Page 176 of One Bossy Disaster

“Here. Before we get into the Meghan crap,” he says, handing me his tablet before I have time to figure out how I should be behaving around him now.

At first, I’m not sure what I’m seeing.

There’s a flashing red dot in the middle of the screen. He zooms out to reveal the San Juan Islands just north of Seattle and Anacortes.

“Whales?” I let out an undignified squeak.

“Not just your humpbacks or orcas. There’s a pod of sei whales up there. A small EPA research ship confirmed a few fishermen’s sightings today,” he explains. “If you’d like, we could take my yacht out to observe them.”

Oh, God.

Does he know he’s blowing up my heart?

I’m gaping at him, mouth open, utterly gobsmacked.

He must have remembered that time I told him how much I wanted to see sei whales.

I have to find some words.

But that’s kind of normal when he wants to see me, I guess, especially outside of work again.

Shepherd wants to spendtimewith me.

And what he’s proposing definitely isn’t another secretive little hookup disguised as something else.

Damn this man.

Hope blooms in my chest like cascading wildflowers.

Deep breath.

“Of course, if you have more pressing concerns, forget I asked.” Shepherd clears his throat, staring at me intently. “I thought you’d like a chance to see them well within the boundaries of our state. I’d like to assess how practical it might be if we refine our product designs to include submersibles for underwater observations.”

I grin. “Sure, sure. That makes sense.”

“What are you implying, Miss Destiny?” He quirks a brow. “I have no ulterior motive.”

“You’re such a bad liar. But I love it.” I reach across and touch his leg, marveling that I’m allowed to do that.

This level of physical contact, at least in the privacy of the car, still makes me feel like I’m getting away with something impossible.

And there goes my heart again.

But I really need to be less happy about this.

Sei whales or not, it’s only going to hurt more when it comes to a bone-crushing end, won’t it?

Yet, I can’t stop my dumb mouth from saying, “It sounds amazing. When do we leave?”

There it is.

That small signature smile of his that shames the summer sun.

The lines of his face soften just enough before he snaps back to being all business.

“We’ll discuss the logistics later. Are you ready for this meeting?” he asks sharply.

I’m a little thankful reality smacks me in the face.

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