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not stay in your job. When I said I could be good for you, I didn t mean I could be a better boss. I
don t want to be your boss. I want to be your&
My what? She was shaking so much she could hardly get the two words out.
He cleared his throat and said with just a tinge of self-deprecation, Your man.
She choked on a laugh, the way he had earlier when he d realized they d been talking at cross-
purposes. It was almost too much to take in.
Laugh at me if you want, but I m telling you the truth. I m absolutely crazy about you. So
you re fired.
You can t fire me, she managed to say. I already quit.
Okay. A little smile was playing on his lips now, as if he could read the tender emotion in her
face and realized she felt the same way he did. Then I accept your resignation.
Okay.
Okay? His hands got a little tighter as he searched her face one more time.
Yeah. Okay.
With a groan, he pulled her into his arms, into a hug so hard she couldn t breathe for a moment.
She hugged him back, though, feeling like things were exactly right between them for the first time&
maybe ever.
The embrace went on for a long time just them holding each other with matching need. Then
finally Jake pulled away and asked, Do you think we could sit down now? I feel like I might pass out
after the morning I ve had.
Anne went to sit on the couch, and he followed her, collapsing beside her with a low groan.
What do you mean, after the morning you ve had? she asked, genuinely curious.
What do you think I mean? I came to find you this morning, and you were gone. You d run out
on me without a word. So I had to jump in the car and come after you. Damn, those might have been
the worst hours of my life, thinking what I d finally found was just going to slip through my fingers.
It took her several moments to process his words, but when she did, she leaned back in a slump.
Oh.
He slanted her a look. Why did you run out on me this morning, Anne?
I thought& She was suddenly afraid to admit it, since she d clearly jumped to conclusions
that were completely wrong, and it was a little embarrassing. I thought you d left me.
What? What did you think happened last night?
He looked so surprised that she blushed hotly. Last night was& amazing. But I woke up and
you were gone. Then I saw your notes on the new position for me, and I thought it was a sign that
you d never think I was as important as your work, and I knew I couldn t take anything less than&
having you for real. So I just& ran.
He reached over and pulled her against his chest. You little idiot, he said, tenderness obvious
in his voice. I had just gone down to get us some breakfast.
Oh. She thought for a moment and realized how completely wrong she d been. She hid her
face in his shirt. Oh God.
He was laughing as he wrapped both of his arms around her again.
Don t laugh at me, she told him, without any real heat. She pulled away enough to look up at
his face. I had good reason to think you d pulled back and prioritized your work again, since you d
been doing it for years.
I know, he said in a different tone, gently stroking her hair. I ve been more of an idiot than
you could ever be. I m sorry it took me so long. Work was always safer the one thing I felt like I
could control. When you told me you were quitting, I was almost out of my mind. I kept thinking you
wouldn t be my employee anymore, so there would be nothing holding me back. But I was so used to
putting my feelings on hold, I didn t think I could let myself act on them. I didn t think I could ever
have you. Have you and keep you, I mean.
She understood exactly what he meant. She knew him as well as she knew herself. I didn t
think I could ever have you either, she admitted.
So we were both wrong. He leaned down to gently kiss her lips. I always knew I needed
you in my life, but for a long time I pretended that having you at work was enough. But it s not. And,
just so you know, now that I have you like this, there s no way in hell I m ever going to let you go.
She beamed up at him. Sounds just about right to me.
They kissed for a minute emotional and a little clumsy until a voice startled them from the
other side of the apartment.
Meg called out, I m coming out. I m sorry, but I need to go to work.
That s fine, Anne replied, straightening up a little although Jake wouldn t let her out of the
circle of his arms.
I m closing my eyes so I won t see if anything untoward is happening in there.
Both Jake and Anne started laughing, and Anne said, Nothing untoward is happening. You can
open your eyes.
Meg emerged from the hall, dressed for work and grinning at both of them. So you guys finally
worked everything out?
Yeah. Anne was smiling just as broadly as her friend was, feeling sheepish and giddy both.
Excellent. I m leaving now, so you can do whatever untoward things you d like to do without
being interrupted. Just please tell me that I get to be the one to tell Raney.
You can tell Raney.
Meg cackled as she grabbed her purse and headed to the door. She s going to be so jealous
that I knew before her.
Anne called out a laughing farewell as her friend left the apartment. Then she turned back to
Jake, who was gazing at her with a softness that turned her into emotional mush. So what now? she
asked.
I don t know. What do you think? He pulled her against him again, so she was leaning against
his chest.
It wasn t a bad position at all.
You left poor Stew in a lurch. Will you go back to San Diego to help him out?
I don t think so. I can talk him through things on the phone, if he can t figure it out on his own.
Then I guess you should probably start looking for a new assistant.
I guess so. Although I m not sure we have to start that immediately. I mean, not right now. He
shifted their bodies slightly so she could look him in the eyes.
What else did you have in mind for right now? she asked, although she was pretty sure she
could read the hot expression in his face.
He leaned down and said against her lips, Right now, I m going to do what I ve wanted to do
for ages, but didn t think I d ever be allowed.
She wrapped her arms around him. And what s that?
This.
He eased her down so she was lying on the couch, and he showed her.
Epilogue
Two months later, Anne was popping up on a surfboard, early on a Sunday morning, trying to get her
stance right.
She didn t seem to be naturally talented at it.
The board wasn t even on the water it was just on the sand so she could practice but she
still couldn t seem to get her feet placed right when she hopped up from the paddling position.
Jake laughed when she tried to jump again and ended up with one foot off her board completely.
She groaned and glared at him.
He walked over with a grin. It s not as hard as you re making it. Push with your arms and pull
your feet up under you. Don t worry about doing it really quickly yet. Just stand up in the right way
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