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“Feb, focus. He’s my boss.” I give him a little wave so it looks like I’m infatuated, and I can’t lie. It’s not hard to pretend. He’s drop dead gorgeous. “Ok, maybe he’s a little hotter than any man I’ve ever dated in the past, but—”
“He’s hotter than any man, period,” she cuts in. “Not just any man you’ve dated. Like the guy looks like a movie star. Look at him.”
We both ogle him and February has a point. He’s standing in the center of my large family, like a celebrity in the middle of a pack of raving fans, answering all their questions.
I’m seriously wondering if Aunt Charlotte will ask him for his autograph.
Reading my mind, February says, “Charlotte looks smitten.”
I roll my eyes again.
Aunt Char.
My mother’s younger, younger sister.
She’s a few years older than me, and has all the fake body parts. Boobs, nose, hair. Ok, not a full head of fake hair, but I know she has worn extensions on occasion.
Ok, all occasions.
“Feb, I don’t know what to do.”
My sister shrugs. “Just roll with it. Besides, after the new year you won’t have to see him again once you quit.”
“Shh,” I whisper-shout. “He doesn’t know I’m quitting yet.”
My sister’s eyes grow wide. “You haven’t told him?” She shakes her head, most likely judging me. Just like baby Jesus.
“I know. I don’t know what I’m waiting for.” A part of me hates change. In another world, I’d love to keep working for Brighting Gaming, but Nicholas will never promote me. He’ll never view me as a valued member of the team.
He only sees me as the lowly assistant who’s the workhorse.
Fetching coffee. Running his absurd errands.
Like the one time he asked me to pick up cake at a bakery in Hoboken. I didn’t make it back to the city until late, and then had to go to his skyrise condo to give it to him.
Why did he need a cake that late?
“I think you’re waiting for your feelings to go away.”
“What feelings?”
“There’s no way you can work for a man like that”—she jabs her thumb in his direction—“and not be totally attracted to him.”
I step back. “I’m not.” I mean, in my defense the man resembles a Greek God.
“Jan, please. This is me you’re talking to.”
The thing I hate about sisters is they always know when you’re lying. They can always see through your bullshit to the feelings tucked deeply inside. To say I haven’t thought about my boss is an understatement. I’ve had many naughty dreams about him, and I’ve wanted to make those fantasies a reality, but then he opens his mouth to speak and squashes all my desire when he snaps out his orders.
I haven’t seen February in many months because she moved to Magnolia Pointe, a small town in the middle of nowhere, and opened up her own coffee shop. And this seems like the perfect time to change the subject from me to her.
“How’s Deja Brew?” I ask.
She gives me a flat look. “You’re so obviously deflecting. But I’ll let it slide. It’s killing it, and I couldn’t be more proud. Even if there’s a competing coffee shop owner making my life a living nightmare.”
Before I can get more details, Aunt Charlotte interrupts. “I never knew you were dating such a hottie. Now I see why you’ve kept him all to yourself.”
“Yeah,” I reply, not really knowing what to say. “Just wasn’t ready to share all that goodness.”
My mother gathers everyone’s attention with a loud whistle. “Ok, who’s ready to ski?”
The family cheers, moving away from Nicholas, and I have to commend him for being such a trooper.
Aunt Char slithers away, standing next to Nicholas as everyone turns their attention to my mother.
“He’s great,” my cousin, Bryon says, whispering close to my ear. “What does he do?” Bryon is one of those guys who always wants the 4-1-1 on everything.
He’s a few years older and already owns two construction companies. So, he thinks he’s better than everyone else.
I wish I could say he’s a billionaire genius, but that would blow our cover quicker than giving a child ice cream and seeing how long it takes to disappear.
“He’s in marketing,” I lie.
This appeases Bryon, and he steps away to gather his skis.
Nicholas makes his way over while my mother takes charge of the group. She’s a take-charge kinda gal. I think it’s one of the reasons she’s so pushy in my life.
She likes that control.
I cast a glance at my father, and he smiles with a pride that was absent when I told my parents I got a new job in my actual field of study. Head of marketing for Pulse Gaming barely garnered a head nod from my father. Yet, now, with Nicholas by my side, he’s the epitome of parental pride.
I shake my head.
