Page 102 of Falling For The Boss

“He was eighteen!”

“Yeah. And the husband found the two of them. The boy jumped out of the bedroom window and broke his ankle. The wife was shrieking, the boy was screaming. The husband almost jumped out the window after the boy but luckily he decided against it.”

“Oh god. I know you didn’t finish the job.”

“Talking about me with your brother?”

I laugh at his comeback. “I was curious.”

“It seems we both were.”

We keep walking and he keeps holding my hand and my heart keeps beating rapidly. I’m a teenager again on a first date with a guy I’ve liked forever, hoping and not hoping he’ll kiss me good night.

“You know the rest of the story.”

I do. The husband and wife divorced. The former wife went back home to California. “Any other interesting jobs?”

“None as interesting as that. People change their minds a lot once they start to see it coming together, realize what they thought they wanted wasn’t it. I get paid to redo it, so it doesn’t bother me too much.”

“Do you have anything lined up after the boutique?”

“A photographer bought a condo on the beach, wants it redone.”

We reach the end of the boardwalk and sand reaches out to meet the ocean. I don’t want the night to end, but I know both of us have to wake up early. He must realize the same because he turns back toward the boutique. The silence between us settles comfortably. The closer we get to where we’re going, the more I want this walk to last.

“I had a good time.” He slowly lets go of my hand. “I’ll see you tomorrow, boss.”

My breath catches when he leans in, his warmth surrounding me. His lips press against mine, soft and warm, the kiss tender.

“See you tomorrow.”

Chapter Five

The next few days Adam and I dance around each other as we complete the daily tasks I set aside for us to be ready for the boutique grand opening. I don’t know how we went this long before acknowledging each other this way. Even when I’m organizing stock and setting merchandise out, Adam is forefront in my mind. We flirt and quip with each other, he brings me coffee, I make him test my homemade cookies I’m making for Lila’s shower.

He hasn’t kissed me again and I don’t know how to feel about it. After telling Lila about the kiss the other night, she hasn’t stopped asking me if we have. I don’t know how to tell her we haven’t. A few times I think he’s definitely been going for it, but like a romantic comedy something has interrupted it. A phone call, a delivery man, Lila herself. He’s been horribly respectful and it’s sweet, but I’d like to see if the magic from the first time repeats itself.

“Georgia, it looks amazing in here!”

I freeze when I hear my mother’s voice. It’s not like Adam and I are even in the same room at the moment, but I feel guilty—a teenager again. “Mom?” I squeak?

“Oh hello, dear.” Mom is in her tennis outfit and even though I know she’s just come from a tennis match, she glows.

I dutifully kiss her cheek. “What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to see the progress.” Mom looked around, hands on her hips. “I love the rose gold theme. Makes it classy. I love this jewelry display. Where’s Adam?”

Ah-ha. I knew it. “You didn’t come to look at the boutique.”

“I did, too.” Mom looks over my shoulder. “Brett just mentioned you had a date to Lila’s shower.”

“Yes, it’s Adam.”

“I like Adam.”

“Thanks. I do, too.” I try to steer her back out onto the boardwalk but the woman doesn’t move.

“He’s got a very nice body.”

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