“Good. So all I have to do is prove to them I can make you happy,” I tell her as I hold the steering wheel a little tighter. I’m a gruff bastard, I’m her boss and older than her, and all I have to do is prove to Mr. Scott that I’m not taking advantage of his daughter and I can make her happy. No problem.TaraPulling into the driveway of my parents’ house brings back so many memories. Even though it’s starting to get dark outside, I can still see all the decorations. The lights are strung, lighting up the whole exterior. There’s fresh snow all across the yard and trimming the house. I can see the nine-foot Christmas tree in the big bay windows with more lights than I remember.
But the minute I see my mom and dad come out the front door, I realize my mistake.
My mom races toward the driver’s side. Not to me, not to her daughter—no, she races to Baker. “I knew it. I knew it. Tara was in love with you from the minute she came for that interview, and I knew it wouldn’t be long before you felt it too.” She looks over at my dad. “See, Darren, I should have bet you money. I was right.”
I could argue or make a scene and tell Baker that my mom doesn’t know what she’s talking about, but I know that will only make it worse. Mortified, I sit in my seat with my head in my hands, unable to move. Did my mom really just tell my boss that I’ve been in love with him since day one?
My car door opens, and I hear my mom and dad grabbing bags out of the back of the truck.
“Hey, there,” Baker says in my ear. His hand cups my knee, and I know that I’m going to have to look at him. When I raise my head and look into his eyes, I can see the happy smirk on his face.
“It’s not what you think,” I tell him.
His forehead creases. “So you don’t like me?”
“No! I mean, yes, ugh, you know what I mean,” I tell him, rolling my eyes.
“C’mon, Tara! Bring Baker inside out of the cold,” my mom hollers over her shoulder.
I still haven’t budged.
His finger is running circles around my knee, and I can’t seem to concentrate on anything but that.
“But that’s the thing, Tara, I don’t know what you mean.”
“Oh God, okay, so when I came for the interview, I may have told my mom how handsome you were.”
He laughs then, a hearty laugh that ruffles my hair as he breathes out. “So you think I’m good looking. Your mom made it sound like a whole lot more than that.”
Why does he not sound upset? I look up at him, and he’s staring back at me with a smile on his lips. “I may have been just a tad bit smitten with you,” I tell him. I let out a nervous giggle and then push my way out of the truck. “So are you backing out now?” I ask him.
“Hell no!” he answers emphatically. “It’s just gettin’ good!”
He takes a few steps, and when he looks back, I have to remember to close my mouth, which is hanging open. He holds his hand out to me. “C’mon, your mom’s waiting for us.” When I reach for his hand, he pulls me under his arm as we walk slowly up the steps. “Don’t forget we’re supposed to act like we like each other,” he tells me, nuzzling his face into my neck. When his lips graze across the lobe of my ear, I almost trip over my own feet.
“I uh,” I stammer.
He just smiles as he pulls away from me. “Don’t worry. We got this.”
And then his lips touch mine. It’s the briefest of kisses, making me wonder if I imagined it. But my lips are warm and tingly as I touch them with my finger. Yep. My boss just kissed me… and I liked it.4Baker“So I’m putting you and Baker in your old room. Your dad’s already carried your bags up,” Tara’s mom tells us after dinner.
I can see the minute that Tara grasps what her mother’s saying. “No!” she almost screams. “I mean no. I can bunk in Matt’s room. Baker can have my room.”
“Nonsense, Tara. What’s wrong with you tonight? You’ve barely eaten your dinner. You’ve been quiet. Even more quiet than normal,” her mom says.
“Mrs. Scott, thank you so much for the hospitality. Really. Pot roast is one of my favorite meals, and yours was so good. And thank you so much for letting me stay in your home,” I tell her to help Tara out. She seems like she’s about to hyperventilate or something.
I reach under the table and run my hand across her leg to soothe her, but her whole body tenses next to me.