Page 19 of Hooked on Marshall (Hooked #9)

I am absolutely stunned by his words. For the last two and a half months, I’ve been dreading telling this story because I didn’t want anyone to tell me how stupid I was.

Not only did I sleep with a married man, I slept with my supervisor in his office .

I was prepared for a barrage of name-calling and more.

But not Marshall.

“What…did you just say?” I breathe.

“You heard me,” he says slowly. “All you have to do is say the word, and I’ll find a lawyer to get the ball rolling.”

“But…why?”

He exhales heavily as his eyes close, and he drops his head. Then he scrubs one hand over his neck before he cups my face in his hands. His handsome face is as serious as I’ve ever seen it. But the intensity in his eyes right now is heart stopping.

“Fine,” he says in a low voice. “I’ve told you before, but I’m going to tell you again.

From the moment I met you, I felt something for you.

And the more time I spent around you, the more I liked you.

No, that’s not right. The more I wanted you.

And now that I know what’s holding you back from starting a relationship with me, I am fully prepared to do whatever is necessary to eradicate that situation, so you’ll never have to worry about Jonas or his uncle ever again. Is that clear enough for you?”

I heard every word he just said, but I still have one question to ask.

“You…still want to be in a relationship with me?”

“Yes,” he says. “I do.”

“But-”

“Stop right there and answer me one question, okay?”

“Okay,” I nod.

“Why don’t you want to date me?” he asks.

“It’s not that I don’t want to,” I whisper. “But like I said before, you’re my boss.”

“Do I have a no fraternization policy here at the Alehouse?”

“No.”

“Do you intend on making a career of working here?”

“No,” I say again.

“Then there is no reason we can’t be in a relationship, Lana,” he says. “Unless, of course, you don’t want to be.”

“I didn’t say that,” I say quickly.

“Then what do you say? Do you want to give us a try?”

Tears fill my eyes at his words. Because everything he said about me is exactly how I felt when I met him.

But it was such an emotional time, and I was still reeling from what happened with Jonas that I tried to put up a wall.

A wall that Marshall has single handedly crumbled in the last two minutes.

“Okay,” I breathe.

The corner of his mouth twitches, but no smile erupts.

“Say the words, Lana,” he growls. “I want to hear them.”

I giggle, then give him what he wants. What I want.

“Yes, Marshall,” I smile. “I want to give us a try.”

“Thank fuck,” he sighs.

I start to laugh, but he cuts of the sound with a deep, searing kiss.

A pitiful moan leaves me as my hands fist in his shirt.

As soon as he swipes his tongue into my mouth, he drops his hands from my face and pulls me into his lap.

Then he bands his arms around me and pulls me tighter against him.

I relish in the feel of him. Not to mention this kiss.

But when the back door opens, I pull back and scramble off his lap.

But he catches my hand to keep me from bolting completely.

“You’re not going anywhere,” he says in a low voice. “Sit down and let me get your laptop so you can show me what you’ve been working on.”

“Oh,” I breathe. “Okay.”

I sit. Then he presses a soft kiss to my lips before going to the break room to get my things. He chats with someone for a few minutes before he comes back in. Then he sets my things down on the worktable and waves me over. I settle in a chair beside him and log back in to open my file.

Then I start in with the explanation.

The reference to the Joneses and keeping up and the possible eating challenges we can do along with the menu changes and a loyalty rewards system for customers.

I’m rambling, I know, but I’m really excited to take this and run with it.

If he likes it. So, when I’m done talking, I just sit back and wait.

Several minutes pass before he says anything.

“Wow,” he breathes. “I didn’t expect anything like this.”

“Is that a good thing?” I ask.

“Hell, yeah,” he laughs. “This is far beyond what I was expecting. I love it. And I want you to run with it.”

“Really?”

“Yes,” he says with a sexy smile. “Really.”

“Okay,” I squeak. “I’ll get started as soon as my shift ends today.”

“No.”

“No?”

“No,” he grins. “You’ll get started now. If we get too busy, I’ll call someone in to cover. From now on, I want this to be your focus.”

“You can’t do that,” I say. “I’m a server.”

“Not anymore,” he says as he leans forward. “From this moment until you finish reworking this brand, you’re my marketing expert. That’s what I’m going to pay you for.”

“Marshall,” I sigh. “What are people going to think about that now that we’re…together.”

“There’s not a damn thing they can say,” he laughs. “And if they do, I’ll handle it.”

“This is why I didn’t want to date the boss,” I grumble.

“I’m not your boss anymore,” he smirks. “You are now a consultant to this business for the purposes of marketing and rebranding. So, if I were you, I’d start worrying about a company name for when you need to take on new clients.”

My jaw drops at this. Because it’s like he literally read my mind about what I wanted to do. And he’s giving me the opportunity to make it happen.

“Marshall,” I breathe.

“God, I love hearing you say my name,” he growls.

Before I can say anything else, he crushes his lips to mine. When he pulls back, he gives me a wicked smile and a wink.

“I’ll check on you later,” he says. “Now get to work.”

I laugh and he walks away. And then I happily do what he wants.