Page 44 of Played By my Grumpy Boss

“It’s beautiful!” I exclaimed. “How did you know I like canal boats?”

“Clare told me.”

I felt a rush of love for my best friend.

“She also told me that she can stay over with Maddy tonight, if we don’t want to rush back.”

I raised my eyebrow. “Oh, did she now?” I was flirting. That was bad. But I couldn’t help myself. Alex was close behind me as I went down the little steps into the boat. I could feel his presence all over me. Smell his delicious cologne, like green moss and old wood. When he spoke, my whole body shuddered at the sound of his voice. “I wanted to do something nice for you. To thank you for… well… everything.”

“You didn’t have to but – thank you. It’s amazing. I love it!”

There was a cozy fire in the cute stove (with an intriguing foil-covered pan on top) and the snuggly couch was covered in cushions and blankets. I ran my hand along the gorgeous handmade English oak countertop and sighed with pleasure.

“It’s a bit different than our last date,” he said then. “I cooked the food, for a start.”

I raised an eyebrow. “So, you think this is a date, huh?” Flirting again.

He smiled back, hesitant. “Am I going in the canal after all?”

“No, it’s okay. You can stay.”

I sat down at the sweet little carved wood bench. It’s fold-down table was set out with vintage brocade placemats, mismatched silverware and more candles. I gasped when I saw the antique glass salt and pepper set, with their tiny silversmithed lids. “Can I move in here?” I said, to buy myself some time. I didn’t want to address the ‘date’ comment just yet. I wanted to find my feet first.

“If you like,” Alex said, lifting the foil on the stove pan. Delicious roasting smells wafted out.

“Well, I mean, not with Maddy, of course. But imagine… just coming here to read sometimes. And work on the magazine. And write… If I had a place like this, I bet a novel would just come pouring out of me.”

“Sure. I’ll buy it for you,” Alex said. “Ow, dammit!” He put his fingers to his mouth. He’d burned himself on the hot stove.

Before I could stop myself, I was beside him. “Let’s see, is it bad?”

I ran the cold water at the sink, a cute mini-Belfast one set into the countertop. I took Alex by the wrist, pulled him over to it and held his hand under the running water.

“I can do that myself you know,” he said. “I’m a big boy. Oh, fuck, it does hurt, though.”

I raised my eyebrows and giggled. “You’re a big baby.”

“And you’re a meanie. I bet you’re thinking more about this reclaimed Victorian tap set than about my horrific injury.”

“The sink actually – but yeah.”

He nudged me and I nudged him back. “Hey!”

“What’s under the foil that’s worth getting horrifically injured for?” I asked then. I felt more playful then and I decided to let the date comment go, for now anyway.

I’d accepted the invitation to come and meet him, with only a small amount of persuasion from Clare. I’d known there would be heat between us – there always was. And now I was flirting.

“Braised fennel, sauteed new potatoes, olives and lamb cutlets,” he told me.

“Sounds amazing,” I said. I was breathing him in, enjoying being so close to him. I reveled in the waves of desire that had started coursing up my body too. All the reasons why we couldn’t be together could wait, for now, at least. This was such a surprise, and beautiful and unexpected. And being with Alex was so good. I just wanted to drink it all in.

And speaking of drinking… at least we could enjoy one glass of wine before I had to remind myself of all the reasons why we couldn’t be together. And why we were definitely not on a date, whatever Alex had said.

I still hadn’t let go of his wrist… I had a flash image of holding his wrists on the first night we’d spent together, and I squeezed my fingers tighter around him. He gasped and I felt the desire come up through him too. He turned sharply and looked deep into my eyes, questioning.

Inviting.

For a moment, I thought we’d fall into a kiss.

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