Page 34 of Bossy Wicked Prince

“Next year, too. The rest of this year and next year, too.”

He turns back toward me, the ghost of a smirk on his lips.

“Very well. Until the end of next year.”

He extends his hand and I eagerly reach forward to shake it. When our hands touch, I feel a now-familiar electric pulse. It’s like my body is magnetically attuned to his; I’m too aware of his every movement, down to the way his chest rises and falls as he breathes. It’s impossible to pretend that I don’t know how it feels to have his body pressed up against his.

I’ve been holding his hand for way too long.

I yank it back, and with a final nod at Nate, I open the door and let the noise from the office filter back in.

Two women at a nearby desk have their heads together. They’re whispering, and one points toward Nate’s office. When she sees me, she freezes, obviously caught.

What did they think we were doing in there?

I duck my head, hurrying back to my desk. Even though nothing happened with Nate, I still feel like being in there with him was wrong. Of course, he didn’t bring up me trying to kiss him—he’s too professional to bring that into work.

Doesn’t mean it’s so easy for me to forget.

Nate pokes his head out of his office. “Forgot to mention—CHG wants to do the contract signing in person at theirheadquarters. Can you book two tickets to New York for Monday morning, returning on Tuesday?”

I nod, eager to have a task to distract me from the gossipers. “Of course.”

“You have a passport, right?”

I nod automatically before his meaning catches up with me. “Wait, you want me to go with you?”

“You are my assistant, aren’t you?”

“Right. It’s just that I usually help out at the shelter on Mondays.”

He smirks. “With their new funding, I’m sure they’ll be able to cover for you. I need you there with me.”

My thighs clench together as my mind fills in the ways I wished he needed me.

“I’ll get it done.”

11

NATE

My feet pound against the pavement in an even cadence. I usually run on the treadmill, but when I spotted Ryan through the gym window, I turned right around. After he won last night’s poker game, I’m not in the mood to listen to him rub it in my face.

Anyway, the weather’s nice enough. The sky’s cloudy, but the hint of fall coolness in the air makes it more comfortable to work out.

I’m a few miles into the run when I spot a familiar mass of blonde curls. Cat’s walking on the street opposite me, wearing a backpack and carrying a heavy-looking bag. She’s practically tilted 45 degrees to the right carrying it.

Should I cross the street and say hello? Or does that cross a line of familiarity, now that I’m her boss? I’m trying not to cross any boundaries, but it’s hard. Harder than it should be. Hell, she wasn’t even working in the office for a day before I was coming up with a reason to bring her to New York.

Before I can decide, Cat makes the choice for me. She sees me and smiles so widely, it shows a dimple in her cheek I’ve neverseen before. It’s a smile so bright, it lights up my goddamn soul. Nobody’s ever looked so happy to see me before.

I’m jogging across the street to her before I can stop myself.

“Need some help with that?” I point to her bag.

“Oh, that would be great! I’m just headed over to the encampment up ahead, to hand out water, plus some granola bars and electrolyte packets.” She points to a large cluster of tents in a park a few blocks away. “If you could help me carry it that far, I’d really appreciate it. You’re welcome to come with me, if you want! No pressure—obviously, you’re in the middle of a run.”

“I can come.” Of course I’m fucking going with her. There’s no way I’m letting Cat walk into a camp full of strangers, who want god-knows-what from her. Sure, there’ll be plenty of people who are happy to just get a granola bar and a smile from her.