Page 14 of Coming for Her Grumpy Boss

“I didn’t go anywhere last year. Before that, we’ve met all over the place. Vail, as I mentioned. Also, London, Maui, Paris.” He shrugs.

“Your life is very different from mine,” I say.

“Perhaps.” He eyes me for a moment.

“I’ll sign your sister’s contract if you do this for me.”

“You’ll sign the contract with Cactus Girl if I pretend to be your girlfriend for your family Christmas?” I repeat.

He nods. “I’ll give her exclusive rights for five years. You just come stay with me at my lake house, meet my family. It’ll be around three days. Will you do it?”

“Yes,” I say without even considering it. “Ground rules,” I say, holding up a finger. “One: I don’t fake-laugh at dad jokes.”

“Understood.”

“Two: a safe word for when your relatives ask invasive questions.”

“Gingerbread,” he says immediately.

“You had that ready.”

“I’ve met my relatives.”

“What about clothes? I have my work stuff, but I don’t think people who Christmas in Maui and Vail will be all that impressed with my thrifted slacks.”

He reaches into his wallet and pulls out a black AmEx card and hands it to me. “Buy whatever you need.”

“You’re desperate.”

“I’m efficient.”

“Sure, we’ll go with that.” I stare at his handsome face for a moment, then I shake my head. “I’ll do it, but I don’t think it will work.”

“What does that mean?” he asks.

“I think you are grossly overestimating your acting skills.”

“We’ll rehearse,” he says.

“Rehearse what? Smiling?”

“I smile.”

“Internal ones don’t count.”

He rolls his eyes. “No one is going to believe that we’re a couple.”

“I disagree. How many times have people said we bicker like an old married couple?” he asks.

“I don’t think they mean that as a compliment,” I say. “You don’t like me. Everyone knows this.”

“I never said I didn’t like you.”

“You don’t have to say it. Your face says it. Pretty sure that a few minutes ago might have been the first time I’ve ever heard you laugh.”

“That can’t be right.”

“Yet, it is. You rarely smile at me. I am your assistant and you pay me well to do the work. I don’t need you to be my friend.”