My Boss’s Secret by Taryn Quinn

Twenty-One

April fellasleep during in Law & Order again.

That night, and the next, and the one after that. I knew this because other than stopping by my place to spend a few hours each day with my brassed-off parrot—who was not suffering in the least since I was paying his pet sitter handsomely to stop by a couple times a day, as well—I had not left her apartment except when she was by my side.

Even now that I had a couple bags of clothes in my possession, I wasn’t going anywhere.

“Were you or were you not the individual who just one week ago chastised me for wanting to live with my girlfriend?”

I grinned at Preston’s annoyed voice through the phone. “Chastised is a strong word.”

“Right. So you don’t recall indicating such behavior wasn’t rational so soon in a relationship?”

“Did I? Interesting. Also, I’m not living with her.”

“Did you get evicted? Maybe forget your address?”

“She has nice pillows.”

“If that’s a euphemism…”

“Sometimes a pillow is just a pillow. Although now that you mention it—” I laughed as Preston made a noise that sounded disturbingly like blowing a raspberry.

We were regressing at a rapid speed. It was a beautiful thing to see. And hear.

“I appreciate you giving me some time to think.”

I twitched back the curtain that looked down on the neighbor’s lawn. A tricycle was parked next to a sandbox that someone I assumed was the father was dutifully filling with sand. A little boy at his side—likely the tricycle rider—was talking loud enough that I could just hear the pitch of his excited voice over the sound of the shower down the hall.

Must be dad had the day off and the kid was too young for school? Maybe he was a single father and had to juggle childcare with work.

A very pregnant woman toddled down the back steps with a young girl in pigtails riding on her hip. That was a lot of very young children at once. But the dad rushed to his feet and took the girl from her mother, pausing long enough for a quick kiss.

Sweet. They looked happy. Even the woman who looked as if she’d swallowed a large watermelon sideways. Ouch. That had to hurt.

“And he’s not listening to me. Again.”

I turned away from the scene playing beyond the window and focused on my best friend. “Sorry. Repeat that?”

“I said I didn’t give you time to think. I gave you time to live.”

“Huh?”

Preston’s voice went in and out as if he were changing ears. “You told me you rearranged your schedule this week.”

“Yeah, to come in and see what your clients are like, the typical workload, if Dexter really is as much of an ass-munch as I grew to believe after our dinner at Lonegan’s. By the way, he did not sleep with April. If he told you he did, he’s a lying scumbag.”

“Shocker. He didn’t exactly say that though, just let me believe the worst and didn’t correct me. She didn’t, either. But I couldn’t quite wrap my head around it. No way does she fit with Dex, even for a little afternoon delight.”

“Next you’ll say I don’t fit with her, either.”

His pause was lengthy and I could hear the rasp of his scruff against his fingers as he thought it through. “Actually, I can see it. I couldn’t at first. But the picture is becoming clearer.”

“Thank you, Madam Vega. Does your witch come with a crystal ball?” Before he could answer, I pinched the tensed area between my eyes. “Ignore me. I’ve been happy for multiple days in a row, so naturally, I’m preparing to watch it combust in a haze of funnel cakes and ferris wheels.”

“You never say what I expect.”

I laughed. “We’re heading out to lunch and going to hit the fall carnival at the high school. Apparently, Luna and April usually go every year but Luna isn’t feeling well and said caramel apples make her want to hurl.”

“That’s quite the advertisement for other carnival-goers.”

“No kidding. So she begged off, and April asked if I was into it.”

“Are you?”

“A carnival?” I lowered my voice. “Are you kidding me?”

“Ryan mentioned going too. She usually goes with the girls but missed out last year because Rainbow swung into town and they went yard saling before the cold set in.”

“Rainbow? Yard saling? I need to meet this woman of yours.”

“Her crystal ball is in the shop.”

“Pity.”

“Rainbow is her mom, by the way. She has an RV and she makes—you know what? Never mind. So, would it disturb you if we went too?”

“Define disturb.”

“April sees me as merely Mr. Shaw most of the time. If I wear jeans in her presence, will she, I don’t know, have some kind of fit?”

I snorted. “I don’t know if she will, but I definitely might. Do you even own jeans?”

“A couple pairs, thank you very much.”

“New, I bet. Since your lady doesn’t like you parading around in Brooks Brothers on the weekends. Though I heard you two were reenacting Boss Me, Daddy, a very intriguing—”

“Shut up and never mind. I don’t want to go on a double date with you. In fact, I actually hate you now.”

“You were thinking a double date? That’s…wow.”

“Humans who are friends do that.”

“I’m well aware of that. I’m just stunned that you’re the emotionally healthy dating dude now and I’m the one growling about having to eat funnel cakes.”

