Page 89 of Confessions of a Smutty Romance Author

I smiled. “Me too. We’re officially boyfriend and girlfriend now.”

My friends’ mouths fell open, and they quietly squealed so the guys wouldn’t overhear us.

“No freaking way!” Birdie whisper-yelled.

Hen shook my shoulder. “I’m so happy for you!”

Jonas and Cohen came out of the kitchen carrying plates full of breakfast food, from chocolate chip pancakes to eggs, bacon, and buttery slices of toast.

“Who’s ready for breakfast?” Jonas asked.

My friends piped up their agreement, but I went to Jonas, hugging him tight as soon as he set the plates on the table. “Thank you,” I said into his ear. “For thinking to invite them over.”

He held me back,his strong arms wrapping around my waist. “I thought you might want some friends around.”

I pulled back, smiling at him before kissing him on the lips. I forgot my friends were around as I said, “I love you, Jonas.”

He grinned back and said, “I love you too.”

We celebrated my first I-love-you with all of our friends and way too much breakfast food. It might not have been happily ever after, but it felt damn close.

39

Jonas

The girls decided to spend the day at the beach, and Cohen had to check in at Collie’s, so I went into the office to make up for the work I’d missed the day before. There were countless emails and even a voicemail from Mr. Rusk I’d been avoiding, but I had to face it. And besides, there was plenty left to do.

Since it was tax season, I definitely wasn’t the only person in the office. People dressed in jeans and T-shirts filled half the cubicles and all the offices.

If I was being honest, I’d slacked a little these last few weeks, choosing to spend time with Mara instead of extra time at the office, but now that we were on steadier ground, I could recommit to work.

I nodded at a few people as I walked past them and went in my office, closing the door so I could buckle down and focus. Mara had mentioned stargazing later that night, and I’d be damned if I missed out because of work.

The first thing I did was sit down at my chair and call the CEO of SeatonMade, who I’d run out on the day before. It felt like so much longer than one day, but a million things had changed in twenty-four hours.

Mara had confessed to sleeping with another man.

She’d committed to me.

She’d said she loved me.

The client answered the phone, and I said, “Hey, Sarah, it’s Jonas Moore from ESR Accounting. I’m so sorry I had to run out yesterday. I had a family emergency.”

“Oh, that’s totally fine. Mr. Rusk came in and helped finish things up, so we’re all good.”

“Mr. Rusk?” I said, my stomach sinking. Part of me had been hoping one of my staff accountants would take over and Mr. Rusk wouldn’t know at all.

“Yes, he was fabulous. But I do hope everything is okay on your end.”

“It is now,” I said.

“Good deal. See you again next tax season!”

I smiled. “See you again next year.”

Almost as soon as I hung up the phone, a knock sounded on the door. Through the rectangular window, I saw Ernest Stanford Rusk, the man who single-handedly grew this practice to what it was.

I quickly got up, wishing I’d worn more formal clothing, and answered the door. “Mr. Rusk. Great to see you. Thanks for handling that client yesterday, by the way. I really appreciate it.”

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