Page 84 of A Very Bossy Christmas

“I know. It sucks. I’ll never find another assistant as good as you. But I understand.”

“I will help you find another assistant.”

“Damn right you will.Andtrain her.”

“And trainyou.”

“Good luck with that. But first, please elaborate as to how you feel.”

“Madly in love with you.”

“Right.”

“Deliriously attracted to you.”

“Excellent.”

Declan gets his coat from the coat check, but I continue talking anyway.

“Unable to keep my hands off you.”

“Great to hear.”

“Moved beyond words by your generosity and thoughtfulness.”

“Well, that’s a first.”

“I know you got Cindy that karaoke machine. I know you gave my landlady a new coat.”

He tries to frown, but he can’t stop smiling. “I was just bribing them, you know that.”

“Nope. You’ve got a big heart, Declan Cannavale. And I’m going to tell everyone.”

“Then I’ll have to sue you for defamation of character.”

“I’ll tell everyone you watchedLove Actuallywith my family and that you cried.”

“Pssh. I was crying from trying so hard not to laugh at how cheesy it was.”

“Nope. You weren’t. I’m gonna show you and the world just how sweet you are. Everyone will know you’re full of crap every time you try to act like a cocky asshole.”

“Okay, that’s enough out of you, Coop.” He gets me to stop talking in the most wonderful way.

And we don’t stop kissing for more than a few seconds, all the way back to the hotel room.

He removes his coat and drops it to the floor as soon as we’re inside the door, but I slowly unzip mine, stepping away from him so he can stop and get a good look at the dress I’m wearing. It’s a black sleeveless gown with a plunging neckline and a slit that goes all the way to my upper thigh. It’s one of the many sale items I’ve purchased online over the years, just in case I ever got invited to one of those masquerade balls that people always seem to go to in dirty romance novels.

“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.”

“Piper packed my suitcase for me. She seems to be under the impression that Cleveland is on a very fancy, sexy tropical island. She only threw in sleeveless dresses, four-inch heels, and lingerie. No stockings.”

“I really love that kid. When’s her birthday? I’m going to buy her a car.”

“Wait till you see what’s underneath this thing.” I lift the straps and let them fall from my shoulders, shimmying out of the dress and then turning around slowly so Declan can get the full picture of me in a scalloped lace bodice teddy and strappy heels.

He slides his hand down the side of his face and says, “I’m going to buy her a house” as he tackles me and we both land on the bed. “How do I get you out of this thing without ripping it apart?”

“There are snaps down there.”