Page 10 of Sexy Bad Boss

“Save your denials for someone who doesn’t know you as well as I do,” she says, peering at me intently. “But no, you wouldn’t have the guts to actually come out and tell him to his face like that. So you, what? You tried to be more tactful.”

“It wasn’t like that,” I argue. “I did plan to tell him. It just happened a little differently.”

“What just happened?” She leans closer, her gaze scanning mine.

“N-nothing.” I grip the arms of the chair. “Nothing important anyway.”

“Oh. You quit. That’s what happened? You quit working for my brother? You decided to take that job at the cookie place?”

“I gave notice.” I slump in my chair. “It makes sense to take the job. It’s what I’ve always wanted to do.”

“Good for you,” she says. “That took some guts. Should have done it years ago.”

“What? You don’t think I should have been working for James?”

“No.” She grins, and tugs at the hem of her shirt as she shifts in her seat. “Although I don’t think you should consider moving continents either. You should be kissing James. Possibly making some of those grandbabies our mother constantly reminds us are her God-given right.”

I groan. What’s the point of trying to hide anything from Ronnie when she sees right through me? “I kissed him. Last night. Or at least I tried to.”

“You did?” She looks shocked. “Wait? Did it not go well? Is this before or after you quit?”

“Before.” I hide my face. Did someone turn up the thermostat on the sun? “I had to know before I could decide to take the job.”

“Did my idiot brother knock you back? Is that what you’re telling me?”

I nod. “James isn’t an idiot. He just—”

“Wow. I can’t believe... Sometimes he can be so dense, but this takes the cake.” She sits back, shaking her head.

“But it doesn’t seem he even remembers it.” There’s something to be said for small mercies. “So let’s just leave it as I resigned.”

“Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me. I won’t tell him. I haven’t yet,” she reassures me. “So how long do you have to decide whether you’ll take the job?”

“A little over two weeks. They expect me to start in a month.” My phone rings and I leap to retrieve it. James’s number flashes on the screen, and I clamp my hand over it as I mouth, “It’s him.”

“You better take it,” Ronnie says.

“What if he remembers?” I bite the inside of my lip, my pulse racing.

“Only one way to find out.” She shrugs.

I take a deep breath and will my heart to slow down, before I answer. “Yes, James?”

“Myra, where are you?”

“I’m at Paynt’s.”

“Why are you there? You should be here. And what’s with this letter?”

“I came to check on the goat, and I’m quitting.”

“You’re giving me two weeks’ notice? That’s what this says.”

“That’s right.”

“You can’t.”

“Actually, I can. I am.”