The Grumpy Boss Cowboy Billionaire

Chapter 12

Victor

I couldn’t help myself–I couldn’t stop staring. Emma was on her hands and knees, scrubbing the deck surface on the dining hall, her short shorts hugging every curve, her dark, curly hair tied up in a bandana. I bit my lip as my groin tightened, thinking about last night.

Her smooth, brown skin under my hands, the sexy script tattoo on her ribs. The face she made as I plunged into her for the first time. I had never been a person for relationships. I'd been involved with a number of women over the years, but never anything serious. Usually, I normally try to end things before either of us can get too attached, never wanting to tie myself down for too long. I treasured my freedom to pick up and travel whenever need took me. I liked being able to focus on my work as I saw fit, and the thought of having someone waiting for me at home with all these extra expectations and needs always terrified me.

But Emma—she was independent and brilliant, sexy as hell, and totally adjusted to being on her own. She had dreams, aspirations, desires that I hadn’t even fathomed. She cared about the integrity and quality of this renovation just as much as I did–if not more, in her own way. She continually challenged me, questioning things and calling me out. To be honest, it was intimidating as hell and incredibly hot. If I were to choose someone to settle down with, I could picture a future with her.

Maybe she felt the same? The best way to find out would be to ask, but that was risky at this stage. I needed to take things slow or risk messing everything up. She sat up and straightened her glasses, squinting up at me in the bright sunshine.

“You planning on doing some work today, Mr. Sullivan? Or just supervising from a distance?”

I couldn’t help but smile at her sassiness, sinking to my knees beside her. “I want to take you to dinner tonight.”

She blinked at me in surprise. “Dinner?”

I held her gaze. “You, me, together, at a restaurant, eating food that was not prepared for a job interview.”

She brushed stray hairs away from her face. “Tonight?”

I shrugged one shoulder. “Why not?”

She sat back on her heels, considering. “We should save money and just eat something prepared by our staff chefs, or the chef at the mansion.”

I laughed, shaking my head. “I’m not worrying about the budget tonight, Emma. But, if it helps, I want to check out this restaurant in Maricopa to see if they might be willing to work with us.”

She quirked her lips, raising her eyebrows. “Does this have anything to do with last night?”

“Not at all.” I smirked. "Maybe a little."

"Hmm." Biting her lip, she sat up and wiped her brow with the back of her hand. “Dinner sounds like a nice chance to unwind.”

I leaned in, lowering my voice. "I can think of a better way to unwind."

“Not here." She put a finger to my lips. "Not at work, in front of our employees.”

“Our employees?” I raised an eyebrow.

It was her turn to shrug. “As long as I’m your Project Manager, they’re ours.”

I couldn’t suppress my grin. “Tonight then.”

Emma beamed at me. “It’s a date.”

At half past six, we set out in my Land Rover, Emma in a tasteful periwinkle dress, while I donned my customary suit. I had kept the specifics of our destination and cuisine a secret to surprise her, only offering her a dress code. Emma seemed to be enjoying all the mystery surrounding the evening and willingly complied, drawing her curly hair into an intricate bun, with dark purple painted on her eyelids.

When we pulled up to the restaurant, she gave me an excited glance. Stepping out, we were greeted by a tall building surrounded by masqite trees. Rich, dark wood beams framed the structure, their rugged texture contrasting with the polished stone inlays. The grand wooden doors, flanked by intricately designed wrought-iron lanterns, cast a warm, inviting glow that danced on the ground at our feet. Above the entrance, a beautifully carved sign read, Prarie Bistro. Its letters softly lit by amber lights, beckoned us inside.

We walked up a stone pathway bordered by lush desert plants and blooming cacti, their vibrant colors contrasting against the deep green. As we approached the doors, the soft sound of a live string quartet drifted out, blending harmoniously with the gentle murmur of the evening crowd inside. I held the door open for Emma, and we entered a spacious lobby with a high, vaulted ceiling supported by exposed wooden beams.

The interior was adorned with paintings of majestic horses and landscapes of the Arizona desert at sunset. Our host led us to our table, where I pulled out her chair. She brushed herself against the length of my body and offered a wry smile as she sank down into the seat, fingers playing with the edge of the menu.

“Was that a jewelry box in your pocket, or were you just happy to see me?” She teased.

“Actually,” I murmured, pulling out the velvet package from my pocket.

The look in her eyes shifted from amused to anxious, and she opened her mouth to protest. I raised a single finger, and popped the lid open, then slid it across the table. Her eyes widened as she caught sight of the silver, gold, copper, and turquoise earrings with a matching necklace that I’d purchased earlier that day.

“It’s a local original from one of the Hopi artists you contracted to to feature in the gift shop. I asked her to tell me which one she thought would suit you best, and she said it was this one.”

