Bargaining With the Boss

by Jennifer Shirk

  He blanched. “How could you think that?”

  His laugh was bitter. “Let’s face it. We all know Carson was a better son.”

  “Your mom and I were devastated over losing a child. Didn’t matter what child. You and Carson were about as different as peanut butter and jelly, but we loved you equally. Maybe I didn’t verbally express it, but that’s how I’ve always felt. It’s how I still feel. Maybe we should have gotten counseling to deal with the accident, but at the time, it was easier to not talk about it. Unfortunately, that drove a bigger wedge between your mom and me. But I had no idea I was driving a wedge between us as well. I’m sorry.”

  “Yeah, well,” he said, running a hand down his face, “apparently I’m a little lacking in the verbal expression department too. I couldn’t tell Kinsley how I felt about her.” But he’d wanted to—and he had been close. The words that had been slowly taking root in his heart just wouldn’t be released. She, on the other hand, was very upfront about her feelings toward him. She was in love with him. And he’d just turned away from that. Away from her.

  Away from love.

  And Damon was in love with her. He was 100 percent all in. But now it was too late.

  “I’m sorry if I never told you. But don’t be afraid to see what Kinsley sees in you. What your mom and I have always seen in you.” His father’s tone darkened. “Look, Carson’s life was cut short. But yours was not. Don’t be afraid to take a leap of faith to hold on to some happiness if it’s presented to you. No matter how long that happiness lasts. You might not get a second chance to grab it.”

  Damon swallowed hard. “It’s too late. She won’t speak to me. Not after our company sold her family’s hotel without warning.”

  “Who says it’s too late?”

  “Dad, please. I saw Alec’s email. The hotel is under agreement with that builder you know. He has plans to put condos there.”

  “I saw Alec’s email, too. But the hotel is not under agreement.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because I haven’t signed it yet.”

  Damon’s heart rate kicked into high gear and he sat up. “What are you talking about? Alec said it was. I saw the paperwork. The email exchanges. The employees have been alerted to the sale already.”

  “I’m sure Alec and the rest of the board expected me to sign. And I probably would have under any other circumstance. However…”

  “However, what?”

  His father shrugged. “You were down there and had seen the operation of it day in and day out. I wanted your take on it first.”

  Damon went still. He’d wanted his father’s respect and approval for so long that hearing those words didn’t seem real. “You really wanted to know what I thought before you made a decision?” he asked.

  “I did. I still do, son.” He steepled his hands expectantly. “And what is your opinion on this property? What do you think we should do with it? Not that I don’t already have an inkling.”

  Damon smiled. “Thanks, Dad. This means a lot to me. For many reasons.”

  “Normally I don’t like to get emotions involved with business, but we’ll just keep this between us. Let’s see what your woman can do.”

  His woman. He liked the sound of that. Kinsley wasn’t his yet. But he was about to take a giant leap of faith and try to make her his.

  Without another word to his father, he picked up the phone to call down for his car. He had a long drive ahead of him. It wasn’t too late for the hotel, and if he had any ounce of luck left on his side, it wouldn’t be too late for him as well.

  …

  Arden poured the sparkling cider as Kinsley passed out glasses to the staff. Good news needed a little celebration, but since half the staff still had to work the night, Kinsley opted for something non-alcoholic to serve. She even had Chef Rick make up some trays of his specialty hors d’oeuvres for the occasion.

  Earlier in the day, she had received an email from the St. James Corporation—from Damon’s dad specifically—explaining the fallout of the hotel sale. He also wanted to alleviate employees’ fears by ensuring that there were no plans to sell at this time and to continue business as usual. Corporate profitability analysis would be determined and discussed by the board in three years.

  Thank goodness.

  Everything was exactly as she’d hoped it would turn out. Almost. She could only assume Damon was behind the corporation’s change of heart. He obviously wanted to keep his word to her, which she appreciated, and believed in her abilities. Unfortunately, that’s as far it went.

  He didn’t believe they had a future together.

  Arden came up behind her and clinked her glass with Kinsley’s. “Why so glum? This is what you’ve wanted since you moved back home.”

  “Okay, how’s this?” She pasted on a fake smile.

  “Go back to frowning.” Arden wrinkled her nose. “But seriously, maybe you, me, and Elena should go out tonight. Celebrate properly. I can’t tell you how happy I am that I don’t have to tell my bride she was going to have to cancel her beach wedding. That in itself deserves a night out on the town. Maybe we’ll meet some men.”

  The thought of getting involved with someone else so soon made her queasy, but she nodded. “Yeah, you’re right. We should go out and celebrate.”

  “Just no Chardonnay, right?” Arden said with a wink.

  “And no tequila.”

  “Tequila?” Arden squinted.

  She shook her head and sighed. “Personal joke.” And the title of her life if it were made into a movie.

  Beaming liked she’d just won the lottery, Elena came around the corner, wheeling in a cart with a tall cake on top. “A party wouldn’t be a party without cake, right?”

  Kinsley swung her head around toward Rick. “Oh, it’s lovely. When did you even have the time to whip this thing up? It looks like it would have taken a full day to make.”

