One Night with her Boss Read Free Page A

Anyway, that’s not even my biggest news.” She tried to sound excited
rather than confused and overwhelmed, which was how she felt.
    She obviously didn’t fool her friends.
They looked at each other. Then Ranie asked slowly, “Is it bad news?”
    “No. Good news. I got the job.”
    “The marketing one?”
    “Yeah. It sounds great, and the salary
is good.”
    Meg was giving her a narrow look. “Then
why don’t you look happy about it?”
    “I am happy.” Anne sighed. “I guess I
have no reason not to take it.”
    “Why wouldn’t you take it?” Ranie asked.
    “I would. I’m going to.” As she said the
words, she realized they were right. Of course, she needed to take the job. It
would be absolutely ridiculous to not take the job she really wanted because
she didn’t want to leave Jake.
    “You can’t put your life on hold for
him,” Meg murmured. “You never have before. The job was good for you
before—with your mother and everything. But, if you don’t take this job now,
then you’ll be putting your life on hold for him.”
    “I know. I’m not going to do that. I’m
going to take the job.” She straightened up, trying again to feel excited.
“It’s just…it’s going to be hard to leave him.”
    “Yeah, but maybe it will be the kick in
the ass he needs to get his balls together.”
    Anne shook her head at Ranie’s choice of
words. “I think there’s some sort of mixed metaphor in there. But, really, he
doesn’t need a kick in the ass. He’s a great boss. And there’s no reason he has
to feel for me the way I feel for him.”
    “But he does feel the same way. He just
hasn’t done anything about it.”
    Anne tried very hard not to let her
friends give her unjustified hope with their loyalty to her, so she took
Ranie’s comment with a very large grain of salt. “He really doesn’t.”
    “Did I or did I not see him at our
Christmas party last year?” Ranie demanded.
    Anne sighed. “Yes, but—”
    “But nothing. Did I or did I not see how
he couldn’t keep his eyes off you all night? And did I or did I not see how I
could barely drag him away from you when the party was over?”
    Last Christmas had given Anne similar
thoughts. They’d invited everyone from her office to the party, but she’d been
surprised when Jake actually showed up. He always took the staff to lunch for
Christmas and gave them all very nice bonuses—which was the extent of his
holiday spirit. But he’d showed up after all, and then he’d spent the evening
talking and laughing with her. She’d felt pretty, desirable, almost giddy from
the look she’d thought she’d seen in his eyes that evening.
    It had fed her hope too much, so she’d
been crushed even more than ever when the New Year came and he acted exactly
the way he always had with her.
    Like her boss.
    “That was just a…” Anne trailed off,
dropping her head briefly. “He was just in a good mood that night. It didn’t
mean anything.”
    “It did mean something. I saw his
expression when he looked at you. He’s crazy about you. I still think he’s just
holding back because he’s your boss. Maybe this job is what he’s waiting for.
When you’re not working for him, he’ll finally make his move.” Raney looked
characteristically enthusiastic about this idea.
    “Maybe he is,” Meg added, before Anne
could argue. “But you should take the job because you want it and not because
you’re hoping it will be the catalyst for getting together with Jake.”
    “I know. I do want the job. And I have
no delusions about Jake waking up and suddenly wanting me once I’m gone.”
    “But maybe he will,” Raney chimed in,
irrepressibly.
    “And maybe he won’t. It’s not about him.
It’s about Anne. And, if this is what she wants, then it’s good no matter what
Jake does.” Meg gave Raney a stern look. Then turned the same look back onto
Anne.
    “Right.” Anne nodded, feeling better and
determined now to give notice this afternoon, to make