by Mac Flynn
I cringed. "Maybe we can start with breakfast and have a nice stroll through the gardens?"
Finner laughed. "That sounds like a plan."
We had a great breakfast and I brought her up to speed on the appropriate office talk. After the food I put a leash on Mr. Perkins, nearly strangling us both in the process, and the three of us went for a stroll outside on some beautiful trails. Well, we humans strolled and Perkins was dragged along for the stride. Being alone as we were on the trail, I ventured to tell her about my brief happiness with Dunner.
She was really supportive, even going so far as to give me a shoulder to sob on when I told her the part about finding him with Allison. "There there, I'm sure it was just a big misunderstanding," she told me as she patted me on the back.
I shook my head and rubbed my snot all over her shoulder. "No, I know what I saw. He was kissing her and liking it, and it's all my fault!"
That surprised her, and she pulled me at arm's length to get a look at my red, snotty face. "It is?" she asked me.
I nodded. "What else could it be? I told him to leave me and he did. I-I just didn't expect him to be so quick about it, and to go back to Alicia's sister is just-" I latched onto her again and cried like a baby.
Finner patted me on the back. "I'm sure this will work itself out, you just need to give it some time. After all, it's only been a day," she pointed out.
"Yeah, I guess I could give it another day and see how I feel," I sniffled.
I dried my eyes and tried to enjoy the beautiful scenery around us. The mountain lodge was a spendy and pretty place with forest trails among the thick trees, brush and bugs. There was an indoor track and gym, both of which I avoided, and the food was great. That first day with Finner was great other than the crippling loneliness I felt from being single again. The next day Perkins got a break from his walk when Ms. Finner offered to watch him while I walked the paths. "Are you sure about this?" I asked her. I didn't want to go out into the woods alone, not without my shoulder to cry on. "We could just hook him up or I could even carry him."
Finner laughed, turned me around and pushed me toward the room door. "We will be fine. I'm sure Mr. Perkins will perk right up to me after I've fed him some nice tuna."
I couldn't argue with that, or the closed door behind me after she shoved me into the hall. I sighed and shuffled my way out into the woods. It was a nice, sunny morning with birds chirping, butterflies flying, and the whole world mocking my sadness with its cheer. Damn those cute, furry woodland creatures and their Disney-esqueness.
I ambled through the trees for I don't know how long until I stumbled on a loose rock. I was getting up when someone spoke up behind me. "Need some help?"
"No, I think I have it, but thanks anyway," I hastily replied. I stood up and brushed myself off without turning around.
"You sure? You look like you could use some cheering up," the person insisted.
I frowned and swirled around. "I'm really-" My heart stopped and my eyes grew as big as donuts. Standing there with the sun at his back was Steven Dunner, looking like a stunner. He had a million-dollar smile on his lips and his dimples made cute little shadows all over his face. "Wha? Hunh?" was my intelligent response.
"I thought you'd be glad to see me again," he quipped. He stepped toward me, but I wanted answers and put my foot down right on top of that loose rock.
I yelped and fell hard on my ass. Dunner smirked and offered his hand to me. "You sure you don't need some help?"
I scowled, but an idea came to my mind. "I guess I could use some help," I replied. I grabbed his hand and gave a yank. He fell headfirst, but not beside me like I planned. Dunner fell into my gut and knocked me flat on the ground. His legs straddled me and we were nose to nose.
"Still need that help?" he asked me.
I tried the distraction route. "What are you doing here?"
"I called Ms. Finner and she agreed to meet me for an early breakfast. That's when I told her the whole story and she was glad to help out a friend."
I wrinkled my face. "How'd you get her number?"
Steven laughed. "I'm the boss, remember? I hold all the files. That is, I did hold all the files. I gave my resignation this morning via email."
"You WHAT?" I exclaimed.
"I gave my resignation-"
I shook my head. "I get what you said, but why? Why in the world would you give up that cushy job?"
He leaned back and looked me over. "I gave it up for a lot of woman," he told me.
I blushed; he had the sweetest way of telling me I was fat. "Uh-huh, and what were you planning on doing after the resignation part?"
Dunner tilted his head up and tapped on his chin. "Well, there was this girl I was going to ask to marry me and I thought we'd live off my dividends, but my plan hit a snag when she ran away."
My heart skipped a beat; I swear I'd heard a proposal in there somewhere. "And did you find the girl you were looking for?"
