Page 21 of Lying to the Boss

“No, we’re not,” I say.

“Yes, we are.”

I huff an annoyed sound but take the shirt when he offers it to me. I won’t deny this is funny. I could use a little fun in my life, I think. Let loose a little.

From the corner of my eye, I take in Lane’s toned arms as he searches for the bottom of his shirt and gets his arms in. I try not to make it obvious that I’m staring, but the man is very good looking. I thought it from day one. Clothed. Unclothed. Demanding. Laughing. He’s an attractive guy, there’s no getting around it.

He, on the other hand, doesn’t hide the fact he’s staring when I change my shirt.

“Take a picture. It’ll last longer,” I mutter.

He chuckles. “I haven’t heard that since grade school.”

“You remember that far back?”

“What did I tell you about that mouth of yours?” His tone darkens just slightly, and I have to look away.

I recall exactly what he told me about my mouth. It only makes him want to tease me more. Only, this feels a little more heated than regular teasing.

I hate it, but I can’t deny that I like it too. His attention isn’t terrible. And look… we’re having fun.

“What now?” I hold my arms up and drop them. “Now that we look like idiots.”

“I take offense to that,” he says as he puts the car in gear. “We’re going to get lunch.”

“I don’t think any of the restaurants you’ll want to go to will let us in looking like this.”

He doesn’t say anything to that, and I recall last night when he praised me for finding a place that served chocolate cake so good it made his top five list. The man keeps a list of the places he’s had the best chocolate cake. How weird is that?

Weird in a quirky, kind of endearing sort of way.

When we pull into the parking lot of a burger place, I almost keel over.

“Are you at the wrong place?” I ask.

“I’m exactly where I need to be.”

He shuts the car off and gets out.

So I do the same.

We eat outside, under the sun that’s slowly making its way downward. I hadn’t realized how much time we spent shopping or driving. It’ll be sunset soon enough.

Waves crash against the dock a short distance away, the seagulls squawking as they fly around looking for food.

“Are you tired?” he asks when we’re finished eating.

“Not at all,” I admit.

“Good. Let’s walk.”

We find our way toward the boardwalk, neither of us saying a word, just taking in the calming sounds as we walk and walk and walk. We pass couples and groups of friends. People walking dogs or chasing children. It’s all very relaxing in a strange sort of way. There’s nothing to do but be here and enjoy everything around me.

It’s oddly comforting. Being here with him, by the ocean.

“I knew I would miss the ocean,” I admit, hating that I’m saying it, but what’s the point of fighting it? Lane is showing me he isn’t the monster I think he is, and I don’t have anyone else here. No friends. No family.

And he’s right. I’ve been mean for no reason. Well, I have a reason, but it’s not fair to him because it’s because of my own issues. Without him, I don’t know where I would be right now, and he didn’t do that on purpose. I mean, maybe he did, but he didn’t invite me in for the interview. He didn’t bring me in and hire me because of what happened. That was all fate.