Bastard Boss

She looked up at him. “You said love.”

“I did, didn’t I?” He pressed a kiss to her lips. “Then maybe one day in the future I might just surprise you.”

Anya stared into his dark eyes. Was he trying to tell her there was a chance he could fall in love with her? The Xavier she knew didn’t believe in love.

Do you?

Staying by his side, she forced a smile to her lips so the kids didn’t have a clue how tormented she was. Xavier kept hold of her hand as he talked with each of the kids. They were all vying for his affection, and she noticed Logan stood off to one side. Letting go of Xavier’s hand, she made her way toward him.

“Hey, Logan, do you remember me?” she asked.

He was sitting on the bench, and he turned toward her. “Yeah, you’re Xavier’s wife.”

“Wow, yeah, I guess I am.”

“Were you his wife when you got me?”

“Yes, I was.”

“Why didn’t you say anything? Why did he say you were his friend?” Logan asked.

“I was nervous about being Xavier’s wife. He’s so handsome, and I’m not.”

Logan frowned, staring at her. “You’re very pretty.”

“Thank you. I’m not like the women that he usually dates.”

“Do you love him?”

Kids were so damn hard, and they didn’t know when to stop. Her feelings for Xavier had changed over the past few weeks. The man at the office was not the man he showed to her when they were alone.

“Yes, I think I do.”

“That’s not very good. If you don’t love each other then you’re going to have babies, and abandon them like I was.”

“No, no, no, that would never happen, Logan. I love Xavier. I do.” It was the strangest thing in the world. The moment she said those words, she meant them. It was like a switch went off inside her head, and everything fell into place. Glancing toward Xavier where he was playing ball with several of the kids, she had flashes. Moments of their time together before he even wanted her to have his kid.

The guys she had dated, she’d always kept at arms’ length, never wanting to get too close. Whenever a new woman entered the office, she always felt a pain jolt right through her heart. It was instant, and it made her feel sick to her stomach just remembering. Had she been in love with him all this time? Biting her lip, she turned back to Logan.

“For grownups, it’s just harder to say how you feel.”

“Mom didn’t love me. She left me there ‘cause her boyfriend hated me.”

Anya pushed some of his hair off his face, hating how lost and alone he sounded. “Have you had any breakfast?” she asked.

“I’m not hungry.”

“I don’t think so. Eating helps make us strong. It’s what keeps us going.” She took hold of his hand. “I smell pancakes, and I’m not going to stop until you eat an entire stack. I also spotted some pick and prize games. Come on, Logan. Let’s go and have some fun.” She walked him toward the pancake stand, ordering them both a stack, and taking him to the nearest table. Placing one in front of him, she took one herself.

His eyes lit up, and his tongue licked his lips.

“Dig in. Don’t be afraid to eat up. Come on, you’ve got to make me look like a lady now.”

Logan took a large bite, and frowned at her. “Why wouldn’t you look like a lady?”

“Because I love pancakes.” She took a bite, and moaned. There were chocolate chip, and fluffy, with lots of syrup. “Now that is a pancake worth getting fat for.”

“Am I missing something?” Xavier asked, taking a seat beside Logan. He ruffled his head, and stole one of Anya’s pancakes.

With the new revelation of her feelings, she wasn’t sure what to do with him close. She was scared that he’d see, and that meant their deal would be off the table. She could be pregnant now. Xavier wouldn’t do that, would he?

Crap, her feelings were now causing her to have doubts about him. Well, not doubts about him, but his reactions to her. Was there any way that Xavier could love her?

“Anya got me pancakes,” Logan said.

“Anya is amazing. Can you believe this gorgeous woman agreed to be my wife?”