Page 92 of My Favorite Boss

She looked at me as if I was crazy. “I don’t think we’re ready for that. Have you thought of the implications?”

I hadn’t, but I found I didn’t really care.

“Does it matter?”

She looked thoughtful, sad, and worried all at once. She drew in a deep breath. “To you, maybe not, Alex. If things don’t work out, nothing changes for you. You will still have your job, your home, and your life.” Before I could protest, she held up her hand. “I, on the other hand, would be unemployed, have no place to go, and my life would be a disaster.”

“Do you think I would do that to you?” I asked with a frown. “Fire you, not make sure you were okay?”

“I don’t know.”

I turned, capturing her chin in my hand. “Never. And nothing is going to happen to break us. I want things to keep moving, Magnolia. We’re a great team. You make me laugh. You make me happy. I’m not used to either. I love how you handle me at work and at home.” I huffed out a long sigh. “But I understand you want to be cautious.”

She had lost a lot in her life. Her parents, her home, her security. I didn’t know how to explain to her I wanted to be all those things. For the first time in my life, I wanted to care for someone, to be there for them. I wanted her to rely on me.

“I’m new at this,” I admitted. “I don’t know how to tell you how I feel. But I want you with me.” I paused. “Please.”

“What are you asking?”

“I don’t know,” I replied honestly. “I want more time with you.”

“Can we take it slowly?” she asked after a moment.

“I’ll hate that.” I lifted her hand and kissed it. “But yes.”

She chuckled. “Always so impatient.”

“Please let me take you to your place and pick up what you need. You can go home tomorrow night after work.” I threw out my ace. “Hedgy will miss you too much.”

She met my stare with a roll of her eyes, but I won.

“Fine, I’ll go home tomorrow night.”

I handed her the kitten and put the car in drive. It was impossible to stop my smile, though.

Monday morning, Darryl picked us up, and I tried not to laugh when Magnolia asked him to drop her off two blocks from the office. As we pulled away from her, I looked back, hating the thought she was walking in the gloomy weather. Then I shook my head, realizing she was a grown woman, had an umbrella, and was very capable of looking after herself. Still, I didn’t relax until I heard her come into the office. She left briefly, returning with my coffee, which she placed on the desk.

“Your new warmer will be here this week,” she informed me. “The back order has finally cleared.”

“Good,” I grunted, staring at my computer.

“What’s wrong?”

“How strict is your no touching during office hours policy?” I asked. She had given me a list of rules this morning after breakfast. No touching, no kissing, no sexual advances during office hours. I didn’t like the new rules, even though I knew she was right. “I mean, you’re not coming home with me, I only get to see you during the day, and I can’t even kiss you?” I deleted an email with a sharp tap of my finger. “Doesn’t seem fair.”

I heard a low giggle, and I looked up, glaring. “What is so funny?”

She rounded the desk and cupped my face. “You are, Bane. You’re acting like a child who had his favorite toy taken away.” Bending down, she kissed me, her lips soft on mine. I gripped her hip, kissing her back, the taste of her an aphrodisiac to my senses. I groaned deep in my chest and pulled her closer, but she stepped back.

“The occasional kiss,” she relented. “And we’ll see each other in the evenings if you want.”

“I want all the time,” I insisted, reaching.

She evaded my hands. “Drink your coffee. You have a meeting in twenty minutes.”

Then she walked away, her hips swaying. She wore pants today, of all things. With the brocade vest and the lacy blouse. The outfit did something to me.

She did something to me.