Her eyes glimmered with unshed tears, of joy I hoped, as she met mine. “They’re so incredibly beautiful.”

“Then they're perfect for you.” I gave her a grin, warmth filling my chest, covering her hand with my own. “I’ve never met anyone like you. You have this way of looking at the world, and other people, where you can see the best in them, and know how to bring it forward.” I chewed my lip, looking for the right words. “My world—my life—is an exponentially better place with you in it.”

Her eyes were still wide as she took in my confession. Fear gripped me as she remained silent, before a small smile spread across her face.

“No one's ever said that to me before…” She blushed, smiling softly as her face tipped toward the table. “I’m usually the one-and-done girl, never really found anyone worth sticking around for.”

I reached across the table and cradled her fingers in mine. “In truth—I’ve never said anything like that ever before…I’ve never felt this way about anyone, ever.” I stared at her, hoping to glean an inkling of what she was thinking. “I have no expectations of anything, we can keep it to ourselves at work during the renovation…all I’m asking for is the opportunity to see what this could be.”

Her adorable dimple appeared in her cheek before her smile, and she returned the embrace of my hand. “I’d like that.”

I couldn’t keep the goofy grin from my face as we lifted our menus. The restaurant had found its niche in Mexican-American-Indian fusion, with a strong focus on iconic Arizona flavors.

“I think we should sample a few different things on the menu. Maybe the Mesquite-Grilled Ribeye Steak, Chili-Lime Grilled Shrimp Skewers and Buffalo Tenderloin Medallions, this Saguaro cactus fruit could work as an appetizer, with a chocolate chili cake to share. What do you think?”

She chuckled. “You came hungry, I guess.”

“We can take the leftovers for lunch tomorrow.” I took a sip of my ice water before sitting back. “And... I’m going to talk to them about a catering contract, making this date a tax write-off.”

She laughed, shaking her head. “You’re crazy.”

I grinned at her. “And you love it.”

“You know what...” Emma nodded at me, still smiling. "I think I do."

I loved how much she knew about honey when they gave us a complimentary basket of sopapillas. The rest of the night passed with easy, good-natured conversation. After we had asked about a catering contract, and the found the owner receptive, we got to relax and enjoy dessert. I told her about growing up on my grandfather’s ranch in Tennessee.

“Jax still lives out there, though Papi doesn’t really do much ranching these days.”

After settling the bill, Emma and I wandered through downtown Maricopa, our fingers intertwined. The streetlights cast a warm glow over the quaint shops and historic buildings.

"You know..." Her eyes sparkled as she spoke, her passion drawing me in. "I've always wanted to visit Ethiopia. The history is incredible I'd also love to see Peru, India, Thailand."

"You want to go everywhere." I squeezed her hand, encouraging her to go on.

"Everywhere." Her eyes widened. Each word she spoke revealed more of her compassionate soul, and I found myself admiring her even more. "Australia is definitely on my list," she continued, determination in her voice. "The eucalyptus forests are breathtaking, but they need help. Regrowing them after all the wildfires—it would be a literal dream come true to be able to get involved with something like that."

I nodded, feeling her fervor resonate within me. Emma wasn’t just talking about visiting places; she was sharing her dreams, her mission to make a difference. It was inspiring.

"And then there's the Amazon," she said, her tone shifting to one of urgency. "The rainforest is the lungs of our planet, Victor. I want to be part of something that makes a real difference."

As we walked, I listened, captivated by her words and the light in her eyes. Each step felt like a deeper journey into her world, one filled with purpose and hope. I realized how much I wanted to be a part of that world, to support her dreams and share in her causes.

Her passion was contagious, and I couldn’t help but feel a surge of admiration and affection. This wasn’t just a conversation; it was a glimpse into the beautiful, driven person Emma was. I squeezed her hand again, my heart swelling with pride and excitement.

I had never heard anything that scared me and turned me on so much simultaneously. She wanted to know about my brothers, what it was like for me, also being one of four siblings. She wanted to know the best meal I’d ever eaten.

“That one.” I pointed back towards Khanvic’s Alibi.

We found an alcove to duck into, our lips meeting fervently as she tangled her fingers in my hair, pulling just hard enough to cause slight pain. My hands found her rear, drawing her pelvis against my hardness, grinding on her through my pants. I nipped the lobe of her ear, trailing kisses down the side of her neck.

She bit her lip and closed her eyes, breathing hard. “I can't describe what you do to me.”

When her eyes opened, she stared hard at me and I met her gaze. “Ready to go home?”

Her fingers traced along the turgid length in my slacks and she nodded. I took her hand in mine, touching a kiss to the back of it, and we headed back the way we came.