Page 147 of The Grumpy Boss Agreement

“They’re just concerned about you, Cole. The whole family just wants you to be happy.”

“I am happy,” I growl. “Now can we get this show on the road? I’m only here because Rex threatened me with violence if I didn’t come and bond.”

Dad laughs. “Well, someone had to do something about you mooning around the place and sulking like a shaved cat. Besides, this might be the last time we see you for a while. After you leave, there are no guarantees that we’ll see you regularly.”

His words just make me shake my head. Dad ducks as he heads down a short set of stairs into the boat’s living room. Copying his movement, I trail behind him.

I have to admit, this boat is really luxurious. The floors in the small living room are polished wood, the furniture is white leather, sleek wood, and burnished gold accents adorn the walls and sconces. Rex and River are already sprawled out across the two wall-to-wall banquette couches that span either side of the boat. Dad heads toward the aft where a set of stairs will presumably lead him to the helm and navigation console. I start to follow him, but River jumps up and practically tackles me.

“Not so fast.”

He steers me to the couch and pushes me down on it. I land with a whuff and glare up at him.

“What is this? Rex already forced me to come out here. Now I can’t even pick where I sit?”

River sits down beside me and grabs my knee with a grin. “We are going to talk about it once we get out onto the open sea.”

“When I am isolated and can’t leave?” I scowl at him.

“Exactly,” Rex says. He winks at me. “See, River? He gets it. We just kidnap him and force him out onto the water to talk some damn sense into him.”

I cross my arms and tilt my head back.

“Dad, are you on board with this plan?”

I hear the engine roar to life just before my father pops his head down the stairs.

“Just relax, Cole. Let your brothers try to talk some sense into you.”

I grit my teeth as he vanishes and the boat starts to move. Rex has his phone out and is grinning down at the screen. River looks at me with a shrug and leans back, lacing his fingers behind his head.

“This is ridiculous. You both know that, right?” I tell them.

Rex doesn’t look up from his phone screen.

“What’s ridiculous is you thinking you can go to London and start fresh. I’m telling you right now. This is as good as you’re going to get.”

“What about my happiness?” I ask, feeling salty.

River’s lips twitch. “Are you saying you weren’t happy two weeks ago when I dropped by your office? Cause you could’ve fooled me. You and Savannah were obviously about to rip each other’s clothes off when I came in.”

Rex chimes in. “And did he look happy, River?”

“Yes, he did!” River smirks at me. “Let’s do another one, Rex.”

Rex sits up. “That’s easy. Three weeks ago, I drove by Cole and Savannah holding hands and walking down the street. Literally anybody could see them, but they were too wrapped up in giving each other googly eyes to think about that.”

Their cheerful tones make me grumpier. I scowl at both of them.

“I was happy then.”

“And what made you happy?” River asks. “Was it just everything going your way? No, that can’t be it. Because you kept telling me that the South Shore planning committee had it out for you and wasn’t giving an inch.”

“Nope, I’m pretty sure the answer is about five and a half feet tall, blonde, and pretty as the day is long.”

My dad cuts in. “Would that be Savannah?”

“It would indeed,” River says, nodding. “She’s the only reason that Cole has been so cheerful for the last few months.”

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