“No one should growl about funnel cakes. They’re heaven dusted with sugar. And yes, we already went last night. So what?”

I grinned and nearly jumped a foot as a gray blur streaked under the dust ruffle on the bed. Would I ever get used to Kit-Kat skulking around? Every time, I tested my levitation skills. “My sister mentioned she might go too.”

“Accidentally on purpose so she can meet your woman?”

I folded my arms across my chest. “Her idea, not mine. I’m okay with staying in our little bubble right now.”

“Intimidating to start moving beyond that. How about if we casually bump into you guys there? We won’t set a time, and if it happens, it happens.”

“Should we look for the couple a crowd is forming around? You know how people enjoy displays of public lewdness.”

“You are not the least bit funny.”

“I’m definitely hilarious. But I’m happy for you. She has to be pretty damn great if you’re all in.”

I could hear Preston’s smile through the line. “She is. And I am. Same goes.”

“Yeah. I haven’t felt like this—” I stopped. Frowned. “Ever. Actually, ever.”

I’d suspected it before, but Fiji felt more like a fantasy than reality. Now we’d spent a solid block of days wrapped up in and around each other, and every morning was better than the one before. I used to be the exact opposite of a morning person, but I’d caught myself humming while making our morning coffee. And pouring cereal in bowls. And even while trying to coax the gray ghost to come out and eat her breakfast.

We’d started out so well, but ever since Kit-Kat had been driven out of the craft room by my urgent need to get inside her mom, things had been strained. Now I was just the interloper she had to keep a close eye on from any number of precarious perches.

Last night, I’d fallen asleep on the sofa and awakened to find April snoozing against my chest and Kit-Kat watching me from the top of the television armoire. Green eyes glowing in the dark and judgment twitching in her whiskers.

Preston chuckled. “I could tell at Lonegan’s. You were like a feral, wounded bear. A state I understand now too well.”

“Um, thanks?”

He laughed again. “It’s not a bad thing. Just means you’re sunk, buddy. I don’t know anyone who deserves it more. Well, other than April, which just makes it better.”

“Early days yet, but it’s good.” I smiled as the water turned off down the hall. “So good.”

“Helps you had time together without other people interfering. Or without you throwing your weight around as her boss.”

My smile disappeared. “About that—”

“It’ll wait a couple more days. Tell you the truth, I’m enjoying letting Dex sweat on his own. Dad left to go to some charity golf tournament in Maryland and has made it pretty clear he wants to be all the way out by the holidays. So, regardless of what happens with you, changes are afoot for my dear brother.”

“For all of us, it seems.”

I pried the object I’d found on the floor this morning out of my jeans pocket. April’s slim Cinderella heel glittered in my palm. Kit-Kat had probably dug it out of the pocket of my bag. I’d taken to carrying it around as a reminder. Not in a negative way. That night had been the beginning of everything.

Time to get those shoes fixed as well as the pair she’d fallen in on Monday. I didn’t need diamonds to remind me of her when I had the real thing by my side.

Though I wouldn’t mind getting her a new diamond…

I inhaled a deep breath as darkness crept in at the sides of my vision. A whole different kind of panic attack now. Rushing into something that huge didn’t make sense.

Right, because having sex without condoms or birth control makes tons of it. Hello?

“Have you ever made a choice that feels really right but is actually really risky, and you don’t know why you’re doing it except this person makes you just do stuff that isn’t like you?”

“No.” Preston’s tone was dry. “Absolutely not. Do you recall what I said about bench sex? Outside. Under the full moon. There was…witchiness involved.”

“Like what?” My eyes widened as I sifted through my limited knowledge of the mystical, mostly gained through movies and TV. “Like a pentagram in blood?”

“Dude, you need to get out more. Stop watching Netflix. Try reading an actual book from a knowledgeable source for a change. Let me email you my reading list.” I heard a series of clicks on the other end that sounded as if he was wrestling bodily with his computer mouse.

Corded, because my best friend was born in the dark ages.

“Look who’s talking. Here I was just talking about not using protection, while you’re casting circles and—I don’t know—using crystals in ways not intended. Although maybe they are intended? Enlighten me. I’m game.”

“What?”

I had to plug my ear at his shout. “Jesus, warn a guy. I didn’t know I hit a sore spot. It was the crystals, wasn’t it? Now you gotta tell me.”

“No, it had nothing to do with crystals, though points for you for knowing the technical term. I thought they were shiny rocks.”

“That’s technical?”

“What the hell are you doing, Bishop?” His voice had suddenly gone quiet.

I gripped the heel that much tighter. “We talked about it.”

“Oh, really.”

“Yeah. The first time was an accident…and then we just didn’t. She told me she wasn’t on anything and we’re both clean and—”

“And you’re both ready to be parents?”

