Misadventures with the Boss (Misadventures #12)(3)

“What?” My stomach kicked up a team of butterflies. “Are you serious?”

“Dead. Oh, wow,” Hailey cooed. “He’s sexy.”

“I’m not looking for sexy,” I reminded her.

“Oh, you’re definitely looking for this kind of sexy. Everyone wants this kind of sexy. Holy cow.”

“How do you know he’s not going to make a wig out of my skin or whatever you said?” I reminded her, trying not to let the panic set in.

“Oh, relax. You can keep me on speed dial through your whole date.”

“Date?” I asked.

“It’s tomorrow night at the Florentine Inn. That place is nice, so wear a dress,” she chirped.

“What the hell, Hail?” I said, my palms going clammy even at the thought.

“Don’t worry, you don’t have to thank me just yet.”

“Cancel it,” I shot back. “Cancel it right now.”

“No. You need to get out there, and this is the only way you’re ever going to do it. I’m just giving you a gentle shove, sis,” Hailey insisted.

It felt more like a knife in my back. Everything in me wanted to fight her on this. Everything except this one, teeny tiny part of me that feared she was right—and I was terrified to spend the rest of my life alone. Of sitting inside this apartment with no one to talk to and nothing to do and, worse, getting more comfortable with it day by day until the only people I saw were workmates and Thai food delivery guys. That part had me considering it. Just this one time.

“Well, tell me something about him, at least,” I grumbled.

“Nope. You have to go into this with an open mind, and at least this way, I know you will.”

For a female, the size of my sister’s balls never failed to astonish me. “You’re evil,” I said.

“Yep, but you are going to like this guy and end up thanking me. I can feel it. Now I’ve gotta go. When I left, some chick was talking about riding the mechanical bull, and I’m pretty sure it’s about to get hilarious in there. Love you.”

She hung up, and I glared at my phone for a long moment before setting it on the coffee table in front of me and staring at the TV.

I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been on a first date—maybe not since college. I’d thought, way back when, that Tommy and I were going to make it, that we’d get married. But no. He got promoted to Head Douchebag or whatever his title was at some real estate firm, and he left me in the dust. And then, with his face plastered on every billboard in town promoting the firm, I couldn’t get away from the guy.

I’d needed a fresh start—something new. Different. So I came here.

And I’ve been wallowing and watching Netflix ever since. Though, to be fair, it had only been three days.

Placing my hands just outside my thighs, I propelled myself from the couch and made my way toward the calendar hanging from my fridge. Monday was marked with bright-green ink—my first day at my new job. And tomorrow?

Tomorrow was a day for pink. The color of romance.

I picked a pen from a little cup near the fridge, wrote the time and place of my date on the calendar, and then stood back and smiled. Hailey could be right. This could be my one chance to get back on the horse and spend my Friday nights somewhere other than lounging on my couch alone.

And she was right about one other thing too.

It had been a long, long time since I’d felt the warmth of a man’s skin against me. And the fact that I didn’t know a thing about this guy? Well, that made it all the more terrifying…but also kind of exciting.

The best part? If it didn’t work out, I’d never have to see him again. Maybe Hailey had really come up with the perfect plan this time.





Chapter Two





Jackson





The tension was starting to get to me.

Which, I should note, was extremely rare. Mergers fell through and clients backed out, but me? I was cool as a fucking cucumber straight out of the refrigerator.

Except, of course, in times like these…

When I’d gone more than two weeks without getting laid.

It was like clockwork, really. The moment the clock stroked two weeks, I was like a caged animal, tense and pacing, waiting for some brief moment of release. And now, two hours after I should have gone home for the day and one hour after my assistant should have ordered my dinner? I was more pent-up than ever before.

Hungry and horny was almost too much to bear. Horngry. It was a bad combination all around.

Stalking toward my desk, I pressed down on the intercom and said, “Jane, I need you to find me a date for tomorrow night. Some internet site or something should be fine. And when is dinner supposed to get here?”

I released the button and waited for Jane’s nervous, skittering voice to buzz through the line. Nothing happened. I held back a growl and paced to the door, opening it to find…nothing.

An empty desk with a neat lavender note folded in half and labeled with my name.

Taking it, I unfolded the letter and skimmed its contents.

Mr. Dane,

By the time you read this, I’m sure I’ll have been gone for hours. I’m sorry to leave this way, but I simply can’t work like this anymore. I need to have a job where I can be sure I’ll be able to pick up my children on time and make them supper. As I stated in my initial interview, this isn’t something I’m willing to compromise.