Page 32 of Big & Bossy

“Don’t act like you weren’t going to ask,” I mocked, chuckling as I kissed the side of her head for good measure. I scooped up the handles of the bag and took the receipt from the far-too-happy sales associate, dragging Mandy back out of the store by her hand. “I doubt you go on thousand-dollar shopping sprees often.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” She snapped, pasting her happy face back on as we entered the sea of more press. “It’s not an insult,” I said. I gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “I just knew you were going to ask me to pay. It’s fine, I’m happy to.”

“I could have paid,” she grumbled, reaching across my chest toward the bag. “At least let me carry it, you old-fashioned goon.”

I laughed as I held it away from her. “Absolutely not. And that’s not just because the press will smear me for making my fiancé carry her own bags. I can see it now—America’s once Top Bachelor not so much a catch as we thought.”

The giggle she let escape forced my heart to skip a beat. It was a real one, a happy one. Another mental image I’d keep. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Is that a bad thing?” I asked, squeezing her hand again as I looked down at her. So fucking beautiful.

“No. Yes. Maybe.” She shrugged. “Can we sit? My legs are, like, weirdly exhausted from the motorcycle.”

I led her across the street toward an empty bench as the street lamps began to flick on around us. The press was starting to get bored and thinning out, and I wanted a chance to actually just enjoy being a normal human with her when we could actually speak.

I propped the bag between my legs as we sat, her thigh brushing against mine, and put my arm around her. “Do you think it’s working?” She asked softly, her head lolling onto my shoulder. It’s just for the cameras if any are left. Don’t get excited.

“If my PR team is right, then yeah, it’ll start working soon. They’ll run out of things to focus on. Right now, though, we’re the hot new ticket in town. It’ll die down.” I drew little circles on the side of her arm, the little freckles peeking out as her skin erupted in goosebumps. “Are you cold?”

“What? No,” she lied.

I rolled my eyes, leaning away from her enough to slide my leather jacket from my arms. I wrapped it around her shoulders before resuming our position. “You don’t have to lie.”

She hummed, sinking back into me far too easily. “You mentioned traveling. Are we still doing that?”

I nodded. “Yes. I was thinking we could head to New York, maybe Chicago. I’ve reached out to a few well-known architects in those areas and asked if they’d give us a tour of some of the best-designed buildings. I think it’ll be good for inspiration.”

Mandy fiddled with her ring, spinning it around her finger, studying it. It looked too perfect on her, and I’d be a liar if I tried to say that it didn’t make my chest warm to see her wearing it. “Okay. I’ll go with you.”

I chuckled, placing a kiss on the top of her head. “Thanks for not fighting me on that this time.”

“Oh I will absolutely still fight you on it,” she smirked, lifting her gaze back up to me. The temptation to lean down and kiss her was too much. “Don’t you worry.”

“Then why aren’t you?” I breathed, unable to resist the urge to take her face in my hand. She sighed, turning into my palm.

“I just don’t want to right now.”

The walk back to the bike was short. I put her things into my saddlebags, locking them up tight before getting out our helmets. She watched me from the sidewalk, a sleepy grin spreading across her cheeks as the sunlight faded quickly. She looked far too beautiful, too tempting.

“Come on, princess,” I cooed, holding out a hand for her. “Your chariot awaits.”

She laughed as she stepped off the sidewalk, and as if in slow motion, I watched her foot land the wrong way. She grabbed my hand, falling forward too fast. I dropped the helmets, scooping her body up with my arm before she could hit the ground, one hand in hers and the other around her torso.

She looked up at me, her eyes twinkling in the streetlight, and dear God this woman might be the death of me. She blinked, confused, it all happening too quickly for her to comprehend.

I could kiss her. Right now. I could say it was for the press.

My heart thudded painfully in my chest as she wrapped one arm around my shoulders. It felt like time stopped as I watched her, the Mandy I knew all those years ago held so firmly in my grasp. Slowly, she lifted herself, closer to my lips. Let her. It has to be her choice.

Our breaths mingled for half a second before she stood upright, narrowly missing my lips. The blush on her cheeks made me believe that she’d felt it too, the pull, but the smug smile she gave me told a different story.

Such a fucking tease.

Chapter 16

Mandy

My heels against cement echoed through the large, empty space as Jackson and I walked through the new campus together. A lot was still needed. They had the basics done—water, electricity, Wi-Fi. But it was still bare bones inside. A perfect, blank canvas that I could have my absolute way with.

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