Who's the Boss Now (Managing the Bosses Series, #3) (17 page)

"Only with you." He moved up to gaze down at her. With his elbows pressed to the bed on either side of her head, his brushed her hair back lovingly and let his eyes move across her. "I thought I'd lost you. I still want to apologize a million times. To make things perfectly right between us."

"They already are." She shifted before wrapping her legs around him. "The slate is wiped clean. We can start not over, but from where we left off."

"I want you with me every night." He leaned down and brushed his lips by hers.

"That can be arranged. I'll talk with your PA." She smiled and lifted her legs to wrap them around his waist. She pressed against his perfect rear and groaned as he entered her again.

"She's a bit of a tiger. Watch out for her. She bites." He tensed and rocked against her before tucking his face against her neck and sucking at her flesh.

"I hear there is only one man she's willing to put her mouth on." Jamie groaned loudly and lifted her hips, wanting more of him.

"That’s me." He moved up to her ear. "Right?"

She laughed and rolled them over, sitting up and pressing herself down the length of him. "Yes. You're the only he in my life."

"Good. Show me what you're capable of, lover."

"You asked for it." She leaned forward, dug her nails into his tight chest and let her inhibitions fly out the window.

It was a night she wanted him to remember.

W
aking up the next morning with Alex beside her was a dream come true. His dark brown hair was tousled from rolling around all night. Her heart fluttered in her chest as she carefully turned on her side and tucked her hands under her face.

There would never be another man who was capable of stealing her heart the way this one had. He was willing to believe in her when no one else would, and fight for her when she wasn't willing to fight for herself. To think that Stephen set them up to be nothing more than co-workers was almost ironic.

She reached out and brushed his hair back as his eyes opened. The deep blue of them stole her breath, and she tried hard to memorize every detail of his handsome face.

"Are you watching me sleep?" he asked in a gravelly voice.

"Is it creepy if the answer is yes?" She smiled and brushed her fingers down the side of his face. His stubble tickled her fingers in a way that caused her to stifle a groan.

"Not at all. It's flattering." He moved closer, repositioning himself against the front of her as they laid on their sides together. "I haven't slept this good in ages."

"Must be a good sign, hmmm?" She smiled and moved forward, pressing her lips to his softly. Something about being warm and cozy in the morning turned her on, though it wasn't at all the morning for going another round in the sheet. It was the final day of their investment conference. She was grateful it was almost over. Too much stress and time involvement for little return.

"It's a great sign. I have something for you. I'll give it to you at dinner tonight." He smiled, and she couldn't help but return the gesture.

"What is it?"

"I'm not telling you. Let's ride to the office together today. I'll do opening remarks first and then we'll move into the rest of the day where we barely see each other. Sucks, but it’ll be done soon." He leaned in, kissing her more fully once more.

"I'm getting the gift at dinner tonight?" She lifted to her elbow, pressing the side of her head against her hand as he got out of the bed, naked as the day he was born.

"Yep, and it has to do with our next steps. I'm ready to take a big jump." He walked to his closet, his ass beautiful to watch in motion. "You ready?"

"I'm up for anything if it involves getting to see you naked more often." She rolled onto her back and chuckled as he shook his ass before disappearing into his closet.

"Get up and get dressed. I'll meet you out front in thirty minutes."

"I'm hungry." She let out a quick huff and got up, wishing like hell that it was Saturday and they could spend the day in bed just playing with each other.

"We can grab a muffin downstairs." His voice was muffled, but she got the gist of his comment.

Getting up, she slipped her dress over her head and stopped by the closet to squeeze his butt with both of her hands.

"Watch it, nymph, or we'll be looking for a new job together." He glanced over his shoulder and gave her a smile that would melt her panties if she could find them.

"Yum. I'm almost tempted to put you to the test."

"I wish you would." He pulled a dark blue shirt from the wrack above him. "Go get ready, beautiful. I love you."

"Me too." She popped his butt once more and turned, lamenting over not being able to watch him finished getting ready.

