Page 15 of Big Book Boss

"It's late, and I need to get home."

"Okay," I walk to the door and open it. "I'm disappointed, though," I tell her as she walks through. "I was looking forward to proving my stamina."

"I don't doubt it. If that makes you feel better."

The sound of the door locking behind us sets the tone between us.

"It doesn't," I tell her as we walk down the corridor side by side.

At the tavern entrance, she says, "I have to stop by the coat room and grab my box from the office."

"So, we'll part here," I state.

"Yes," she holds out her hand for me to shake. I stare at it. "Thank you for the best fuck of my life."

I smile at that. "You're welcome. Thanks for reminding me I should be having fun." I take her hand. "May I kiss you good night?"

The look on her face sends shivers of rejection down my spine. "I don't think that's a good idea," she says.

"Okay. Then it's been a pleasure meeting you, Miss Dixie Doodle, and I hope you return again soon so we can get to know each other. Whether or not you choose to continue where we left off."

She smiles but doesn't respond.

"I really want to learn your name." I tease her. Then I walk back to the bar and take my seat beside Mickey.

"What? You're not going home with her, bossman?"

I pull my phone out and send Reno a text.

Be the Uber for the girl with the box. Make sure she gets inside safely. Then come back here to get me.

I look at the door and watch her walk out carrying a shoebox. "Not yet," I tell Mickey. "But I will."

He scoffs, "You losing your touch?"

I laugh, "Oh, no, she got touched. But some women are like expensive champagne. Rare, high quality to be sipped and savored, and the bubbles are just fun."

"Hmm," he muses. "And I thought you were strictly a beer man like me."

I chuckle, "I was, until her.

8

PART TWO

Ten days later,

Samaera

My feet hurt.I slip my heels off, sitting outside the bakery's cafe, nursing the coffee I bought an hour ago. Hartman & Hartman Publishing House didn't do any of us any favors by letting us go in one lump firing. But they weren't concerned with our ability to find another job. Especially in the publishing industry. They don't want us working for their competition, so getting a good job reference is a bust. Even though Ramona wanted to, she was forbidden from showing favoritism. The legal department told her if she did it for one, she would have to do it for all one hundred and fourteen of the others.

I sip my cold coffee and look out at the people walking by. My life is in limbo, so I haven't been back to T. & A. Tavern. I can't afford to spend any money on a good time, no matter how much I want to find out if Bastian was just a one-and-done or if he could be more.

So here I sit, scanning the help-wanted ads, scrolling along, and trying to stay focused, frustrated because my life is on hold until I find employment. I set the coffee down. With the screen paused, waiting for my thumb to move to the bottom to lift the choices again, I spot an unusual job description.

Hmm, that's different. I lean in closer to read the summary post.

Billionaire mogul of Precious Kitty Publishing is seeking a personal assistant with extreme organizational skills.

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