Page 65 of Hot for the Boss

I bristle. “I don’t want to imagine anyone else touching you. And I don’t want you thinking about it, either.”

“I’m here with you.”

“Then humor me. Let me replace the couch and the mattress.”

“You’re serious?”

I slant her an expression that tells her my mind is absolutely set. “When am I not?”

Suddenly, she laughs. “If I told you we had sex on the kitchen counters, would you replace those, too?”

“Yes. Did you?”

“No. I just really despise them.”

Despite the tension, I laugh, too. “If it will make you happy, I’ll replace them anyway.”

“No. The place is only a rental, but a girl can dream.” Then she blinks and looks around, seeming to remember where we are. “Did you already…buy this place?”

“I leased it for the day.”

“Just because I said I liked it?” She still sounds shocked.

“Yes. I wanted you to spend some time here to see if you liked it well enough to want to live here. With me.” As my wife.

“Evan, this may not work out. We may not work out. And I may not be moving to the island at all.”

“I’m going to think positive. Maxon and Griff have been negotiating with the listing agent. They’ve nearly brokered a deal everyone can live with. All you have to do is say you like it.”

Her mouth gapes open. “This is millions of dollars. You have to like it, too.”

“It has a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and couch, along with a great place for a flat screen and my gaming console. My needs are met.”

She rolls her eyes. “That’s such a man thing to say. You really don’t care about style or decor or…”

“No. I care about making you happy.”

A heavy sigh passes her lips. “If we can’t agree on our future, why do you keep saying such nice things?”

She sounds conflicted, and I feel almost guilty. Almost…but not quite. It’s my job not to take no for an answer. I have to convince Nia that those three words she thinks she can’t do without aren’t vital. It’s my job to treat her like a princess and show her she needs me far more.

“I’m only ever honest with you.” I scratch my chin with a deprecating grin. “Sometimes to my own detriment.”

“I know.” She sounds sad about that. “And I appreciate that you don’t lie to me about your feelings.”

“I never will, Nia. I promise.”

She gives me a melancholy nod. She believes me…but it’s still not enough.

Clearly, I need to focus on more of the good things I can give her. “Let’s tour the house. Maybe after that we can, um…tour the bedroom again?”

“Sure.”

I escort her inside and recite all the things the listing agent told me yesterday when we walked the house. She oohs over the kitchen and aahs over the rustic ceiling beams that caught her eye to start with. She loves the place. She loves the view. She loves our walk around the surrounding area. But despite the fact she loves everything I’ve shown her—and me—it’s not enough to persuade her to say yes. Even after the hours we spend together, sharing one passion-filled orgasm after another, gorging on ecstasy until I’m not sure I’ll be able to use my legs again, Nia doesn’t seem any closer to saying yes.

As we leave late that night and head back to Harlow and Noah’s, I’m wondering if I’ve miscalculated or misstepped along the way. I’m out of ideas. As Nia disappears into her solitary bedroom and asks for some time alone, I hold in a curse. What the hell is it going to take to make her change her mind?

Thursday, November 23