Page 23 of Broken Boss Daddy

They did, in fact, have exotic flavors which she wasted no time in trying. Some turned out better than others, and it quite surprised me that a small-town ice-cream store would produce some amazing tastes.

I settled on the classic chocolate and mint, while Jess finally chose strawberry.

“I can’t believe after all of that, you just got the strawberry.”

“What can I say? I like what I like.”

“You amaze me sometimes,” I chuckled, pulling out a chair for her, then taking my own.

“Good, that’s the way it’s supposed to be.”

“And I’m the sarcastic one here.”

“Yes, and the egotistical one.” Jess winked at me.

“What can I say?” I copied her. “You like me the way I am.”

Jessica licked her ice-cream, giving me the sweetest smile. “I do,” she whispered, and my smile took over my entire face.

We spent the rest of the afternoon walking around and talking about family—mostly mine. We also spoke a lot about our childhoods, and how different they’d been. She grew up in a happy household, one where she was cherished and loved with no faults. Whereas I grew up in a broken one that still influenced me years later.

As the sun set, Jess and I walked out of the bookstore with a pile of new and used books. There were so many, I doubted she would ever have to buy another book again. However, Jessica reassured me she’d probably be done with them in a couple of weeks.

I’ll believe it when I see it, I said to her, and the challenge that glinted in her eyes made me think of readingher bodylike my personal manuscript.

The afternoon turned out better than I hoped, and I wouldn’t mind having more of them with her.

Chapter 11: Jessica

(Flashback)

“Grant Adams.” I stared at the outstretched hand and debated whether I should give him my actual name.

But he was the sexiest man I’d ever seen, and if I was going to get murdered by a stranger, it might as well have been him.

“Jessica Flynn,” I said, tingles shooting up my arm when I shook his hand.

There was something about his touch that excited me, something that had me nearly squirming in my seat from the heat. We were locked on to each other, our hands suspended in midair. There was something oddly familiar about Grant Adams, but I sure as hell would’ve remembered meetinghim.

The silence stretched on a little too long for my comfort. Dropping his hand and taking a sip of my cocktail, I coughed and asked, “So, what brings you here on such a fine night?”

“Describing my night as fine would put it lightly.”

“Ouch. It really was rough, wasn’t it?”

“That would be an understatement.” he sighed. “My father is up my ass.”

I choked on my drink and some dribbled out of my mouth. “Excuse me?” I coughed, trying to cover up my obvious embarrassment.

But he just grinned. “Not literally. Well, actually, that’s not far from the truth. He would be on my case all the time if given the chance.

“That’s… interesting. What’s he riding you so hard about?”

“According to him, I’m screwing up my life. God forbid something doesn’t go according to his plans, otherwise the world just might end.” Grant finished his glass and signaled for another one, pointing to mine as well.

“You don’t look like you’re screwing up,” I said, turning in my seat to face him. He followed suit.

“Thing is, I feel like I am as well.”

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