Page 93 of One Bossy Date

Being reckless.

Being hopelessly dumb.

I’d moved past lust straight into the dangerous waters of love.

This evening only proved that—it was intimate, comfortable, and nice. Everything I’d ever wanted in a relationship. We cooked together, discussed work, sat down with the doggies, and were watching a movie together. There were no expectations, no conditions, or demands from each other. We were just existing, together.

Maybe skipping the entire dating phase of a relationship was the way to go. We had been kind of thrown into this whole living-together scenario, but it seemed like the best way to find out what kind of home situation I preferred and felt truly comfortable with. It was this one. Definitely. I wanted our current circumstances to continue indefinitely, and I had no fear of becoming bored or annoyed with Anders.

I knew it wouldn’t happen though. Even with Anders’s confusing signs—telling me I belonged here, asking why I hadn’t moved all my things in—I still knew it wouldn’t happen. He’d made it clear that he didn’t enjoy living in New York.

So, even if I wanted to ask him to stay, I couldn’t.

Heneeded to be the one to decide to stay.

I assumed he’d asked about my old apartment because he wanted to know if I’d be okay when he left. I’d had to lie, so he wouldn’t feel like I was dependent on him, like he had to stay or accommodate me somehow. When the time came, I would crash on Jim’s couch until I found my own space. With business picking up, I knew things would get easier, and I would finally be able to afford a real apartment as well as the store’s rent.

But I figured I had several weeks before that happened. For now, I needed to guard my heart.

When the movie ended, I sighed, stretched out my arms, and pretended to yawn. “Oh, wow. I never get over that movie. You liked it?”

Anders turned the volume down, leaving the credits to run, and dropped the remote onto the couch. “Yeah, I enjoyed it.” He smiled and leaned his head onto his hand, looking at me. “By the way,” he reached into his pocket and pulled out a little jewelry box, “it’s always been a tradition in our house to open a present on Christmas Eve.”

He handed it to me, and as I took it, our fingers touched, and the sensation sent sparks of what could only be described as electricity, racing up my arm.

“Oh, my gosh. No. And I don’t have anything for you,” I exclaimed, remembering what Jim said. “We’re just boss and nanny.” I gestured between us. “I mean technically, we shouldn’t even be here.”

“Don’t get too excited. It’s not a ring.” He shrugged with a half-grin. “But I hope you still like it.”

Damn. I should have bought Anders something, just out of courtesy. I almost started giggling, thinking I could have bought a second set of those stress balls Jim had given me, and gifted them to Anders. Imagine his face if I’d done that!

However, when I opened the little box and found the silver bracelet with two dog charms, I knew this was more than courtesy. This gift had actual thought put into it, and it was so sweet of him that I didn’t even know what to think of it.

“It’s soadorable. Exactly something I would wear…Anders.” I dropped my hands and looked at him. “Thank you. I feel horrible now.”

“That’s okay. Merry Christmas,nanny, who technically shouldn’t even be here.”

“Merry Christmas,boss.” I laughed, and so did he. “I still feel horrible.”

“You can always make it up to me.” He raised his eyebrows, just once.

I caught the sexual innuendo, and my mouth went dry.

His eyes.

Those dark-brown eyes would be the death of me.

He stared at me with such intensity I thought I would faint. He was quiet, just looking at me.

He smelled so good. I wanted to touch his skin and smell his neck. I wanted to kiss his lips and pull that hoodie off to reveal the chiseled body underneath. I wanted to see his abs, his belly button, and that deep “V.” And the area below that.

Except, I knew I couldn’t let it happen if I was going to keep my heart intact.

It was already cracking, just knowing that he didn’t want what I wanted—more than just sexual satisfaction.

“Everything okay?” he asked, since I hadn’t said anything for a while.

I tore my gaze away from his and nodded my head rapidly. “Yeah, I’m just exhausted.” I hoped he couldn’t hear the lie in my voice. I stood up, taking not only my blanket with me but his as well. “Oh, shit! Sorry.”