Page 64 of The Boss and the Adoption Mess
Because what I feel for Gabriel is desire. Not love. No, I’m not in love. Maybe I have a crush—he’s unbelievably attractive and hot. But that will pass. And I won’t throw away my career for a crush.
No way!
And then suddenly, he touches me. His hand rests on mine. Warmth from his skin rushes up through me. I open my eyes and look at him, and for a moment I think he’s going to kiss me. But he just sits there, worried, watching me.
“What’s on your mind?” Gabriel asks.
So, is he actually concerned about me?
I glance at his hand, at the way his thumb brushes gently over my skin. I swallow, clear my throat, and try to gather my thoughts.
“My parents run an inn back in Scotland. The Green Beauty.”
“Yes, I remember you mentioned it,” he says.
“Two years ago, a terrible storm hit Scotland. Whole towns were flooded, landslides wiped out roads. Power lines down…Pastures, playgrounds, a whole grocery store, office buildings, and the school in town were completely destroyed.
My parents' inn was located a little outside of town, but they were far enough away from the river that their inn only suffered minor damage. Only..." I snort angrily. "They had insurance for everything back then. Really everything. Burglary. Fire. Hail damage. Everything imaginable. What they didn't know, however, was that they were missing one type of insurance. They took out many insurance policies against water damage, but none that covered damage caused by floodwater from a river. They thought they were well covered with their general insurance, but the insurance company refused to pay.
That’s what happened to a lot of people in town. They were caught off guard and left with nothing. There were so many donations. Most rebuilt their houses, the community pitched in, so today the town looks almost like it used to. But my parents still have huge debts because of it. I send them everything I can every month to help with the bills and payments.” I look gratefully at Gabriel and say, “With the job you’re offering me, I can make sure they’ll soon be debt-free. There’s still a lot of money outstanding, but in two or three years everything will be paid off. Then they can really start over.”
“But why did you hesitate?” he asks in surprise, pulling his hand back. “If you need the money so badly… I mean, it…” Gabriel starts thinking aloud.
“We almost ended up in bed together. It’s not that simple.” I hope he understands.
“Because of that? Only because of that?” he asks.
“It’s complicated.”
“It doesn’t have to be.”
“I wasn’t sure I could be around you after we… in the limo…” I stop myself. “You know.”
“That’s why I didn’t want to hire you at first. But then I told myself it didn’t matter. I won’t find another woman like you.”
“So, you’re okay with it? After I sat on your lap? After we kissed?” I ask.
Gabriel smiles, glances to the side, and says, “That’s a nice memory, isn’t it?”
“Is it?” I’m surprised at what he said.
“I mean, the evening started wonderfully, then you fell asleep, and the next day was chaotic. That’s why I didn’t want to hire you. I thought you’d only bring problems into my life, and I don’t have time for more drama. But then you enriched my life. And you still do. That’s why I filed that evening away as a valuable memory. As a nice experience. Something I…” He stops.
“Something you what?” That he’d like to repeat? I look at him and see the smirk. His dark green eyes sparkle in the tealight glow.
“I don’t think much of starting a fling with my PA. Especially not when we have history and you’re supposed to take care of Rosie.”
But he’s interested?
For a moment, hope rises in me, but his words are actually a clear no.
“No matter how strong the attraction may be.”
Is that so? He’s attracted to me?
“Yeah, you’re right,” I agree, even though my heart says otherwise.
Gabriel sips his tea and then checks his gold watch. “I have another appointment. I’ll be back in about two hours. I can leave you here with Rosie, right?”
