The Guy Who Became My Grumpy Boss (Curvy Girl Crew #7)

Chapter 30

-Peter-

Dating had never been a thing for me. It was messy and complicated and involved other people.

That, and the more specific reason that I was a socially awkward individual, danced around in my head as I waited for Jessica outside the movie theater that Tyrell had invited us to.

I’d been here twice before and remembered it being comfortable inside. The popcorn had been acceptable but could have used more butter.

I knew what to expect from the theater behind me but no idea what to expect from the beautiful woman who was about to join me.

It had barely been a week since I’d waited for Jessica outside the stuffed animal store. That time we’d been in work mode.

This time would be different.

At least, I hoped it would be different.

There were a few people waiting for others to join them, and since they were all on their phones, I decided it would be acceptable to look at mine.

If nothing else, I could take a picture for Aunt Mei.

The last photo she’d sent to me had been of her and my uncle at the Wigwam Motel, somewhere in Arizona.

To prove that I did more than work and walk the streets, I posed in front of the marquee and snapped a photo.

“I didn’t envision you as a selfie guy.”

Jessica’s voice made me jump.

My first look at her stole the breath from my lungs.

She hadn’t dressed up—she did that every day at work. Instead, she was once again in a sweater and jeans. Her long dark hair was down, and I longed to run my fingers through the loose curls. The brilliant smile she gave me as she approached almost distracted me from watching her walk toward me.

When she arrived, she held her arms out.

I’d missed having her near me and gladly pulled her into an embrace. I couldn’t help but inhale her sharp perfume, and I took the opportunity to press my cheek against hers.

Jessica didn’t pull away. “You seem to be in a better place today.”

“I am.”

Oh, the things I wanted to do—like kiss her lips, her neck, and her shoulder. I wanted to see if her hair was as soft as it looked. I wanted to let her know exactly how much I cared about her.

But that would have to wait.

“Good.” Jessica stepped back, but her fingers trailed along my arm down to my hand, where she took a hold of it.

“I’m sorry I was so distant on Monday,” I said.

Jessica squeezed my hand. “I have a confession.”

The last confession I’d endured was when Marissa had told me about how I’d ruined her life, but this was Jessica. Her lips stretched tightly, and she looked worried.

“What is it?” Had I messed up? Offended her? Hurt her?

Jessica looked into my eyes as she spoke. “I heard you and Marissa in the hallway at the hotel.”

“You did?” While I’d tried not to orchestrate every moment of this evening, I had thought about a few things. This revelation had not been one of them.

“I did, and much of what she said wasn’t fair.”

“Some of it was,” I conceded.

Instead of agreeing or disagreeing, she said, “Are you okay?”

“I’m still processing,” I admitted.

“That’s fair.” Jessica moved to my side and snaked her arm around my waist. She fit next to me as if she belonged there, and I hoped we would have many more moments like this.

However, I needed to ask her something. I’d planned to wait until dinner, but since Tyrell wasn’t here and we had time, I decided to dive in. “May I ask you a question?”

“You may.”

I walked us to a bench and sat. I kept my fingers intertwined with hers and gazed into her eyes. “Since you heard the conversation between Marissa and me, this will be easier.” I took a moment to gather my nerves. If Jessica felt she needed to change because of me, I was going to have to fix it. “How much have you altered yourself for me?”

Jessica pursed her lips, which I’d been avoiding looking at but found them a rich red brown tonight. A color that I could only describe as sexy on her. “A little,” she said.

My insides twisted.

“But I think it’s normal, to a degree, to evolve for someone we care about.” Jessica smiled.

I took a moment to parse through what she’d said. She was probably right about that. Also, she’d said she cared about me. Even though we were holding hands, I needed that reassurance.

“I bet you can name at least one way you’ve changed for me.” She spoke with confidence, but there was a hint of worry in her eyes.

Even if I’d spent the time preparing thoroughly for this conversation, I still might not have predicted Jessica’s statement.

Jessica gently pulled her hand from mine and snuggled closer to me. I put my arm around her and squeezed as I considered what to say.

How had I transformed?

I’d started getting her coffee, but that was something I would be asking her about and probably relinquishing back to her. I’d watched her deal with people and had learned a lot from it, much of it I had incorporated into my nightly preparation for the next day. I’d skipped my flower arranging to be with her.

There was a big one I was ignoring.

Should I share it? Would she understand?

Aunt Mei had told me to be honest and open.

I brushed Jessica’s hair back from her face before I spoke. “I plan almost all of my conversations.”

“I’ve noticed that.”

“You have?” I asked.

“I can almost always tell when someone veers from what you thought they would do or how they would act. It throws you off, and it takes you a minute to get back on track.”

The fact that she’d noticed solidified the notion that I needed to keep this woman in my life. “You’re exactly right. I like to be prepared. I don’t like surprises. I like to run the narrative. All of this makes it easier for me to function with people.”

Jessica put her hand on my leg.

“I even formulate most conversations with you,” I confessed.

She nodded. “I’m not surprised or offended.”

My heart began beating faster, and butterflies seemed to be battering the inside of my stomach.

Is this what love felt like? I’d read the descriptions. Was it possible for me to feel an emotion like other people did?

