Page 56 of Grumpy Boss's Secret

“I figured,” Ian called. He was laughing. I could hear it in his voice. “I have something for her.”

"Give it to her later!" called Jessica, and some people cat-called.

I went over to the door and opened it a few inches, holding my hand in front of the opening. “What is it?” I asked.

Something pressed against my palm, and my fingers closed around it. I knew what it was immediately, even though it was wrapped in glossy white paper.

“Can I open it now?” I asked, suddenly finding it hard to speak over the sound of my bridesmaids.

“Yes,” he said. He squeezed my hand around the present, and I heard his footsteps walk away.

“What is it?” asked Tina, peering over my shoulder as I held the present.

“A book,” I said, smiling.

“Open it,” said my mom.

She knew Ian was Kirk. Nobody else did. I unwrapped the wrapping paper almost reverently. Underneath it revealed the cover of a book, with a picture of a girl with short brown hair and green eyes riding a horse alongside a man whose face couldn't be seen.

“She looks like you, Jozi! Aww!”

“Does he like Westerns or something? Do you like Westerns?”

"It's a Kirk Green novel! Your favorite author, Jozi!"

“Has this one come out yet? I thought it hadn’t been released yet!”

“He must have gotten an early release copy! I guessed stuff like that’s easy when you’re a billionaire.”

I smiled, but I barely heard them. The title of the book was A Hand in the Night. Ian had refused to let me read the rest of it until it was ready. I opened the front cover and read the dedication.

To the girl who stopped all my nightmares with the touch of her hands. I can’t wait to read this one with you and keep the story going with our little miracle.

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