Page 22 of Lying to the Boss

“It is beautiful,” he says, gazing out at the water.

The sun is going down, the sky turning all the pretty colors. The breeze is getting a little stronger, but it’s still warm.

We reach a look-off area that’s built out into the water with benches. Both of us turn onto it like it was our plan all along, walking to the very end and resting our arms on the wooden railing to look out at the vast, seemingly never-ending ocean.

“You believe in aliens?” he asks.

I laugh. “Are you serious?”

“Yeah, I’m serious.”

I shake my head. “I don’t know. Maybe.”

“Elaborate.”

I shake my head. He’s so demanding. “I think there is life out there, beyond us, but I don’t think they’re little green men who like to probe humans anally.”

Now he laughs. “It is strange that’s the hole they’d go for.”

“Right?”

It falls quiet again as we stare out at the water, watching the waves come in. Lower and lower the sun gets, painting the sky in even beautiful colors, that slowly start to disappear as darkness takes over.

“I bet the sunsets in California are gorgeous,” I say.

“They are.”

“You’ve seen them?”

“Of course.”

Of course.

“I could take you,” he adds.

My head turns toward him, and I find him watching me with a serious expression.

“Why?”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m your employee and it was only one night.”

“But it could be more.”

“What more? I need this job, and you…”

He steps closer, brushing hair from my forehead and back where it belongs. I bite back a whimper and the urge to lean into his hand.

The wind blows again, causing my hair to fly all over again, and this time he doesn’t try to tame it. He just cups my cheek and stares into my eyes.

“I what?” he asks.

“You’re… you.”

“What does that mean? I thought you enjoyed the night we had together.”

“I did.”