Page 31 of Royal Bosshole

“Don’t know. But I’m just going through the list. Okay, what’s next?” Peter tapped his fist on the table. “Don’t remark specifically on her appearance. Like, just say, ‘you look really nice’, and not, ‘Geez your tits look really suckable in that bra’.”

I spit out my beer and shook my head. “God, Peter, why would I say that? That’s something one would only ever think, never say.”

But I had said some versions of that with some of the women I’d slept with. The women who’d signed contracts with me about our sex life. All dirty talk had been on the table. But I hadn’t been out on a date in…God, I wasn’t sure since when.

“All right, all right,” Peter said, holding his hands up. “I was just checking. There’s just a lot of creeps out there, and since you're not so experienced in this realm, I thought I'd throw you a bone, you know?”

“Gee, thanks,” I said back, and I stole a glance back at Lily.

As usual, she wore an unreadable expression as she talked to her friends. I wondered if I'd bullied her into it. Did she really want to go out?

Fuck, this woman had really tied me up in knots. A few days ago, I had been blustering into her coffee shop, yelling at her about spilling coffee on my suit, and now I was worried what she thought about going out with me.

“Come on, let's get out of here,” I said. “I'd rather not be the focus of anyone's dissection.”

“I hear you loud and clear, my man. I bet they are all talking about you right now.” Peter finished off his beer while I paid, and then we were back out into the night again.

“So, how about we go get some beignets? And wine, of course, keeping it classy.”

“Sure, that's fine,” I said, glad to have the distraction.

Tomorrow night. We were going to go out tomorrow night and I had no fucking idea what we were going to do.

* * *

LILY

I couldn't stop staring at James. I was watching the conversation he had with his friend. Wondering if it's all been a joke. Had he really meant to ask me out, or was it some sort of weird drunken dare?

Even though I wanted to pin that on him, it didn't really make sense for him. He was definitely in his forties. Super successful. So, he didn't really give off that immature frat boy vibe.

“Girl,” Stevie said, coming up and squeezing my elbow. “So, what did he say? What didyousay?”

I squeezed both hands around my gin and tonic glass. “He bought me a drink and then asked me out.” Even saying it sounded ridiculous, and I started laughing in like a creepy, insane kind of way. “It must be a joke, right?”

“No way, girl,” April said. “You are so right. That guy ismuy calienteand way better looking than his Google photo.”

I rolled my eyes.

“When he came up, I could just feel the heat in his gaze, you know?” April was gleeful. “So no, I do not think it was a joke. And what did you say back? When is the date? You know this is essential information that girlfriends need to know.”

Swallowing, I thought back to the moment. It felt like it had all been in a blur. My brain had just gone blank the moment those words had come out of his mouth about a date. But I remembered his smile at my answer. He’d looked genuinely happy.

“I said yes, and then he said great and that he was going to text me. I think it's tomorrow,” I said, my voice tinged with alarm.

“Tomorrow? That's amazing!” Stevie did a little dance.

“Whoa, calm down. This is not a big deal.” I had to calm myself down because my heart was beating like crazy. “But I'll need to find an outfit. And you two are going to help me.”

“Perfect. Caleb's away this weekend, so I will be staying over at the apartment. Then when we wake up, we can do a whole little makeover thing and have you ready.” April gave me a kiss on the cheek.

“Thank you,” I said genuinely. “But maybe…maybe I shouldn't have said yes. I mean, he is my boss. And things could be weird at work, and he tried to get me to sell my business.”

“That's true. But clearly, he wants to put it all behind you guys.” Stevie shrugged.

I chewed on my lip for a second. “Oh, that's right, I forgot. He did apologize for the argument, said that he shouldn't have pushed me.”

“Be still my heart,” Stevie said, waving her hand in front of her face. “A man who apologizes. Who knew they existed? Wow, girl, you found yourself a unicorn!”

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