Page 121 of Grumpy Boss of the Year

“I think I might be going crazy,” I say.

“Oh, okay.” She looks disappointed.

And I quickly rush to continue speaking.

“But in the best way, because I never thought this would happen for me, and while everything’s been really fast, I’m kind of happy and excited to be here with you, and you know…”

“What?” she says.

“I think I’m falling in love with you.”

“You are?” She grins.

My heart races. “Yes, I am, so…”

“So what?” she says.

“Do you have nothing else to say to me?”

“Umm.” She gives me a wicked little smile, and then I watch her jump into the water and swim away.

And all I can think is,She’s a little minx.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Elisabetta

The water is refreshing on my skin as I swim away from Liam. My heart is full and my head is overwhelmed. I feel like a mermaid as I undulate through the water. I come up for air and shake my head, watching as the droplets fly everywhere.

“You’re going to leave me hanging?” There’s a teasing note to Liam’s voice, and I turn to look at him. He’s standing there so cocky and self-confident, but I can tell from the look in his eyes that he’s not so sure of himself. He’s scared of being vulnerable. I can feel it in him. Our conversation had been so awkward, but so sweet and unexpected.

I look over at Liam, and there’s a hurt expression on his face.

I feel slightly bad and swim over to him.

“I think I’m falling for you, too,” I say quickly.

He grins at me. “Really?”

“What?” I say, splashing him again.

My heart is on fire, and I can’t believe how at peace I feel.

“Why did you swim away after I told you that I was falling in love with you?” he asks suspiciously.

“Maybe because I wanted to make you a bit nervous.”

“Why would you do that?”

“I don’t know because you kind of lied to me and…”

“Am I going to pay for that for the rest of my life?”

“Oh, so, you think we’re going to be in each other’s lives forever?”

“I would hope so,” he says, nodding.

“But yet our marriage is only for three years.”

---