Page 15 of Wanting Her Boss

“Is that believable for you? Would anyone question that?”

Madison pressed her lips together. “No one would believe that I’d date my P.A. so…”

“What does that mean? Should I pretend I’ve been working for you in a different role?”

Madison really should have thought this through, because that was a question that would almost certainly come up. “I just meant that I wouldn’t cross that kind of a professional line. One where I might use my authority…”

“As in, it’s not a good look.”

“No.” Madison held her gaze. This was all true, but it felt like the right thing to say it out loud like this. To remind Payton that this was not going to happen. Because sitting here, with a candle flickering between them, tucked away in the corner of the bar, it would be easy to forget that this wasn’t a date. “How do you feel about saying that you’ve been working in marketing?”

Payton gave her a hint of a smile. “I think I could make that work.”

“Okay. First problem solved. What else?”

Payton took a sip of wine. “Well, I went back over my social media posts last night, just to make sure there wasn’t anything…You know… That might cause me problems, but it’s all fine. Mostly just photos of me and Ashley. But there’s also an obvious lack of photos of me and you. Seeing as we’ve been together for the last year.”

“Hm.” Madison brought her glass to her lips and took another drink. “I don’t see the point in documenting my life online for everyone to see.”

“I imagine that you’ve seen all of the trouble that can lead to.”

“Oh, that is a fact.” Madison still couldn’t get over some of the things that clients of hers had posted online.

“And I get that, but I think it still looks strange that there’s no photos of us together on any of my profiles.”

“Should we take one before the night’s over?”

Payton opened her mouth to answer just as their waiter appeared to ask them if they’d like another glass. They both agreed and before he left, Payton asked him if he’d take a photo, handing him her phone as she stood up to come around to Madison’s side of the table.

Madison was about to stand up, but Payton’s voice was in her ear. “Stay there.” So, she did. And then she felt Payton’s hair tickling her cheek as her arms came around Madison, encircling her, Payton’s forearms resting lightly against her chest.

Madison sucked in a breath, unable to remember the last time someone had been in her personal space like this. She glanced down to see Payton’s hand clasped around her other wrist.Madison reached up to wrap her fingers around Payton’s forearm, her lips sliding into a smile as the waiter took their photo, the sweet scent of Payton’s perfume invading her senses.

Payton thanked him and took a seat, a satisfied smile coming to her lips. “We might just look good together,” she said, looking up from her phone.

Madison held out her hand, and Payton passed her the phone. She dismissed that funny feeling of missing having Payton that close.

She knew she wasn’t the kind of person who could devote hours of her life to a relationship, and this was the consequence of that. Any contact from an attractive woman had her nerves firing, her skin breaking out in goosebumps. Because one-night stands involved too much risk with regard to her reputation, so this was what she was left with. Overreacting to a fake moment that she was responsible for in the first place.

Although, Payton might have a point.

Madison casually extended the phone a little further away from her to get her eyes to focus on the image in front of her. Payton knew she needed reading glasses, so she didn’t know why she was trying to hide it now.

But they did look pretty good together.

Believable.

And that was the important part. Madison took one last look before returning the phone to Payton.

“Well?” Payton asked, her thumbs flying across the screen.

“I agree.”

Payton arched an eyebrow. “And is it okay if I post this? I wouldn’t write anything about our relationship. Anyone who thinks we’re together will be able to see it, and anyone who doesn’t, like someone from work, will just see it as us enjoying a night out, away from the office.”

Madison pushed down that uneasy feeling, knowing that Payton was right. Jen could very easily search for Payton’s name, and it would be strange not to see at least one photo of them together.

“Yeah, go ahead.” Madison finished her wine just as the waiter returned with two more glasses.