Page 51 of Runaway Bride for the Boss

“You’re blushing, Autumn,” I state in a low tone that only she can hear. “I wonder how far down the red extends. Your chest? The tops of your breasts?”

She turns an even deeper shade of crimson as she murmurs, “You’ll never know.”

I smirk at that. Sure I could say something to scandalize her the next time I have her naked before me. Perhaps tell her how good she looks as she takes all of me or maybe how I want to fuck her mouth so badly that it keeps me up at night. But I don’t say it now. I watch as she scoops up a bit of her food and lifts it to her mouth.

Her eyes open wide with pleasure and she hums, “This is delicious.”

“I know.” I dig into my own meal with gusto, and we eat quietly. When we’re done, I ask if she’d like dessert, but she declines.

“I over indulged in Mrs. Staten’s delicious desserts last night, and I better not make a habit of it.”

“You worked it off shortly after,” I remind her and she blushes again.

“I suppose I did…” She waves a hand, trying to look unaffected as she leans back in her chair. “The view here is really incredible.”

I let her change the subject. “It is.” I take out the folder that's been burning a hole in my suit pocket.

CHAPTER 29

AUTUMN

My brows narrow suspiciously when he pulls a folder from inside his suit and places it on the table, the waiter having already cleared our plates. “You have a pocket big enough to fit a folder in your suit jacket?” He’s very broad, so there’s certainly room to hide one, but they don’t make pockets that big, do they?

“My clothes are custom made,” he says in a matter of fact tone as he pushes the folder toward me. Feeling somewhat perturbed by the fact that I have to live with miniscule women’s pockets, while men wander around hiding God knows what beneath their clothing.

“What is that?” I ask, hesitating to open the folder. Alexander Beaufort is an enigma. There could be anything inside. When he asked me to dinner last night, I worried maybe it was a booty call; but then he agreed to lunch, and so far this doesn’t seem like an excuse for a quicky.

“Just open it,” he orders.

I open it gingerly and frown when I see the words on the page. It’s a business proposal. Most importantly it’s a landscaping business proposal. “What is this?” I ask again.

“Do you want to become an independent landscaper?” he asks instead of answering my question.

“What?”

“You don’t want to work exclusively with Beaufort Construction, I can respect that. However, If you start your own business, you can become an independent contractor for several different construction businesses.”

I gasp as the enormity of what’s in front of me sinks in. “You created a business proposal? For me? What the hell, Alex?”

“I want to invest in your business. There are no quality landscapers in Brattleboro. We have to bring them in from the city, which can be a real hassle. It would be a win-win solution for all.”

“Win-win? But it sounds like I’m the only one with something to win. I never even submitted my portfolio,” I growl. “So, what? You brought me here and softened me up with food and a beautiful view to spring this on me?”

“No, I wanted to eat with you and work with you, so I’m killing two birds with one stone.”

“How about this? Not a chance in hell, Alexander. I’m not your charity case.” I get to my feet angrily. “Take me home. Now!” I snap when he moves to argue.

He narrows his eyes, but drops a wad of bills on the table and gets up. He picks up his folder – the fucking business proposal – tucks it back into his suit and leads me outside.

The ride back to Andrea’s is filled with a frosty silence.

“Think about it, okay?” he murmurs as he escorts me to the back stairs that lead to Andrea’s apartment.

“There’s nothing to think about, Alex. I’ve given you my answer. Good bye.” He leans forward, and I narrow my eyes at him. Is he seriously trying to kiss me right now? He must read my thoughts because he straightens up with a grunt.

“I’ll see you later,” he stammers. I turn and climb the stairs to Andrea’s place. I try not to, but I’m unable to stop myself from slamming the door as I let myself in with my fingerprint.

Andrea immediately shoots out of her room. I didn’t tell her about the recent development between Alexander and me – how do you even tell someone that you slept with their brother? – but she was still weirdly excited about our date, even though I explicitly told her it wasn’t one.

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