Page 114 of My Favorite Boss

Chapter Twenty-Four

BANE

It was shocking how empty the condo felt when Magnolia was gone. I wandered around, then tried to get the harness on Hedgy. He wasn’t a fan and kept walking backward as if to try to get it off. Watching it made me laugh. I clipped the leash on and tried to encourage him, but all he did was lie down on the floor and play dead. I dragged him around a bit, tried setting him on his feet and showing him what to do, but he simply flopped back to the floor. I scratched my head. Maybe Magnolia was right.

Finally, I gave up but left the harness on. He’d get used to it, and we’d try walking again later. I left him to his endeavors and got dressed to meet Sam. He had suggested a new place close to the condo, so I decided to walk. I checked on Hedgy, finding him still attempting to take the harness off and not looking happy. I gave in and took it off him. He shot me a look that said it all, then he ran away, ducking under the bed in the guest room. I held it up, Magnolia’s words coming back to me. I wondered how sexy she would look tied up on my bed.

Then I shook my head and left to meet Sam. I took a table outside and waited for him. I was a little early. I texted Magnolia, who told me she was having coffee with Rylee soon. I asked about her dad, and she informed me he was alert for a brief time, but it hadn’t lasted. I felt her sadness in the short reply and decided I needed to do something to cheer her up. I sipped at my coffee and, for fun, Googled Mr. Grey. My eyes were wide as I read about the books, and I decided I was enough to deal with without adding ropes.

Unless she asked. Then I’d invest in some silk scarves for her.

I moved on to Googling information about getting a cat to enjoy taking walks. Patience seemed to be the key, and the bottom line was, I never was good with that word. Then I stumbled on a backpack you could wear, letting the cat get fresh air and enjoy the walk, while keeping them safe. I had a feeling it would work for my runs too. I wondered how Hedgy would feel. If Magnolia would laugh at my efforts.

Sam appeared behind me, reading over my shoulder.

“A backpack for a cat? What the hell, Bane?” He sat down, plucking the phone from my hand and reading the screen. “Since when do you have a cat?”

I told him the story after the waitress took our orders. He regarded me over the rim of his glass. “You and the condom girl now have a cat,” he repeated.

“Don’t call her that.”

He held up his hands. “Sorry. You and Ms. Myers now have a cat.”

I nodded, picking up my sandwich and inspecting it. It didn’t look as good as the ones Magnolia made me. I took a bite and chewed slowly. It was okay but didn’t taste as good either.

“So, you’re still seeing her?” he asked.

“I asked her to marry me.”

His eyes widened, and he sputtered into his beer. “What the hell?”

“She said yes.”

He regarded me with narrowed eyes. “So, the girl who tried to kill your dick then junk-punched you is the one you want to spend the rest of your life with?” He slung an arm over the back of his chair, eyeing me up. “You got some weird penis pain fetish I don’t know about?”

I started to laugh. “I have a weird Magnolia Myers fetish.”

“You serious about this girl?”

“I asked her to marry me,” I repeated.

He was silent for a few moments. “You love this girl, Alex?”

“I care about her. I want to spend my life with her.”

“Do you love her?”

“As much as I can love.”

He shook his head. “I think you’re capable of loving.”

“I’m capable of caring. Looking after. Protecting. Providing.”

“And that’s enough for her?”

“She says she loves me,” I admitted quietly.

“How did that feel?”