That question should’ve had me running for the drugstore. But it didn’t. “You know statistically that it usually takes a while, and that’s even if we’re both fully operational in that arena. No idea if we are.”

“Are these the kind of odds you use to practice law?”

I jerked a shoulder. “It’s not like I go around doing this. I’ve never done it. It’s just—”

“This isn’t the way to lock her down, man.”

The words were like a slap in the face. No, more like a short-armed punch. My head almost reeled. “That’s what you think I’d do?”

“No. Not consciously. But you were fucked over in the worst way, and maybe if you didn’t want to risk her running again...”

“I wouldn’t.” Bitterness laced my tone. “I would never want to bind her to me that way.”

“Sure, when you’re thinking straight. But sometimes smart people make not smart choices.”

“Who says it’s not smart? Just because we haven’t known each other for a hundred years? I dated Rina for years before I proposed. We had it all planned out. We’d marry after we graduated from law school, buy a fancy ass house befitting two esteemed attorneys. And of course, after a requisite three years to make sure our finances were stable, have our prescribed 2.5 kids. We had a plan. And the plan got all shot to hell.” I was breathing hard and hadn’t said that many words in a row outside of court in years, but I needed to get it all out.

And I needed to say it to someone other than my best friend. This was just my trial run. A good litigator always had his strategy, but here I was, flying by the seat of my freaking pants.

God help me.

I didn’t know if Preston was still breathing or if I’d actually talked him to death, but I wasn’t done.

“I don’t want to live that life anymore. I want to do what feels good and right and just be fucking happy. Even if that means I skip out on my job and toss out the fucking rubbers and fall in love with a woman who might not love me forever or at all. But I don’t want to not take the chance because it’s safe.”

He didn’t respond right away. “I get it. I get it more now than I would’ve a year ago. Hell, last month. But Christ, man, I just don’t want to see you get hurt. Or for April to get hurt. Or for a kid to get hurt. I may have seen an entirely new world lately thanks to Ryan, but I know all too well the other side of things.” He was quiet for a beat. “As do you.”

“Yeah. That wouldn’t be us. I’m tired of thinking the worst all the fucking time.”

“I hear that. And if this is where your energy is, well, then go with it.”

“My energy?” I grinned. “I’m enjoying this new woo woo side of you.”

“Good, because I just sent you that reading list. Check it off while you’re eating some fudge later. I recommend the raspberry chocolate swirl.”

“You and your sweet tooth. I’ll see you around. We’ll probably be there for an early dinner. Mickey has a late class then she said she’d try to meet us.”

“Sounds good. And hey, if it turns out you want to live off the grid and have babies with names like Butterfly and Elm Tree, have at it. I won’t dissuade you. I even know someone who’s all about the RV life. They’re surprisingly spacious.”

I couldn’t hold back a laugh. “Pretty sure we won’t be going that far, but thanks for the support.”

“You have it, brother. Always.” He quieted. “I mean that.”

“I know. And same goes. Now go break some public decency laws and scram.”

He chuckled. “Later.”

I turned around to find Kit-Kat observing me from the pillows on the bed while she washed her face.

“I’m going to talk to your mom about very mature themes. I’d appreciate if you’d give us some privacy.”

She turned around and showed me her butt before she wiggled between the pillows and stretched out for her daily siesta. If she could’ve said whatever, I had no doubt she would have.

I wandered down the hall to the bathroom, tucking in my button-down shirt before I decided that looked too lawyerly for an afternoon lunching and hanging out a carnival so I yanked it back out again. And walked right into April wearing a red sundress with tiny flowers and a big hat with a wide brim.

“It’s too much, isn’t it?” She yanked off the hat and let out an oof as I dragged her into my arms and gave her a hard, deep kiss.

When we finally parted, she rubbed her hand over her mouth. Her lipstick was officially toast. “I know it’s been like a half hour since you’ve seen me, but that was one hell of a hello.”

“You look gorgeous. Hat, dress, this hair.” I lifted a handful of the sunny waves she’d teased around her shoulders then looked over the rest of her. “Those shoes. Peekaboo heels?”

“They better not break.”

“I think we’re past that streak.”

“From your mouth to God’s ears.”

“Or goddess’s.” She gave me a wry smile. “Lu and Ry prefer the female interpretation of spirit.”

“Male, female, crowd of many. Whichever. You look incredible. So, how do you feel about having babies with me?”

She blinked. Blinked again. “How soon are we talking? There’s a growing period.”

I laughed and sagged against the wall, drawing her in so I could rub my lips over her jaw where her delicious scent was strongest. Right now, there was a hint of citrus mixed in with the vanilla. “New shampoo? I smell lemons.”

“You can’t ask someone to have a baby and then be like, ‘hey, new face cream?’ Which it is, by the way. A moisturizer Lu suggested from this apothecary shop they brought me to.” She touched the locket around her throat. “And they enhanced this.”

