Page 87 of Grumpy Boss of the Year

“I mean, I guess it depends on what the surprise is.”

“Oh? There are bad surprises?”

“Yeah, like if you accidentally slip and stick your—well, nothing.”

“Wait! Where were you going with that?”

I grab her hand, and she looks at me in surprise. “Do you want me to let go?”

“I mean, I don’t know why you’re holding it. I thought you were mad at me.”

“I wasn’t mad at you. I mean, just a little bit, but I got over it,” I tease her, and she blushes.

“Well, I’m mad at you, too, but I can have a cease-fire for a little bit.”

“Why are you mad at me?”

“Why do you think? You were so rude to me just now on the plane.”

“Was I?” I blink in surprise. I thought I’d been thoughtful. Well, partially.

Her expression changes to one of incredulity. “You are not trying to pretend that you didn’t realize that you were absolutely the most infuriating and rude man that has…” She pauses.

“What were you going to say?” I chuckle. “That has ever existed in the world?”

“Oh, my gosh! How did you take the words right out of my mouth?” She giggles.

I let go of her hand.

“So, we’re going to a hotel?”

“Yes, we are.” I nod.

“I certainly hope that you got us two bedrooms.”

“Now, why would I do that?” I say, winking at her.

She blushes again, and we walk in companionable silence until we stand in the queue, waiting for an immigration agent to look at our passports.

“So, do you come here often then?” she says finally, looking around.

The wait has already been quite long, and I know she’s probably tired.

“I’ve been here a few times, yes,” I say. “I like going to the Caribbean. It’s one of my favorite places.”

“Oo-la-la. Fancy.” She gives me a wink.

“Have you not been to the Caribbean before?” I ask her.

“No, but I mean, I’ve always wanted to go,” she says. “So, thank you for bringing me.”

“I’m surprised, what with you being so wealthy and all, or rather, used to be wealthy.”

“My dad is Italian and lives there most of the year, so most of my trips have been to Europe. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to go to other places. It just hasn’t happened yet. Skye and I used to talk about traveling together, but she never really had money, even though I would offer to pay for both of us to fly places. She was too proud to accept that. When she got her job and started making money, we meant to start traveling, but then…” She makes a face.

“But then, she met Kingston and fell in love?” I finish for her, and she nods.

“I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m super happy for her, and he’s a good-looking guy, and he’s very nice, and I know he loves her. And they’re soulmates and all that good stuff, but I kind of feel like it sucks because she was my best friend, and we were meant to have all these adventures together, and now…” She sounds wistful and stops talking, “Sorry, I’m just going to stop.”

---