Page 110 of Boss of Me

“What about them?”

“Did you date a lot?”

“Not exactly,” I wryly admit. “I was picky, so I didn’t give many guys a chance. That’s why I only had three boyfriends in high school, and none were serious relationships.”

“Good,” Gunner grumbles.

I raise an eyebrow. “Good?”

“As I’ve told you, I hate the thought of you being with other men. The fewer boyfriends you had, the better.”

I can only laugh at him.

When we’ve eaten the last crumbs of guava cake, the waiter clears our plates and pours us more wine. We raise our glasses and clink to nothing in particular, simply gazing into each other’s eyes, suspended in a perfect moment beyond which nothing else exists.

“I don’t want this night to end,” I whisper to Gunner. “Can you make it last forever?”

He smiles softly. “That’s the plan.”

we hold hands on the rideback to the estate.

When we arrive, he helps me out of the limo. “I have a surprise for you,” he says with a mysterious gleam in his eyes.

My pulse leaps with excitement. “What is it?”

“You’ll see.” Keeping our hands joined, he leads me around the side of the mansion toward the back terrace. As we walk, the ocean breeze blows over us like a whisper. The night smells of jasmine, tangy sea and magic.

As we near the end of the stone path, my eyes widen in shock.

A full orchestra has been set up on an elaborate stage on the lawn. The musicians are formally dressed, quietly tuning their instruments.

I stare incredulously at Gunner. “How . . . when . . . ?”

He’s smiling at me. “I promised to take you to see the Austin Symphony. Since their regular season doesn’t start for another few weeks, I decided to bring them to you.”

“Wait. You mean . . .” As my stunned gaze shoots from his face to the orchestra, I clap my hand over my mouth. “Oh, my God! I can’t believe you flew the Austin Symphony to Hawaii to perform for me!”

He grins, enjoying my reaction. “The conductor is a good friend of mine. He owed me a favor, and he wasn’t about to deprive his musicians of an all-expenses-paid trip to paradise.”

I throw my arms around his neck with an ecstatic squeal. He laughs as he returns my hug, lifting my feet off the ground.

When he sets me back down, I gush breathlessly, “Thank you for everything, Gunner. This has been so amazing.Allof it.”

He lifts my hand to his lips and kisses the back. “I love making you smile.”

I beam at him before we start across the lawn, our way lit by flaming torches lining the walkways. As we near the stage, the musicians grin broadly at me.

I feel like the luckiest girl alive. I mean, what could be more romantic than a private outdoor concert on a beautiful tropical island?

Gunner leads me to a high-backed bench beneath a canopy of bougainvillea vines. Once we’re seated, the conductor walks onstage and bows to us.

“Welcome to this evening’s special performance under the stars,” he announces regally, his eyes twinkling. “The orchestrawill open tonight’s program with Beethoven’s Piano Concerto Number Three in C minor. Please enjoy.”

I smile excitedly at Gunner, and he winks back.

When the orchestra begins playing, I’m immediately swept up in the music, each stirring note leaving me breathless. Spellbound.

I’m distantly aware of Gunner watching me, observing my every reaction. When the orchestra launches into Tchaikovsky’sPathétique Symphony, I send him a delighted grin.