I needed Jessica closer to me, so I leaned down and brushed her lips with mine.

The heat of fire erupted from my insides. The bite of ice made me shiver. I imagined thousands of tiny electrical connections between us.

Jessica grinned and kissed me back. Her warm lips molded to mine.

Marissa had said that she completed me. Is this what she’d felt for me?

“You haven’t answered my question,” Jessica reminded me, her lips still touching mine.

“I don’t know if you’ll understand the significance of this, but I didn’t plan this conversation.”

Jessica sat up and blinked. “Really?”

“I wanted to understand what we were—what we could be—without my expectations getting in the way.”

Jessica studied me. I felt her eyes taking in everything about me—a scrutiny I hoped I would pass.

“Have you ever heard of a grand gesture?” she asked suddenly.

I shook my head.

She laughed and sat up, sadly leaving some space between us. However, in a casual gesture that I would be analyzing for hours later, she pulled one knee up on the bench, which pressed on the side of my leg. She took my hand again. “Have you ever seen a romance movie?”

“I have.”

“Do you have a favorite?”

Questions about favorites were hard. “No.”

Jessica laughed again. “That’s okay. The grand gesture happens near the end of the movie. It’s when, usually, the man runs after the woman who is about to leave after she’s given up on the relationship. Or he does something public and potentially embarrassing to get her back.”

None of that sounded comfortable to me.

Jessica went on, and my hand settled on her knee. “Sometimes the guy will dodge security at the airport in order to get to her before she boards the plane.”

I frowned. “Don’t they get arrested.”

Jessica waved a hand. “That all happens after the story ends and doesn’t matter, because the important thing is that they’re going to be together.”

That didn’t sound logical to me, but I kept my mouth shut.

“Other options include the man singing to the woman in front of a crowd to confess his love, or even hijacking an event to steal the microphone to do the same.” Jessica smiled. “Stuff like that.”

As she spoke, I felt my throat closing off.

Is this what she expected from a man? If so, we would not work out together. I wasn’t that guy. I would never be that guy.

Jessica reached out and touched my cheek, turning my face to hers.

When had I looked away?

“Hey, I’m not expecting any of this from you.”

Was she telling the truth? I hoped so.

“In fact.” Jessica’s hand dropped to my chest. “You’ve just given me a grand gesture.”

“I have?”

“Sure have.” Jessica stretched toward me, and I leaned down to kiss her again.

But I was confused.

Jessica didn’t leave me that way. “You came here tonight without an agenda. Without a plan. Without doing what you would normally do. Why?”

The truth couldn’t hurt at this point, could it? “My aunt suggested I see you without doing any of that. To see if…” I stared at her. Did I have to say it?

“To see what?” Jessica prompted.

“To see if I could do it. To see how my feelings for you were really affecting me. To see if you would run if I was more awkward than usual.”

Jessica smiled again and poked me in the chest. “That, sir, is your grand gesture. To me.”

She moved her knee off of me so she could kneel next to me, then kissed my cheek. “For me.”

Her lips moved to mine. “For us.”

This time she kissed me harder, longer, and more thoroughly than she ever had before.

I’d come here wanting her to know how I felt about her, and now she was convincing me that she loved me.

I returned the sentiment.

She seemed to be enjoying it.

Until a familiar voice interrupted us.

“Wow, I didn’t expect that.”

Jessica giggled, kissed me once more, then pulled away.

I glared at Tyrell.

He smiled at me.

“Hey, Jessica,” Tyrell said.

She stood. “Hey.” She looked completely unbothered that our boss had found us making out. “Who’s this?”

Only then did I notice that Tyrell had a dark-skinned, petite woman with him.

“This is Fauna.” Tyrell pointed. “Fauna, this is Jessica and Peter. We all work in the same office.”

Jessica reached out, took my hand, and tugged me to a standing position.

“Nice to meet you,” Jessica said to Fauna.

“How long have you two been dating?” Fauna asked.

“Officially?” Jessica winked at me. “About three minutes.”

Tyrell laughed.

Jessica joined in.

To my surprise, I did too.

“This isn’t going to be a problem, is it?” Tyrell asked me.

“Problem?” I was confused.

“You two kissing all the time?”

“It’s not a problem for me.” Jessica turned to look up at me. “Although if it might be an issue, Amelia did offer me a job as her assistant.”

I frowned, and the first level of panic set in. This is something I hadn’t considered. “She did?” Romance aside, Jessica was the best assistant I’d ever had, and losing her would be detrimental for many, many reasons.

“At the party.” Jessica patted my chest. “Don’t worry, I thought we’d talk about it before I made a decision. But not tonight.” Jessica looked at Fauna. “Tonight we’re here to hang out with friends and have fun.”

Fauna smiled. Jessica’s words seemed to put her at ease.

The two women gravitated toward each other, leaving Tyrell and me standing together.

Tyrell grinned at me. “You’re a lucky man.”

“Am I?” I asked.

He nodded. “She seems to get you.”

I watched the ladies go through the doors and into the theater. Jessica glanced over her shoulder and flashed me a smile. If I had to guess, she’d given me a minute alone with Tyrell on purpose. “I think she does.”

“She’s a keeper,” Tyrell said.

“She is,” I agreed as I walked after the woman I loved.