The idea of riding with him to work made her feel almost giddy, like a child who'd been given a new toy. It was silly and oversimplified, but meant a lot to her. It was the little things she was looking to start exploring with him.

It was almost like they needed a bit of drama to shake them up and help them realize that they were perfect for one another.

"Enough drama, though. I'm good for a long while." She laughed and walked down toward her place with a smile on her face.

––––––––

"Y
ou grab the muffins, and I'll do the opening remarks. Good?" Alex brushed his hand down her back as they walked into the large downtown office where they worked.

"Yes. Hurry. You're going to be late." She moved from his touch and walked toward the cafeteria, almost feeling bad about making them late. Getting ready in thirty minutes might be fine for him, but after a night of sex, she needed a shower and time to do something with her hair. She must have told him 10 times to just go without her, but he would have none of it. Their meeting out front turned to him sitting on her couch, growling softly at her as she raced about.

"Morning, Jamie." Paul walked up beside her and nodded toward the cafeteria. "Breakfast of champions? Good or healthy?"

She smiled. "Can't it be both?"

"No, Ma'am. Not in my experience, but if you ever find the right balance of each... I'm gonna need the recipe." He stopped by the front counter to talk with the lady checking people out. "I'll see you upstairs."

"Sounds good." She walked quickly toward the breads, and grabbed four muffins, one of each kind. She couldn't remember if Alex liked chocolate or blueberry. Better to have too many than not enough. They had a long day ahead of them, and after their all night love making festival, she knew he was weary. She was too.

She looked for Paul, but didn't see him anywhere. Figuring he must be up in the office, she paid and hurried back up. After dropping the pastries off at the back of the large conference room, she moved to stand beside Gina near the back wall. The room was packed with people, who seemed lost to Alex's message.

He spoke with such confidence and intelligence, that it was no wonder why he was a billionaire at his young age. It wasn't about making a ton of money, but simply coming into being the man he was meant to be.

"Hey girl." Gina nudged her with a soft poke of her elbow. "You missed it."

"Missed what?" Jamie leaned over and whispered softly, gaining herself a few looks from others around the room.

"Alex just told everyone that if they had additional questions that you were more than capable of answering them. He called you his Senior Advisor." She lifted her eyebrow. "Congrats on one hell of a promotion."

Electricity shot through Jamie as her mouth dropped open. Was that the next steps he was referring to? She imagined maybe he was going to ask her to be his forever, to give her a ring. It was silly and maybe a bit much, but what next steps was there that would have her next to him every day all day.

Being his Senior Adviser.

"It's great. Interesting. I had no clue." Jamie wrapped her arms around herself, a little disappointed that it was something to do with the company and not their relationship.

"You both seem in a better mood. Are things looking up?" Gina spoke softly.

Jamie nodded and let a big smile spread across her lips. "We said that we loved each other last night."

"Oh!" Gina exclaimed loudly, and Alex paused, giving them a warning look accompanied with a smile.

"The S&P is up this morning," Jamie informed the room and shrugged. "We're easily excitable."

Everyone chuckled, and Alex picked back up.

Jamie leaned against the wall and watched him in his element, letting out a soft sigh and trying to still her racing heart. She couldn't help but wonder if they wouldn't always be crazy about each other. Like they would be the old couple that no one wanted to be around because they couldn't keep their hands off each other.

She chuckled softly and got another elbow from Gina.

"Shh... I'm not sleeping with him. I'll get fired."

Jamie rolled her eyes and gave her friend a look. "You better not be, or getting fired is the least of your worries."

Alex's voice caught her attention. "So we appreciate you joining us for this last day. I'll be moving to room twenty-six A. Ms. Connors will be here if you have questions about the investment packets you received last night. We'll join for a luncheon downstairs and concluded around two today."

Jamie winked at Gina. "That's my cue."

"Get 'em girl. Not like you got Alex, but you know..."

––––––––

T
he rest of the day went off without too much of a hitch. A few shortages on packets and papers, but nothing that couldn't be fixed quickly. Jamie wrapped up her duties as host of the event and moved to Gina's desk.

