Page 10 of Boss Level

“We did it.” I mouthed to Elliot.

His grin was as stupid broad as mine. “I know, right?”

We exchanged a high five. I listened to the status reports a little longer, before I was comfortable saying I’d done all I could. “I’ll be in my office, and I’m here for anything you need,” I said. “Make sure your guys eat.”

Elliot scoffed. “I know how to take care of my team.”

“I know.” I was reluctant to leave and go back to my desk, but now that the kids had opened the presents, someone needed to clean up the wrapping paper strewn about the living room.

On my way back to my office, I checked my phone. In the last little bit, I’d been inundated withCongratulationsmessages, including another from Dominic that saidI snuck out of a presentation to see you go live. It looks incredible.You’reincredible. The note warmed me, but there was one absent in the bunch. I didn’t want to notice, but it was impossible to ignore.

Especially since I’d seen Xander’s mood on Saturday night. I knew him well enough to tell this fake engagement bothered him, despite what he said, and I got it.

But for him to not send me any sort ofGo Team Judyhurt.

There could be a dozen reasons for why I hadn’t heard from him yet. No reason to let my imagination run away from me.

When I stepped into my office, and saw that someone had moved my keyboard and spelled outCongrasin colored paper clips on my desk, the creeping cloud of disappointment evaporated. My grin was back full-force. So where was he?

“You did it.” Xander pressed into my back. “Not that I ever had any doubt.”

I stepped into the room, and let him follow me. Turning to face him, I leaned against my desk. “My team did it.”

“Yourteam. Exactly.” He leaned against the door to close it, and crossed his arms. His biceps stretched the limits of his long-sleeved T-shirt, as he dragged his gaze over me. “God, you’re one hell of a bad ass bitch.”

“Thank you.” I was more warmed by his words than any series of stats about usage, and I shouldn’t be. This was an emotional reaction, and I tried to be above that kind of thing. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“You would’ve found a way.”

“Fine. I wouldn’t have wanted to do it without you.”

Xander opened his arms wide. “Come on.”

I stepped in without hesitation for a hug. The way he held me was comfort and assurance and safety. It was years of friendship and support.

I’m engaged to the wrong man.

The thought struck me hard, carried on the swell of an emotional day, and I struck it down without hesitation. I wasn’t engaged to anyone, and Xander was all-but married. That was enough of that.

“You spelledCongratswrong,” I murmured against his chest.

“I ran out of paperclips.” He rested his forehead on the top of my head, and the heat from his breath brushed my scalp. “But don’t worry—I asked Ivan to order alotmore for next time. You’re not wearing your ring.”

I freed one arm to slide a thumb under the chain around my neck. “I am.” I couldn’t fathom setting the ring down somewhere and risk misplacing Dominic’s priceless heirloom, but I wasn’t ready to answer questions in the office about why it looked a lot like an engagement or wedding ring.

Xander dipped a finger under the delicate titanium rope, and glided along my neck, down my collarbone, and to my chest, where the ring rested. “So you are.”

Like that, the hug was over.

Disappointing, but expected. And with some distance between us, I could pretend the heat spilling through me was nothing. “Did you come down here to check up on me?”

“I came to congratulate you.” Xander sounded offended. “You know that.”

“I do.” My smile was back, and there was no reason to get stuck in another loop ofthanks to you. No, thanks toyou. But I couldn’t help snapping a picture of the paper clip art before I cleared it away and sat at my desk. “How are things at the office?”

Xander sucked his teeth and settled into the chair across from me. “You sure you don’t want to linger in the bliss a little longer? My answer won’t change between today and tomorrow.”

Well, fuck. “I’m gonna need you to tell me now, when you phrase it that way.”

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