"Yes, but she turned out to be a mud monster," he replied with a smirk.
I looked down at myself. The wet mountain path had soaked my clothes with its earthy filthiness. "So what now? Marry the monster or go back to a career?"
Dunner wrinkled his nose and shook his head. "No more careers for me, at least not for a few years. Maybe after the baby's born and I need some sleep that I can get at the office."
"Ah, but I've found a big snag in your plan," I pointed out.
"What's that?" he wondered.
"What if the mud monster woman doesn't want to marry you? What if she thinks you're a jerk for ditching her so quickly after their first fight?" I asked him.
Dunner leaned down and caught my lips in one of his legendary, stupendous, extraordinary kisses. I was in heaven, and he dropped me back down to earth when he pulled away. "Is she sure about this? I have money," he countered.
I wrapped my arms around him and smiled. "But I have a job, so I think we'll be okay."
A sheepish grin slipped onto Steven's face. "Well, about that."
My smile turned to a scowl. "What about that?" I growled.
"Well, remember how I had to fire two people on the floor? You were one of the ones to get cut."
I bucked him off me and turned the tables by slamming his back on the slippery rock. "You fired me?" I shrieked at him.
"More like laid you off," he gasped. "Now could you let me up? Having trouble breathing here."
"No!" I emphasized that with a jump on his gut. Air escaped his lips like a leaking balloon. "You tell me why you fired me."
"I will if you let me at my right pocket," he squeaked.
I dig the chore for him and dug into his pocket. My fingers wrapped around a small, velvet-covered box and I yanked it out. There was a hinged lid, and I glared at the container. "So if I open this what's going to happen?"
He attempted a stifled shrug. "I'm hoping you're going to scream and try to strangle me."
I frowned, but slowly creaked open the lid. My eyes fell on a ring with a large diamond on top that made a million reflections of my stunned face. I whipped my eyes over to Steven, and he weakly nodded; his face was purple. My voice trembled. "Is this-is this an engagement ring?" I asked him. He again nodded. "And it is for me?" Another nod. I squealed with joy and wrapped my arms around his neck. "Yes! Yes! Yes!"
"Air," he gasped.
"Oh, right!" I rolled off him and he heaved a big breath of air. When he'd took in enough air to survive I glomped onto him again and clutched the box tightly in my hand. "How did you know a diamond was a girl's best friend?"
"The commercials," he replied.
I rolled my eyes and leaned back to sit beside him on the muddy ground. We were both covered in muck. "And how long have you been planning to fire me and propose?"
"Laid off," he corrected with a smile. "And for a few weeks. I was going to propose to you two nights ago, but, well, other things happened."
I recalled the tryst he'd had with Allison, and my eyes narrowed. "Other t
hings happened yesterday morning, too," I reminded him.
Steven laid his hands on my shoulders and looked me straight in the eyes. "I am not having an affair with that woman. She came into my office saying she wanted to talk, and just when you knocked on the door she grabbed my tie and pulled me into that kiss. It was a matter of bad timing."
"Bad timing my ass," I briskly replied. "Alicia told me you wanted to see me in your office, and I bet when she heard me knock she kissed you to make me think you two were back together."
He tapped his chin, and there was a mischievous look in his eyes. "I guess it's a good thing I fired Alicia."
"Laid off," I corrected him.
He smirked. "Less talk, more kissing."
An hour later we came out of the woods covered in mud and beaming with smiles. The ring was on my finger and Ms. Finner was very happy to see us both, as was Mr. Perkins. She clasped my hands and admired my ring; Perkins purred and wrapped himself around our legs. "I'm so happy for both of you," she told us. "You deserve each other, and you certainly deserve better than that stuffy cubicle," she pointedly informed me.
"I won't miss it," I admitted to her.
"So what are you two young lovebirds going to do now?" Finner asked us.
I glanced at Steven, who smirked. "Well, there is a matter of telling the family about her and setting up the wedding," he pointed out.
I smiled and wrapped him in a big hug. "I'd be glad to meet them."
Steven cringed. "Well, don't get too excited until you've met them."
I squeezed him. "I'm sure if they're just as addle-brained as you I'll love them."
Steven laughed nervously. "Yeah, just like me."
For all books by Mac Flynn visit her All Romance author's page
or visit Mac Flynn's website.
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