Hotshot Boss (One Night Only Book 1) by Shandi Boyes

Author:Shandi Boyes [Boyes, Shandi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Skye High Publishing
Published: 2022-07-14T18:30:00+00:00

CHAPTER 17

JACK

“Stop fiddling. You look fine.”

Marissa’s eyes lift to mine, their similarities notable even with us having different fathers. “That’s fine for you to say, but I’ve never been in this predicament before.”

“You’ve never been on a date?”

She shoots me a wry look, doubling the chuckles rumbling in my chest. “I’ve been on plenty of dates. I’ve just never been your plus-one before.” When she expresses her worries, I really wish she wouldn’t. “What if I don’t like her, Jack? What if I think she only wants you for your money?”

“She doesn’t.” My reply is direct and to the point. No one on my team would be game to directly imply such lunacy, but she’s aware I value her opinion more than anyone and that I have a lot riding on this, so she’s pushing the limits. “Octavia isn’t like the rest of them. She understands me.”

Marissa’s wide eyes dart to mine. “So you told her? She knows what happened to you?”

“No,” I bark out. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

I wasn’t meant to express my last three words out loud, and regretfully, Marissa hones onto them like a missile seeking out its target. “Then you don’t really know her at all, do you? If you’re not being yourself, how can you be so assured she is who you think she is?”

“Because she’s different, Mar. You just can’t understand how different since you’re not me.”

When my eyes shift to the traffic streaming past our window, she curls her hand over mine. “I would if you explained it to me.” When I scoff off her claims with a huff, she pushes on. “Give me a little bit of leeway, brother. You were meant to fly in and out of Seattle on the same day. Now, you’re telling everyone your stay is indefinite.” I almost correct her by saying ‘permanent,’ but I keep my mouth shut. The worry in her eyes is already tenfold. “Things were never like this for us. We’ve never kept secrets from each other.”

She’s right. I hate it, but it won’t change the facts.

After a beat, I give honesty a whirl. “Things aren’t an issue with Octavia.”

Marissa bounces her eyes between mine. “Things?” When I wave my hand to my crotch, she chokes on her spit. “Oh… things.” She sinks back into her seat and gazes at nothing for several long seconds. “Wow.”

“Exactly. Wow.”

Silence reigns supreme for the next four miles before Marissa eventually breaks it. “But should that be the sole basis of upending your career and starting anew across the country?” When I arch a brow, she rolls her eyes with a huff. She uprooted her life for dick, and it wasn’t even a good one. “I learned my lesson as you will yours.”

I shake my head in denial. “This is different. Things won’t end up like that for Octavia and me.”

“You can’t honestly believe that, Jack. You barely know the girl. You can’t possibly be considering long term already.”

“You’ll see. She will prove you wrong.”

She folds her arms under her chest.

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