Page 12 of Hitched to my Boss

"Same time tomorrow?" she asks as she packs up her materials.

"Same time tomorrow," I agree.

After she leaves, I find myself holding the flannel shirt she'd worn, noting how it still holds traces of her scent. I should wash it, put it back in the drawer, forget that seeing her in my clothes had felt like a preview of something I hadn't known I wanted.

Instead, I hang it in my closet and spend the rest of the day trying not to think about how natural it had felt to take care of her, how right she'd looked in my space, wearing my shirt like she belonged there.

Like she belonged to me.

This is a professional relationship,I remind myself again.Simply a business arrangement with clear boundaries.

But as I lie in bed that night, staring at the ceiling and trying not to imagine her in my shirt again, I realize those boundaries are already becoming more complicated than either of us planned.

4

NATALIA

"Ican't believe I actually agreed to this."

Jason stands in the middle of his hotel room at the Bellagio, staring out at the Vegas Strip like it might personally attack him. He's been muttering variations of this sentiment since we arrived three hours ago, and I'm starting to wonder if bringing him here was a catastrophic mistake.

"It's going to be fine," I tell him for the tenth time today, though I'm not entirely convinced myself. Vegas is a sensory overload on the best of days, and for someone who considers a trip to town an ordeal, the constant noise and crowds have to be overwhelming.

"Fine." He turns from the window, and I can see the tension in every line of his body. "Define fine."

"Fine means you survive the next three days, make connections with potential clients, and walk away with your business transformed." I pull up the conference schedule on my tablet. "Starting with cocktail hour tonight."

The look he gives me could freeze the Nevada desert. "Cocktail hour."

"Networking event," I correct. "It provides a casual atmosphere, small group conversations, and the perfect opportunity for you to demonstrate your expertise without formal presentations." I keep my voice calm and professional, the same tone I've used to talk CEOs off ledges during major crises. "I'll handle the introductions and social navigation. All you have to do is answer questions about wildlife management."

"In a room full of strangers."

"In a room full of potential clients who need exactly what you offer."

He sits on the edge of the bed, running his hands through his hair. The gesture makes him look younger and more vulnerable than the confident expert I've come to know over the past week.

"What if I freeze up? What if I can't think of anything to say?"

The admission surprises me. I've seen Jason light up when discussing his work and watched him analyze complex problems with the kind of passion that's impossible to fake. But strip away the familiar environment of his cabin and put him in an unfamiliar social situation, and suddenly, he's questioning abilities I know he possesses.

"You won't freeze up," I say, sitting in the chair across from him. "You know more about this field than anyone else in that room. When Marcus Hartwell asks about wolf relocation strategies, you're going to forget you're nervous because you'll be too busy explaining why his current approach isn't working."

"You really think Hartwell will be there?"

"I confirmed it this morning. He's registered for the full conference and listed as attending tonight's event." I lean forward, meeting his eyes. "Jason, this is our chance. Not just with Hartwell, but with a dozen other ranchers who could become long-term clients."

He nods slowly, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. "Okay. But if this goes badly, I'm blaming you."

"Fair enough." I stand, checking my watch. "We have two hours before the cocktail event. I suggest you take a shower, get into conference mode, and try to remember that these people need your help."

"What are you going to do?"

"Final prep work. Confirm our meeting schedule for tomorrow, review the attendee list one more time, and make sure I know exactly who to introduce you to and in what order." I gather my materials from the desk. "My room's next door if you need anything."

As I reach for the door handle, his voice stops me. "Natalia?"

I turn back. "Yeah?"

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