Page 49 of Grumpy Boss in Love

He had chosen his words carefully. Smart. He’d take care of me financially alright… according to the contract.

“That was beautiful,” Eleanor whispered.

Indeed. How could I compete with that?

“Ruby?” Alfred prompted.

Here goes… “Elliot Westwood, I didn’t like a bone in your body at first.”

I watched him, waiting for that scowl of disapproval. And when it came, I grinned. Even Alfred sniggered.

“I thought you were arrogant, grumpy, and completely insufferable. But then we had more encounters, and I saw another side of you. A softer, fragile side that I have this urge to protect.”

Elliot blinked as if taken aback. I realized then how true my words were. I did want to protect him because I’d seen that someone—possibly multiple people—had severely wounded him emotionally. That was what gave me the patience to start putting up with his surly attitude. “There’s so much more to you, Elliot, so many layers that I have yet to see. I want to see more of them, more ofyou.”

Perhaps I got too caught up in the moment—maybe in an effort to put on a good show—but I pulled one hand out of his and reached up to smooth the space between his eyebrows. The part that was always crinkled by a frown. His sharp inhale made me smile.

“I want to spend more time making you smile and helping you to remember to enjoy life. You’ve shown me what an amazing person you are beneath that severe scowl, and you deserve to be happy. And I promise to always take care of you too.”

A loud sniffle made me glance at Eleanor. She clutched her chest and dabbed her eye with a white handkerchief. Goodness, Elliot and I were such great actors that we made the sentimental Eleanor cry. The thing is, I think I meant every word I said.Oh, God. What am I doing?

I turned back to Elliot with mounting panic only to find him gawking at me as though I’d sprouted a second head. Perhaps it hit him that we both went a little too far with the vows. After that, I barely heard a thing Alfred or anyone else said. I remained in a daze even while Elliot slipped the wedding band on my finger. It matched the engagement ring with the massive rock that he’d given to me before we left for Meadowbrook.

The complete set on my finger made the entire situation feel extra wrong. I finally snapped out of my stupor when I heard, “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

My eyes met indigo—deepest-part-of-the-ocean-blue—ones. Elliot hesitated, but there was no getting out of this kiss. I sucked in a breath when his arm circled my waist to pull me closer. His eyes stayed locked with mine as he lowered his head. I wished he’d close them. It was hard to stare into the mesmerizing orbs that wreaked havoc on my emotionsandmy body.

But I couldn’t look away from him either. His breath caressed my face and my heart raced and sped up some more once his warm lips touched mine. Only then did my eyes flutter closed. I thought he’d stop with a chaste peck, but his lips moved, coaxing mine apart. I guess he was trying to make the passion between us look authentic…?

Whatever. I threw myself into the kiss and enjoyed it. He lifted a hand to cup my cheek as he deepened the kiss. The gesture was so tender I almost melted. My fingers curled into the material of his jacket because I swore my knees would give way at any moment. His tongue swiped into my mouth and I moaned.

“Ehem.”

Elliot and I jumped and separated like guilty teens caught making out. We stared at each other wide-eyed. Talk about getting carried away. There was the slightest tinge of pink in his cheeks. Mine were blood red, I imagined.

Alfred chuckled. “Save it for the wedding night, you two.”

Elliot’s eyebrows elevated.

Kill me now.

As Elliot and I watched each other warily, especially after that wedding night comment, there was a distant rumble in the sky. The intensity of the sound built and reverberated, making me jump. A drop of water hit my right cheek, then another. Just as Elliot and I glanced up, it started to drizzle.

“Looks like we’re having dinner inside,” Eleanor sang.

I snapped out of the trance that the kiss had put me in and dashed toward the table where Eleanor was already heading. I helped her carry the utensils and dishes inside while Elliot and Alfred carried the table.

* * *

It was evening by the time we’d finished dinner with the Wilsons. The afternoon drizzle had evolved into a downpour. However, Elliot insisted that we were still leaving to make the journey back to Chicago. I agreed because there was no way I'd spend another night in a room with him. Not after our wedding, those vows, and that kiss.

We’d been super awkward with each other during the mini-reception, but I doubted Eleanor or Alfred noticed. Those two had been too busy gushing over the last wedding that they got to put together at the Meadowbrook Guesthouse and how special it was.

When Elliot had announced that we were leaving because we both had work the next day, Alfred advised us against it.

“It’s best you two stay put for the night. That old bridge leading to our private road tends to flood with heavy rain.”

“It’ll be fine,” I assured him. “We’ll be on the main road before the rain gets any heavier.”

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