Page 63 of Runaway Bride for the Boss

“Ugh, Thanksgiving suddenly feels so far away now. Can’t you just give it to her today? I don’t know If I’ll be able to keep it in for that long.”

“You’ll keep quiet about it, or I’m going to make you suffer for the rest of your life,” Alex threatens as he places the box on his desk. My gaze follows the box avidly. I narrow my eyes, willing them to develop X-ray vision to see what’s inside. Earrings? A necklace? No, Andrea wouldn’t tell him congratulations for that. And he said it’s somethingspecial. A ring, I think hopefully.

She snorts, “You wouldn’t, you love me too much. Where’s the woman of the hour?”

“She’s still sleeping in our room.” Alex’s head moves to the office’s door as he speaks, and I quickly move out of view. They suddenly stop talking, and I run as quietly as I can back to our bedroom, my heart pounding like mad.

Did he see me? I run to the bathroom when I hear footsteps approaching and close the door behind me.

There’s a short knock on the bedroom door and the door swings open. “Autumn?” Andrea calls out.

I clear my throat quietly. “Andrea?” I call back, making my voice sound low and sleepy. “What are you doing here so early?”

“I know, I know. Things changed so I had to come early. Are you using the toilet or taking a shower? I’m coming in!” Her voice sounds closer.

Things changed? What changed?

I walk to the sink and turn on the faucet. I splash water on my face and pat it dry with a hand towel. Then I walk to the door and open it. “I was brushing my teeth.” I smile at her. “What? Do you have a date tonight?” I ask, trying not to let on that I know why she came so early.

Andrea has been through a lot over the past six months. But I’m so happy to see her finally relaxed and back into the routine of her life with the bar.

“Yeah, something like that. Why don’t you go get dressed, and we’ll be on our way since you’re awake, and I’m here anyway?”

“Yeah, sure. Sounds good.” She follows me into the walk-in closet and talks about how unfair it is that she lost me at the bar a few months ago, and now Keith has put in his notice.

“How am I supposed to survive working on my own?” she complains.

“I’m sure you’ll find someone,” I assure her. When I’m done getting dressed, we leave for town in our separate cars.

The whole time we are shopping for the presents, I’m distracted and Andrea notices it. I brush her off the first few times she asks if I’m okay, but the fourth time she asks, I know I have to give her something or she’ll be suspicious.

“I’m trying to remember if I’m all packed for our trip and I’m stressed about leaving the Hill of Autumn in my assistant’s hands so soon after the opening,” I say, which is true enough.

“It’ll be fine, I promise. Jane is perfectly capable of running everything.” She pats my back, and I nod absently. Andrea tugs me around in the mall, and I soon get lost in the ritual of shopping for presents for my family.My Family. Ugh that feels so good to say.

“Thanks for today.” I hug Andrea after putting my bags in the trunk. “It was bearable because you were here.”

“You don’t have to thank me, babe. I was able to get my own Christmas shopping done early thanks to you.” She tightens her arms around me and whispers, “I can’t wait until it’s official.”

“What? Can’t wait until what’s official?” I ask, and she shifts back from my arms, her eyes growing wide.

“Um, I meant, I can’t wait until everyone sees their presents. I’m sure they’ll love them! Okay, I have to go now, bye!” She waves at me and practically runs to her car. I narrow my eyes on her as she leaves.

My pulse races all through the drive home. I try to talk myself out of snooping through Alex’s office. Alex already added my biometric to every lock on the house as well as to his home office, so I could easily slip inside.

Just a peak.No, I shouldn’t.

“Welcome home, Autumn. How was the shopping?” Mrs. Staten asks with a smile. I say something in reply, but I’m not really sure what, and she waves me off.

Blood whooshes through my ears and my palms begin to sweat as I climb the stairs. Maybe I’ll just check to confirm what sort of box it is. I won’t even open it. It will be enough for me to just confirm it. He’s going to give it to me in two days anyway, so there’s no harm in being sure.

I would be crushed if on Thanksgiving day he gives it to me, and I find out it’s just earrings or a necklace. While I’m sure they’d be beautiful, it’s not the same as aring. Alexander knows me too well for me to disguise my disappointment. He wouldknow. I’d have to explain that I eavesdropped on his and Andrea’s conversation.

No, it’s better that I know for sure. I increase my pace as I make my way down the hall to his office. Damn it, I should have asked Mrs. Staten if he’s home, but it’s midday already; he’s never here at this time, especially since he’s trying to clear his schedule for four weeks.

The door to his office is closed and locked, and I face a moment of dilemma. Should I just turn back now? Should I take the locked door as a sign? Alex rarely locks his office. But as I raise my palm to the black panel next to the door, a soft beep fills the air and the lock mechanism disengages. I open the door slowly and tiptoe inside. I glance around, then make a beeline for the painting, hanging directly across from his desk. I swing it to the side, revealing the small safe tucked into the wall.

I glance around guiltily one last time, then hunch down so the security scanner can scan my eye. Once that’s successful, I type in the code. This isn’t a betrayal of his trust; it’s for his own good. I’m just making sure it fits.

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