Page 16 of #Bossholes

His hum of approval zings all the way through me, covering my entire body in goosebumps. It’s not exactly a praise, but it’s close, and I have this horrible urge to be on my best behavior; anything to hear that sound again. Heat crawls up my neck, and my nipples take this very inopportune moment to harden into little points. His lips twitch, those green eyes of his darting down quickly, and there’s no way he didn’t notice through this blouse.

Wyatt finally turns away from me, and I can breathe again. He opens the laptop his receptionist must have left for him and punches in the password. “Alright, Mrs. Wright, are you ready to go through your assets?”

Mrs. Wright does not look ready to go through her assets, nor am I sure she’s capable of simple communication. Her mouth hangs open as she stares across the table, her gaze flitting between us. It’s clear she has no idea what’s happening. Hell, that makes two of us.

It’s a damn good thing I don’t have to actually take notes or pay attention, especially when Wyatt leans back, his thigh settling against mine.

I’m pretty sure my entire body short circuits that exact second.

My hand still tingles, and I swear I can still feel the ghost of his skin touching mine.

I take a sip of water and really try to focus on my screen, but the words may as well be hieroglyphics. The only thing I’m aware of is his thigh, his huge, muscular thigh pressing against mine. And even though I know I should move for so many reasons, I don’t dare. I can’t.

This man is my boss, the owner of the law firm, and right now I want to climb him like a tree.

TEN

Kinsley

“Welcometo the hot and bothered book club,” Holly Hope shouts as soon as I open the door to Just One More Chapter, a small bookstore right outside downtown with one hell of a romance selection. “Where we like our books girthy, our sex dirty, and our heroes swoony.”

I send an apologetic look to the older man behind me, but he continues to walk by, muttering something about kids today and inappropriate behavior. He either doesn’t like shouting or romance books or sex. Probably all three if I had to guess.

But I know Holly feels zero shame. She’s not only the owner but a published romance author, and is passionate about taking the shame out of reading romance. And fictional sex.

Colin ignores us all, pushing past me and heading directly for the small young adult section where I know he’ll be searching for the newest R.L. Stine. The kid is positively obsessed, has been since our parents died.

“Kinsley, you’re late.” June Morgan, my best friend, runs over to me, pulling me into a tight hug while her boyfriend and their son trail behind. “And you’ve been avoiding my texts.”

The lie is right there on the tip of my tongue, to tell her I’ve been busy, but I’ve known June for years, and she’ll see right through my bullshit. Between getting dumped and the rest of the disaster that was Monday, I needed some time to be depressed and eat my weight in ice cream. And then today…well, that was a different story entirely.

To be fair, I’m still employed and single but now working directly under three guys who are all giving me some sort of whiplash. I’m supposed to be a professional. Hell, they’re supposed to be professionals, but let me tell you, my interactions with them didn’t feel very business-like.

Wyatt fed me and practically plastered his entire body to mine for over an hour. It was all I could think about until Maverick came into my office and had the audacity to lean over me while he went through all the responsibilities that came with my job. The man smelled like what dreams are made of and made it nearly impossible to concentrate. Thank God Brantley spent most of the day out of the office, or I’m sure I would’ve tried to dry hump his leg before the day's end.

“Sorry, the last couple days have been a lot.” Understatement of the century.

She pulls back and gives me a pointed look, her gaze narrowing on me. “Go on.”

I huff a laugh, holding up my hands in surrender, but before I can get a word out Colin comes between us, handing me two books.

Thanks. He signs, giving me a small smile, one that widens when he sees June’s son Oliver.Did you tell them I’m going to be getting surgery? That I may be able to hear soon?

I force a smile of my own, ignoring the worry and anxiety that swirls inside me when I think about thousands of dollars I need to come up with just to schedule the procedure. Short of robbing a bank, I have no idea where I’m going to come up with that kindof money, but I’m not going to give up. I’m not going to be a disappointment like our parents.

“You’re going to be able to hear me?” Oliver runs up to us, June’s boyfriend, Ryan, hot on his heels.

The look on June’s face morphs into confusion, and I clutch the books tight to my chest, swallowing past the growing lump in my throat. “We found out that Colin is a candidate for cochlear implants.”

“That’s huge.” June pulls Colin in for a quick hug. “Congratulations. Oliver already coerced Ryan into getting ice cream while we talk books. You should go with them and celebrate.”

He links arms with Oliver, both giving me those sad, puppy dog eyes. The two of them belong on an ASPCA commercial. There’s no doubt this is exactly how a three year oldcoerceda big bad football player like Ryan into taking him for ice cream during book club. One look and he was a goner. He might be a beast on the football field, but the man is a simp for his family.

Wish my parents were like that.

“You guys have fun.” I wave him off, making sure to ruffle Colin’s hair as he walks past.

Not cool, sis. He quickly fixes his hair, and the two of them dart toward the door, Oliver grabbing his dad and practically pulling him outside. He barely has time to give us a small wave before the three of them are gone and I’m left alone with June, who has stepped closer to me, her smile now dipped into a frown.

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