Page 28 of Stuck with the Hot Boss
Leo looked surprised. ‘No. Why?’
‘Not important,’ said Evie. ‘And, yes, that pigeon is naturally bright blue.’
‘Pigeon? Get out of town! Pigeons are flying bowel movements!’
‘I think it heard you,’ warned Evie. ‘It’s walking this way.’
‘We should go visit the butterflies,’ said Leo. ‘They don’t peck you to death. Do they?’
‘I’ve not heard of a fatal butterfly attack,’ said Evie. ‘But there’s always a first time.’
They emerged from the butterfly house un-pecked, but peckish. Evie checked the zoo map on her phone for food options.
‘There’s a restaurant if we want to be fancy,’ she said. ‘Or we could grab a sandwich from one of the kiosks and find a seat somewhere.’
‘Or–’ Leo was also checking his phone. ‘If you’re not starving, we could take our sandwiches into Regent’s Park.’ He raised his eyebrows at her and grinned. ‘And after lunch we could go boating on the lake!’
‘Boating.’ Evie narrowed her eyes. ‘You mean in one of those pedal things?’
‘Pedalos!’ said Leo. ‘Yes!’
‘Have you been in a pedalo before?’
‘No!’ said Leo.
‘They don’t go fast,’ Evie warned. ‘And you can’t use them like bumper cars.’
‘Oh.’ Leo looked briefly crestfallen but soon bounced back. ‘It’ll still be fun, right?’
‘Last time I went in one, I got soaked,’ said Evie. ‘And then I got cold. And then I got grumpy. And then I went home in a huff.’
That had been near the end of her relationship with Jason. Evie had learned that men weren’t anywhere near as endearing when they were laughing at you, not with you.
‘We’ll pedal carefully, no splashing,’ said Leo. ‘And it’s a beautiful sunny day so you won’t get cold.’
He was like an eager child, thought Evie. Any minute now, he’d clasp his hands together imploringly and say–
‘Pleeeeease?’
‘Okay!’ said Evie, laughing. ‘But thirty minutes max! There is no way I’m sitting surrounded by ducks and pondweed for an entire hour.’
Leo pumped his fist in triumph and leapt forward, landing a smacker on Evie’s cheek. Then he stilled, and with the gentlest touch, ran his thumb over the skin he’d just kissed, and kissed her again on her lips. Evie’s mouth opened instantly under his, and she arched against him, the heat of the day no match for the heat rushing through her. His body felt fit and firm, and below his belt line, even firmer. The tiny part of Evie’s mind that was still rational guessed now-Leo was giving thanks to morning-Leo for his decision not to wear the linen pants. That lightweight fabric would leavenothingto the imagination.
The banshee screech of a small child brought them both back to earth. They separated just enough to allow some cooling air between them, but not so far apart that passing children might ask their parents tricky questions.
‘Is anyone staring at us?’ Leo asked, in low voice.
‘There’s a flamingo giving us the side eye,’ said Evie. ‘But I think that’s their normal resting face.’
Leo touched his forehead to Evie’s for a moment.
‘Sorry,’ he said. ‘I got overexcited by the pedalos.’
‘I forgive you,’ said Evie, with a smile. ‘But let’s go get those sandwiches before we become an educational experience in our own right.’
Get ready, my friends. We need to clear the way for these two to have a moment. But don’t make it too obvious. I think Evie may be starting to suspect that some trickery is afoot …
Chapter Fifteen
