what he wants from me. Even if hewanted something more, which I doubt since he’s way out of my league, I’m just as much into the other two as I am him. It wouldn’t be fair to start something with any of them, knowing I liked the others.
The only option was to remain friends with all three of them.
“Sorry, I can’t.”
He looks disappointed but resigned as he nods. “Another time then.” I nod, knowing I’ll never be able to go to their house. That would be like putting a steak in front of a lion. And they were delicious-looking steaks.
Chapter 13
Rosalie
When we finally make it back to my apartment, my entire body is tingling with adrenaline. I tell myself it’s from riding the bike down the windy mountain road, but I know I’m lying to myself.
I pass Asher his helmet and watch nervously as he moves it under one arm and reaches out with the other, his hand curling around my neck as he pulls me closer. I close my eyes as he moves to kiss my forehead, as he does each night, but the warmth of his breath on my cheek has my eyes flying open as he places the softest, most gentle kiss I’ve ever felt against my skin.
His eyes bore into mine as he stands tall and takes a step back. “Be good,” he says before pulling the helmet on his head and gesturing for me to go inside before he leaves, like he does every night.
