Page 87 of Boss of Attraction

“Oh.” Declan nodded. “Do you want to reschedule our reservation?”

“No, I still want to go out with you on Saturday, but how would you feel about having dinner with my friends instead?”

His eyes widened. “You want me to have dinner with you and the Donnelleys?”

I nodded.

“As your boyfriend?” he clarified.

“I do, but only if you’re comfortable with it.”

“That’s a big shift from you wanting to keep our relationship a secret.”

Standing, I rounded my desk and knelt beside him. “I know, but ever since New Year’s Eve, I’ve been thinking …”

“About what?” he prodded when I didn’t continue.

“About how I don’t want to hide you away when I love you so much.”

Declan smiled brightly. “I don’t want to hide anymore either.”

“You don’t?”

“I know we still have to figure out work stuff, and it has been fun sneaking around. But I like the idea of everyone knowing we’re together.”

“Me too.” I pulled him toward me and pressed my lips to his. “Now I just need to figure out how to tell them I’m bringing their son’s friend as my date.”

He laughed. “Good luck with that.”

Declanand I were on our way to the Donnelleys’ estate in Weston. Their place wasn’t too far from my former house, but I hadn’t been in the area since I’d moved a few months before.

“Did you get a chance to talk to Patrick yesterday?” Declan asked.

I shook my head. “I tried to call him, but he was in meetings all day.”

“Guess it’s not always easy to get a hold of the president.”

“Nope. I usually only talk to him when he calls me.”

“So, we’re just going to show up and say ‘surprise’?”

I took the exit toward their house. “Looks that way.”

“Okay,” he mumbled.

I glanced in his direction, and he was looking out the window. Lacing my fingers with his, I asked, “Everything all right?”

He shrugged. “I’m just worried. What if they react in the same way as Morgan?”

I squeezed his hand. “That’s unlikely. They already know you, and you’ve been a guest in their home. If they had any problems with you, they wouldn’t have let you spend the weekend in Cape Cod.”

“Yeah, but I’ve only stayed with them as their son’s friend, not the boyfriend of their closest friend.”

“Patrick and Mary might be surprised when I tell them, but I don’t think they’re going to freak out.”

At least I hoped they wouldn’t. My friends were the best people I knew, but sometimes those people you thought you knew well could surprise you with their reactions to things. Like my daughter.

“That’s all we can hope for, I guess.”