Page 103 of The Boss Problem

We got out of the car twenty minutes later, outside a piercingly tall steel-and-glass skyscraper. It was now vacant, except for a security guard, who waved us in.

“Special access?” I asked while we crossed the dimly lit lobby to the elevator.

Sean grinned back at me as we waited for the elevator. Once in, he pulled me to him as we rode up.

In an instant, our lips were pressed against each other, yielding to the desire burning inside us. His lips made feathery brushes over mine. Once, twice before he ramped up the intensity.

The elevator doors must have opened again, but Sean had me pressed against the back wall, his kisses intense, because the next thing we knew, we were heading back down.

I burst out laughing while Sean broke off, breathing heavily and staring at the numbers on the control panel as they counted down.

“How the hell did we miss getting out?” he asked, turning to me after he pressed the button for the rooftop again.

When the elevator rose and finally stopped at the rooftop, he took my hand as he led me out.

In two seconds, my jaw dropped.

We were standing at a beautiful rooftop botanical garden.

The garden was lush and vibrant, filled with a variety of flowers in every shade imaginable—deep crimson roses, delicate white orchids, and vibrant purple lavenders. The air was fragrant with the scent of jasmine and gardenias. It was beyond romantic.

Pathways wound through the garden, lined with soft, velvety moss and sprinkled with petals. Small, discreet lanterns and fairy lights were draped across the trees and shrubs, casting a warm, golden glow that illuminated the flowers and created a magical ambiance. Twinkling lights were also woven into the vines that climbed the trellises. It was like being in a secret, secluded garden.

Off to one side, there was a sheltered seating area with plush, comfortable chairs and a low table, set with crystal glasses and a bottle of champagne. Nearby, a small, trickling fountain added a soothing sound to the background.

Above, the night sky was clear, and the skyline of the city stretched out in the distance. But up here, it was just the two of us in the beauty and tranquility of the garden.

I took a step forward, my jaw dropping as I surveyed the scene. “What is this place?” I breathed out, turning to Sean.

He was drinking me in. “Do you like it?” he asked. “I wasn’t sure if you were a flowers-and-gardens kind of woman, but I took a chance.”

I wrapped my arms around him, pressing my face to his chest, my voice wrecked with emotion. “I love it,” I said, my voice shaking.

No one had ever done anything this special for me before.

He took me close to the southern edge of the balcony, wrapping his hands around my waist as he stood behind me. “I’m glad you like it,” he said, his voice deep and low.

We stayed silent for a while.

Then, he pointed to a building in the distance.

“Down there, you’ll see the Kennedy Center. I gave my first piano concert there when I was twelve.”

“Let me guess,” I said, turning around. “Going by your quest for perfection, you received a standing ovation?”

He chuckled and pressed a delightful kiss to the side of my neck. “The hall was almost empty, and the four people who were there left midway. And they were friends of the family.”

“Oh, dear God. How rude,” I said, indignant that someone would treat kid Sean like that.

He trailed more kisses down my neck, pulling the sleeve of my dress down my shoulder.

I shivered in anticipation. How would tonight end?

“Sean,” I began when his kisses got steamier, his hand on my waist before trailing up slowly to cup my breast.

My head was thrown back, and he was kissing my neck. His hand curved around my back, holding me in place, and he looked very much like he’d soon rip my dress off.

He stopped, and looking at me, he said, “Come here.”

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