Page 13 of Hitched to my Boss

"Thank you. For all of this. I know I'm not the easiest client to work with."

Something warm unfurls in my chest at the genuine gratitude in his voice. "You're not difficult, Jason. You're just particular about who you trust."

The words hang between us for a moment, carrying weight I hadn't intended. Because somewhere over the past week, I've realized that his trust means something to me. More than it should for a purely professional relationship.

"See you at seven," I say, escaping to my room before I can analyze that thought too deeply.

Two hours later,Jason opens his hotel room door, and I have to remember how to breathe.

Gone are the flannel shirts and work boots I've grown accustomed to. Instead, he's wearing a perfectly tailoredcharcoal suit that emphasizes his broad shoulders and lean build. His hair is styled just enough to look polished without appearing overly groomed, and he's traded his usual work boots for dress shoes that probably cost more than my monthly car payment.

He looks like he stepped out of a magazine spread. Sophisticated, confident, and devastatingly handsome.

"Wow," I manage, my brain struggling to reconcile this polished version with the mountain man I've been working with.

"Too much?" He adjusts his tie self-consciously. "I haven't worn a suit in four years. Wasn't sure I remembered how."

"Not too much. Perfect, actually." I smooth the emerald green dress he'd somehow arranged to have delivered to my room with a note about fitting the Vegas atmosphere. "You clean up well."

"So do you." His eyes take in my appearance with an appreciation that makes heat pool in my stomach. "That dress..."

"Thank you for arranging it. Though I'm still not sure how you managed to get my size right."

A flush creeps up his neck. "I may have called in a favor with someone who knows about these things. Told them it was for someone professional, elegant, and..." He trails off, looking embarrassed.

"And?"

"And beautiful," he finishes quietly.

The compliment sends warmth through my entire body. Jason doesn't strike me as someone who throws around empty flattery, which makes the simple statement feel more significant than elaborate poetry.

"Ready?" I ask, trying to ignore the way he's looking at me.

"As I'll ever be."

The elevator ride to the conference level passes in charged silence, both of us acutely aware of how we look together. Like a power couple. Like we belong with each other.

"Remember," I say as we approach the reception area, "I'll handle introductions and keep conversations moving. All you need to do is be yourself when people ask about your work."

"Be myself," he repeats. "Right."

"Jason." I stop walking and turn to face him fully. "You're brilliant at what you do. These people need your expertise, even if they don't know it yet. Trust that."

He nods, squaring his shoulders. "Let's do this."

The cocktail reception is being held in one of the hotel's smaller ballrooms, designed to encourage mingling rather than formal presentations. Soft lighting, scattered cocktail tables, a bar along one wall, and maybe seventy-five people in business attire engaged in animated conversations.

It's exactly the kind of environment where Jason's expertise can shine in small group settings, assuming I can navigate him through the social minefield successfully.

"There's Hartwell," I murmur, spotting the rancher near the bar. He's exactly what I expected: tall, weathered, expensive suit that doesn't quite hide his rancher background. "But I want to warm you up with a few easier conversations first."

I guide Jason toward a group discussing predator management policies, people who'll appreciate his technical knowledge without the pressure of a potential contract negotiation.

"Dr. Martinez," I say, approaching a woman I'd researched earlier. "I'm Natalia Santos, and this is Jason Wallace. I believe you two have some common ground regarding non-lethal wildlife management strategies."

Dr. Martinez turns, her interest immediately piqued. "Jason Wallace? I've heard excellent things about your work from Fish and Wildlife contacts."

And just like that, Jason relaxes. Because this is familiar territory, a professional conversation about the work he's passionate about. Within minutes, he's explaining relocation protocols and answering technical questions with the kind of authority that comes from years of hands-on experience.

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