Page 75 of Grumpy Boss of the Year

"I mean, you're so polite. Even when you're a jackass, you're polite. You puzzle me. You know that, right?"

"How do I puzzle you?"

"Because you drive people crazy. You were horrible to Skye and Juniper and Lyla, yet, I don't think you're that bad of a boss at all."

"You don't?" He frowns. "Well, we can't have that then, can we?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, if I'm not a horrible boss, then you'll never wanna go and get engaged to whatever man your father has for you."

I let out a deep sigh. "I've been trying to avoid thinking about that," I say as I reach over and squeeze his thigh.

His eyes widen slightly as I move my finger up his leg. "So, is this you trying to initiate airplane sex?"

"No, this is me trying to change the subject."

"I'm just curious why you would want to marry a man that your father has picked and not someone you've chosen yourself."

"I don't have anyone in mind to marry, and if I did, it's very unlikely that they would have enough money to help save my father's business, so I'll just do what I have to do."

"And you'll sleep with this man?"

I stare at him, my heart thudding. "What do you mean?"

"You'll have sex with a strange man because?—"

"Please, Liam, I don't want to talk about it. I don't want to think about it. That's actually kinda gross."

"It's just weird to me that an independent woman like you, who's so confident and self-assured, would let herself?—"

"Liam, we have a decision to make here." I lean over and lightly kiss his cheek.

He looks at me. "And that decision is?"

"We can continue talking about my father and his archaic way of trying to solve the family problems, or we can focus on the here and now and you and me." I lower my voice as I kiss down the side of his face and then unbutton his shirt.

"I'm listening," he says, turning his face towards me. His lips are so close to mine now. I can see his eyes dilating as he gazes into mine. We're both breathing heavily.

I undo another button on his shirt. "I wonder if you have a six-pack." I say the first thought that comes to mind because I do wonder what he looks like naked.

"I guess you'll have to find out." He winks at me, and I undo another button. I slide my hand down his chest towards his stomach, and he groans slightly as I rub his hair against my palm. I feel his taut muscles and count as I go down. "One, two, three. Four?" My eyes widen. "You have an eight-pack?"

"It was quite hard to get." He nods. "I understand why you're so shocked, but you know, I'm a perfectionist. I like to be the best."

"So you have an eight-pack because a six-pack wasn't good enough?" I roll my eyes. "That's absolutely ridiculous."

"Is it, though? Or is it just really sexy?" He leans forward and sucks on my lower lip. My stomach flips as he kisses me. "You're so beautiful, Elisabetta. Too beautiful for the situation you find yourself in."

"I'm too beautiful to be in a fucked-up situation?" I pull away from him slightly. "I don't think that's true. There are many beautiful women in fucked-up situations. This world is fucked up. I actually think I'm luckier than most."

"You do? I mean, I'm not sure many women would be happy about the fact that their father was basically selling them to the highest bidder."

"My father's not selling me. He's arranging a marriage for me with a suitable husband."

"Suitable for you, or suitable for him?" he says under his breath.

"I already told you, I don’t wanna talk about this, Liam.”

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