"Done. Finally." Jamie pressed her forearms to the front of the desk and smiled. "That was quite a ride."

"It is every year. You want to go out for a drink?" Gina sat back in her chair and let out a long sigh.

Alex's voice rose up behind her just before his hand slid over her lower back. "She's not free. I’ve a special night planned for the hardest working Senior Advisor in my firm."

Jamie turned and smiled up at him. "I thought the promotion was the gift."

"What? No. You earned that, silly woman. I’ve something far more personal for the gift." He bent down and kissed her nose. "You women have been talking far too much, haven't you?"

Gina snorted. "Why would you say that boss?"

Jamie slid an arm around the back of his waist and snuggled into the side of him, grateful that it would seem that their days of hiding their relationship was over at the office.

"Because you're quite cordial with me when Jamie isn't upset, but if I've done something to hurt her or piss her off, I can always tell. You're not very nice or helpful in those times." He chuckled as he directed his comments to Gina.

"She's my girl." Jamie squeezed Alex. "She’s got my back."

"Then she needs a raise too, I would think. As much of an ass as I've been lately. She's got to as exhausted as us." He turned his attention to Jamie and smiled down at her. "You ready to get out of here?"

"Yes." She turned back to Gina as Alex released her.

"I'm going back to my office for five minutes. I'll meet you at the elevator." He turned and walked off, leaving them alone.

"Wow. That's a huge change." Gina lifted her eyebrow and gave Jamie a cocky smile. "I love it. This is going to be so much better now that you guys aren't hiding anything anymore."

"Tell me about it." Jamie turned to watch him go. "What do you think he has for me tonight? He said it was a gift."

"My boyfriend used to always say he was going to get me the best present ever. Maybe it's that."

"What?" Jamie glanced over her shoulder.

"A dick in a box."

They both cut up laughing as Gina repeated it a few times to stoke the laugher into something even louder and more involved.

Alex walked back out and took Jamie's hand. "You guys are going to get a conduct slip for being unruly."

"Please. We should be reprimanded. We have far too much fun together." Gina laughed again as she hit her legs with her palms. "Have fun tonight, guys."

"We will." Alex nodded toward the door. "Ready?"

"Are we going like this?" Jamie waved at Gina before walking with Alex to the elevator.

"We sure are. It's just the two of us. I thought it would be fun to be relatively casual about it." He held the elevator door as she walked past him.

"I'm a little nervous about this. Where are we going?"

"Oh you'll see." He chuckled, which only made her question his motives all the more.

They walked in silence out of the building where a long stretch limo sat.

"Your chariot awaits, my lady." He opened the door.

Warmth rushed through her at the memory of their last time in a limo. Surely he wasn't thinking to recreate it. Was tonight the night? Did he have a ring? Surely not. She couldn't help but hope, but it seemed like something that would be done in a restaurant or something of that nature.

She climbed in the back and sat down next to a long spread of cheese, meats, crackers and fruit. A bottle of champagne was housed in ice and two fluted glasses sat just beside it.

Alex climbed in after her and smiled. "You like it?"

"I love it."

He closed the door and turned to her as the vehicle started to pull out.

"I know I told you that I wanted to take the next step with you, and I do. I want to take them all. It would seem only natural that we enjoy each one by going through them slowly and thoughtfully."

"Okay. I want that." She moved closer, pressing her knee to his as her heart raced. It was suddenly so hard to breathe.

He pulled a small blue box from his inner jacket pocket and handed it to her. "I hope you say yes to it."

This is it! Oh my goodness! He’s asking me to marry him. That’s a ring box!
A million thoughts and comments raced through her head. Was this what she wanted? Hell yeah! She loved him. Waking up beside him for the rest of her life was fine by her. She was so going to rape him tonight. Rape and pillage. Again and Again.

With a slightly shaky hand she reached for the expensive box. Was it a Tiffany box? How long had he been holding it? Her heart raced with excitement. She ran her tongue over her lips and slowly opened it, not sure what kind of ring to expect.