Page 68 of Forty, Flirty & Fired

"Yes."

His smile could power the entire city.

"But," I add as Nonna appears with what appears to be enough tiramisu to feed an army, "if Keith starts a mountain revolution, I'm holding you personally responsible."

"Fair enough." He accepts a massive portion from Nonna with perfect grace. "Though I'm more worried about your grandmother sending enough food for a revolutionary army."

"Oh, don't worry," Nonna pats his cheek. "I'm only packing you three types of pasta to take with you.”

I should be mortified. Should be running from the family interference and the implications and the way everyone's acting like this is already settled.

Instead, I find myself leaning into Alex's shoulder, watching my family fold him into their chaos like he's always belonged there.

Because maybe, at forty-two, I'm finally ready to stop choosing between the different parts of myself.

Maybe I'm ready to be loved for all of them.

20

BREAKING THE BACHELOR PACT

ALEX

Two days after meeting Mac's family and somehow surviving a level of Italian hospitality that would overwhelm lesser CEOs, I find myself doing something I haven't done in twenty years: packing for a romantic weekend. Actually, first attempting to pack, then calling Emma in a minor crisis about appropriate casual wear for romantic—and not business—mountain getaways.

"The cashmere collection is on the left," she directs through speakerphone while I stare at my walk-in closet like it's a hostile takeover negotiation. Through my penthouse windows, Seattle sparkles under fresh snow, the mid-December morning crisp and bright. "Though maybe avoid the gray one. It looks too much like your office suits."

"I own casual clothes," I protest, though the fact that I needed to clear two board meetings and a shareholder call just to take Friday off suggests otherwise.

"Of course, sir." Her tone suggests she's humoring me. "Just like you 'casually' researched every restaurant within fifty milesof your cabin and had the kitchen fully stocked with Ms. Gallo's favorite wines."

"That's just good planning."

"Mm-hmm. And the call to her grandmother about proper pasta-making techniques?"

"Cultural research."

"The fact that you're taking a personal weekend for the first time in five years?"

"Coincidence."

"And the way you keep smiling every time she walks past your office?"

"Emma."

"Just saying, sir. For someone who claims the bachelor pact is still intact, you're showing some very specific behavioral patterns."

My phone buzzes – Grayson, right on cue:

GRAY:Connor says you're taking Mac to the mountain cabin. THE cabin. Where we made the bachelor pact. Feeling symbolic much?

I ignore it, but another immediately follows:

GRAY:Also, heard you survived dinner with her family. And by "heard" I mean "read Keith's surprisingly detailed social media thread about your 'journey from corporate adversaries to star-crossed lovers.'

I try to rub away the impending headache I know is coming.

"The blue cashmere," Emma decides through the speaker. "And those jeans that don't look like they've never seen the outside of a boardroom."

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