The Girlfriend (The Boss 2)

Like now, when he came down the stairs right in front of me, saw me and said, “Oh, you’re home. I didn’t hear you come in.”

I shook my head and smiled. “How’s your day been, dear?”

I knew he hadn’t gone into the office, because he wasn’t dressed for it. He wore a black sweater over a button down, the cuffs of his sleeves rolled back, and comfy, well-worn jeans. One thing I hadn’t expected, though I probably should have, was how the entire cancer nightmare had changed his appearance. His hair had grown back, but it was mostly gray now, and he wasn’t as toned as he used to be. In fact, he’d kept his little chemo belly, which I found bizarrely cute, and he hated.

“I met with the new trainer, though I’m not sure she’s going to work out.” He grimaced as he came down the stairs in his bare feet. “She had a lot of opinions with regards to the Feng Shui or lack thereof in the gym. I just want to be able to see the damned television from the treadmill.”

“Poor baby,” I patronized him. Then, on a more serious note, I asked, “Are you sure you want to start working out again, already? You’re supposed to take it easy on yourself this year.”

“Taking it easy and being lazy are very similar things,” he argued mildly.

I knew I wasn’t going to get anywhere with him on this point. He’d decided over a month ago that he was going to be all better now, even when it was clear fatigue was getting to him. I changed the subject. “Do you want to see what I bought? Some of it will be very... inspirational.”

“I’m sure it will.” He grinned as he took both of my hands in his. “But first, I have a surprise for you. Close your eyes.”

“A surprise?” I did as he commanded, letting him guide me toward the elevator.

“Keep them closed,” Neil reminded me, brushing a hand over my eyes. “Or shall I blindfold you?”

I grinned. “That would make this even more interesting.”

I heard the elevator doors close, and the chime dinged four times on the way up.

“So, we’re going up to the fourth floor,” I said with a smile as we negotiated the next flight. “Can I take my coat off before you ravish me?”

“I’m not going to ravish you. Well, not yet, anyway.” I heard a door open— the bedroom door, I assumed— and he walked me inside. He halted me, saying, “Okay. You can open them now.”

I stood in front of the door to the master bathroom, which stood open. I raised an eyebrow at him before stepping inside. My eyes were drawn immediately to the tub. The new tub, because the big, white stone oval wasn’t there anymore. It was my tub, my gorgeous, copper and porcelain, high-backed, claw-footed tub, looking totally out of place in the ultra-modern bathroom.

Tears of joy sprang to my eyes. “I... I missed you so much.”

“Now, it’s not the bathtub from your apartment, but it’s the same model,” Neil informed me apologetically. “The tub is in storage in New York.”

“It... should be in the old apartment, where I left it.” I raised an eyebrow. “Unless you did something very silly.”

“I bought it. Not the whole building, I thought that might be overkill. But I did buy the bathtub.”

“Well, a lot of good it’s going to do me in storage,” I teased. “No room for it in one of your four bathrooms there?”

“I thought you might like it better in our new house,” he said, so casually I didn’t process it at first.

When I did, I was sure I’d misheard. “Wait, what new house?”

“The apartment in New York is too small. And Elizabeth remodeled it after we moved in together. Everything there is...” He shrugged. “I want a new start. I want to make a home with you. One that we pick out together. Would you do that?”

“Are you... asking me to buy a house with you? Because I have to tell you, my credit rating might be a hindrance...” I leaned into his body, trailing my fingertips across the front of his shirt.

“Subs with smart mouths get paddled,” he warned.

I reached up and wrapped my arms around his neck as he dipped his head to kiss me. I had to take his threat seriously, because now that he was feeling better, he was making up for lost time.

There were times I was so happy, I couldn’t believe my luck. My boyfriend had beaten cancer. At least, unofficially, since we had to wait for the one-year anniversary of his remission to get the all clear. But he was alive. My career had changed, and it was amazing so far. While I still missed Holli terribly, I was happy for her in her new life. And I had Emma. Emma, who I’d thought would never like me, but who was now one of my most cherished family members.