“Enhanced?”

“Story for later. Now back to a baby.”

“Actually, I asked for several, and yes, I can ask about face cream right afterward, because I have many tracks when it comes to you.” I touched her locket, holding it for a moment while my gaze roamed her face. It seemed unnaturally warm. Enhanced indeed. “Preston and Ryan wanted to meet us at the carnival.”

Her eyes widened. “Again with the new topic.”

“Well, I wanted to make sure I mentioned that. I know the whole boss thing makes it awkward.”

“If the man I’m sleeping with being my future boss isn’t awkward—and yes, it is, but I’m trying this new thing called not overreacting—then eating a funnel cake with my current boss shouldn’t be too strange.”

“What is with you people and funnel cakes?”

“You’ve never had one? Oh, you don’t know what you’re missing.”

“Apparently. I told him we weren’t using any condoms and it went from there.”

The pretty flush in her cheeks drained away until she would’ve blended in quite nicely with the snow on the ground in December. “You did what?”

“Maybe we should sit down.” I started drawing her back down the hall to the bedroom.

She pulled on my hand, bringing me to a stop. “I’m just fine here. You did what?”

“I didn’t mean to. He’s my best friend. Just…I spewed.”

“Do you understand what this means for me?”

“No?”

“This means that if we are now doing couples’ things, they will be discussing us.”

“As if they didn’t before?”

“Yeah, but now it will be open season. Which means Preston probably got off the phone and asked Ry if she knew her best friend was an empty-headed crackpot, but in more sophisticated Shaw-esque terms.”

“Why are you the crackpot? I was the one who was espousing free, condom-less love.”

Her brow arched delicately. “Men are apt to do or say anything when sex is involved. Women are the protectors of the box.”

“Box being pussy?”

She nodded soberly. “And you know what’s even worse than Ryan and Preston discussing our sex life on a personal level?”

I closed my eyes. Oh, I knew. “Yeah. Sorry.”

“Sorry? You’re sorry? What if I went to your job and told the guy who signs your paychecks that I’m hoping you knock me up?”

I opened my eyes. “If that’s true, I’d probably immediately dedicate myself to the task.”

“Pfft.” She wrapped her arms around her midsection and leaned against the wall. “I’ve tried really hard not to think about it. Now you’re making me think about it.”

“I wasn’t thinking about it either. Then I was. It was the damn kids next door.”

“Mister and Mrs. Honeycutt?”

“They have a red-headed little boy and a blond little girl and a very large child in utero?”

She shook her head, openly laughing at me. “In utero. God.”

“Goddess,” I corrected, and she poked me in the stomach.

I grabbed her finger and lifted it to my mouth. “We aren’t on anyone’s timetable. Not even our own. We’re just rolling with whatever happens. I’m good with that. I guess I’m asking if you’re good with it too.”

She pursed her lips. “I always used condoms every time.”

“Same.”

“No, but you can’t get pregnant.”

“No, but trust me, I’m in this. I’m not just fucking around here. This is deadly serious to me.” I slid my hand around the back of her neck and tugged her in close. “You have to know that.”

“The fact that you basically moved in this week without being invited was my first clue.”

My heart started that ridiculous speeding up thing that could even out on its own or take me someplace I profoundly did not want to go. “Do you want me to leave?”

She fisted a handful of my shirt as she arched up on her tiptoes to plant tiny teasing kisses all over my mouth. “No. I want you to show me your place so we can figure out how to blend two households with a smut-talking bird and a man-hating cat. And possibly several babies.”

The chaotic rhythm in my chest settled. “I don’t think your cat hates me so much as she isn’t sure what I want with you.”

“Oh, she knows. She’s got a dirty mind.”

“She and Santiago should get on famously then. So, you’re good with this whole double date thing? It’s all very casual. No definite plans.”

“Seems like that’s our state of being these days. And what about your sister?”

“She might casually swing by to meet us too. Possibly with her man.” I did air quotes around the word man, making April poke me again.

“Promise you won’t try to intimidate him. The guy is probably an insecure college student.”

“But it’s one of my best skills. I haven’t even needed to pin you with my best opposing counsel glower yet.” I turned her around and started walking her down the hall toward the front of the house. “Here I was hoping you’d say no to the double date so I would be forced to convince you with my tongue.”

“I didn’t know you wanted to see Preston that badly. But if so, be my guest.” She playfully swatted my hand when I made a grab for the bottom of her gauzy sundress.

“Actually, who I want to see is Ryan. I need to meet this witch who stole my buddy’s heart.”

“She’s a whole lot of woman.”

I hauled April back into my arms and kissed the side of her neck as her laughter filled the hall. “So’s mine.”