Page 123 of One Bossy Date

Our kiss grew deep, and it was pure and raging love.

It was a raw need to be together—now and always.

After I put her down, I ran my hands down her back, over her ass, pulling her body against me desperately. Her hands fell from my neck and explored my chest, running eager fingers along my abs, and then gripped my waist.

Thank fucking God she was wearing a dress.

I picked her up, and she wrapped her legs around my waist. My mouth was back on hers as I was pulling at my belt, and soon unbuttoning my jeans. Neither of us would break the kiss for anything at all.

Except, that was, when there was a light knock on the boutique’s front door behind me.

We both froze, her hands in my hair and mine already groping her ass, her panties halfway down under the dress.

Fuck.

“Oh, shit.” Zoe giggled. “The electrician.”

I carefully put her down, buckled back up and allowed her the time to fix her panties and her dress and wipe her face, before turning around to see a dirty-looking man with a toolbox standing awkwardly behind the glass door.

He was suppressing a laugh. Good man. Keeping it professional. I let him in with a nod of my head.

“Hi,” he said. “I was called about a faulty outlet?”

“Yes.” Zoe tried not to laugh as well.

She waved a hand to tell the man to follow her, and she started explaining what had happened. It sounded serious, and I started to worry about what she’d been through before I got here. Then, I noticed how happy and calm she looked.

Her ring flashed, reflecting the light from the front windows, and reminding me that no matter what happened here or in the future, I’d be there for her.

Just like she’d be here for me.

EPILOGUE: ZOE

Six Months Later

“I love you,” Anders whispered into my ear.

We were halfway through our first dance, swaying peacefully across the dance floor while our families looked on lovingly.

“I love you, too,” I murmured and complimented it with a soft kiss on his cheek.

We hadn’t taken dancing lessons. This was us merely holding one another and enjoying the moment, swaying to the romantic tune playing loudly. My dress was a sparkling white, literally shining from all the little white beads patterned across the material that reflected the bright lights shining down on us. It was an A-line shape with the back open down to the waistline, where a thin belt with little beaded flowers accentuated my waist. Whenever my foot peeped out from under the flowing dress, the rich mustard-yellow of my wedges would show. I’d chosen them just for the fun of it, a joke between us. Anders wore the same color handkerchief, with his dark-gray five-piece suit. Even Ares and Hades wore yellow bow ties around their collars. Our wedding day would not have been complete without them.

We’d decided to get married in Manhattan at a wonderfully romantic hotel. The ceremony itself was on the rooftop, under a floral archway, in front of our families and friends, and with the city we loved framing the horizon. The reception was, of course, in the events hall, decorated with white flowers and green leaves, and with gold accessories adorning the tables.

We would be spending the night in their honeymoon suite upstairs, before going on our honeymoon in South America. I’d told Anders that I wanted to see it, and I wanted us to enjoy it together. He then went ahead and bought an entire holiday house on the coast of Chile, where we would be kickstarting our marriage and stargazing every night.

Anders had taken his place as CEO again after turning the jet around and deciding to stay in New York. Andrea Jonson remained at her position as vice president, and according to Anders, she’d expressed interest in a future position in South America. Dax ran the team specifically tasked to manage any green construction projects with Humphries, while Anders kept an eye on the company as a whole.

My own business had expanded exponentially in the last months, and there were more employees to help out now. With the addition of dog grooming, I’d been able to open a second location, as well as start research into a third. My business was quickly becoming a franchise. Everything I’d imagined was coming true, and I couldn’t be more thrilled.

We’d even worked out a system to manage Anders’s cat allergy—I made sure that all the stores were squeaky clean, used an air filter, and avoided fabrics that attracted dust, just in case. Anders visited the store as often as he could with a cup of our favorite iced coffee from that small shop we’d visited so long ago. He’d bring the boys with him to say hi and brighten up my day—they always inspired giggles and stares from strangers because of their tough appearance and grumpy expressions.

Jim would run the boutique when Anders and I were in Chile, while Dax took care of the boys.

We were scheduled to leave the next day.

“I can’t wait to get back to the room,” I murmured, gaining a low, sexy chuckle from my husband.

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