  Rick lifted his brow. “I didn’t make it.”

  Kinsley looked to Elena. “Did you order a cake?”

  “No,” Elena said with wide eyes. “It was just…delivered.”

  “From who?”

  “From me,” Damon said, standing in the doorway.

  Kinsley’s heart squeezed when his blue eyes connected with hers. Damon was dressed in his usual workwear: dark suit, white shirt, solid bold-colored tie. However, he looked rumpled and tired as if he’d jumped in the car and driven four hours to tell her the news about the hotel himself.

  The room grew quiet as Damon walked over to her. She didn’t understand it any better than her employees. He’d come back. She didn’t know the reasoning yet, but he’d come back to see her. And it gave her hope.

  She turned her face up to his. “What are you doing here?”

  “Trying to apologize and show you how I feel.”

  Her brow lifted. “With cake?”

  “Yeah.” The side of his mouth lifted a fraction. “With cake. I was wrong to not tell you the truth about the hotel, and I was wrong to push you away. But I was afraid you’d push me away first. I’m sorry for all that. Regardless of what happens next, I want you to know that I love you.”

  Her heart stopped, and she took a step back. “What? You do?”

  “I do. And even if you don’t feel the same, I also want you to know that you’re going to kill it as manager here. The corporation is fully behind you and your ideas.”

  She paused, digesting what he was saying and wanting more than anything to believe him. Love reflected in his face, but he’d hurt her and part of her was still wary.

  “Oh, really?” she said, folding her arms. “So what happens now? I’m just supposed to accept all this and we go back to exactly how things were before?”

  “No.” His eyes never leaving hers, he stepped closer. “Definitely not like before.”

  She struggled to breathe under his intense gaze. “So then tell me,” she said, finding her voice. “How will things be?”

  “I know I haven’t always been open.
But I’m going to try and be more communicative from now on. How’s that for starters?”

  Not bad. “I’m listening,” she hedged.

  “And I want us to be full partners. Partners in every sense. Not just here at the hotel, but also outside the hotel. I want you in every aspect of my life, Kinsley Roberts, because you make me a better businessman and a better man.”

  She blinked, moisture rushing to her eyes, then gestured to the cake. “You know, most men bring guilt flowers when they want to apologize.”

  “I’m not most men,” he said, reaching out and touching her cheek in a wistful gesture.

  She smiled. No, he wasn’t like most men. But that was perfectly fine with her. She didn’t want him any other way.

  “I don’t want to be a frosting-only type of guy anymore, Kinsley. I want to try having the whole dessert. With you.”

  Kinsley released the breath caught in her lungs. “I’d like that,” she whispered.

  He grabbed her hand, pressing a kiss into her palm. “Does that mean you love me, too?”

  A giggle bubbled up her throat. “Yeah, I love you,” she said with a wobbly smile. “I love you very much.”

  Damon hauled her up against him, his lips landing on hers with such extreme need, her mind spun. She lifted her arms around his neck and held on, kissing him back with as much passion as he gave. Laughter and clapping sounded all around them, and there were some definite hoots from Elena and Arden.

  After a few minutes of bliss, Arden tapped them on the shoulder. “Don’t mind us, love birds, but can we cut this cake already? Your staff is getting a little anxious here.”

  Kinsley’s laughter was muffled in Damon’s shirt. “What do you think? Should we cut the cake now?”

  He pulled back to look at her face and shook his head. “Don’t ask me. You’re the boss.”

  “Wow, I could get really used to hearing you say that.”

  He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her smiling lips. “That’s what I’m counting on.”

  Epilogue

  One year later…

  The beach wedding Arden had planned for her client had gone off without a hitch on a beautiful July Saturday at The Harbor Light Hotel. Kinsley caught Arden’s eyes and gave her the thumbs-up from across the reception hall to signal that Chef Rick was ready to wheel out the wedding cake. He’d designed it especially by the bride’s request so that it looked as though the entire cake was covered in intricate seashells.

  With Damon’s continued help, business had been steadily increasing throughout the year, and Kinsley was thrilled to see that August was completely booked. She and Damon had even talked about building an addition to the hotel with a small gift shop and spa. Pending board approval, of course. But she had a feeling Damon’s dad wouldn’t deny her request. Joseph St. James was definitely a salty character, but the few times they’d gotten together he seemed pleased with how the hotel was running—and that Damon seemed so happy.

  “Are you okay?” Damon asked, sidling up next to her. He held out a glass of white wine for her.

  “What do you think?” she said with a grin, echoing the first words she’d ever spoken to him, which happened to also be at a wedding. She took the wine from his hand and clinked it with his glass of Scotch.

  “You brought me Chardonnay,” she said, taking a sip.

  “You love Chardonnay.”

  “I know, but I don’t want to ever seem boring to you. Maybe you should have brought me tequila.”

  “Nothing you do, drink, or say is boring, Kinsley. They are all little aspects of you that make you who you are. Unique.” Damon wrapped his arms around her and pressed close. “And for your information, things didn’t pan out so well for me when you drank tequila. I’m hoping tonight I get lucky with you drinking Chardonnay.”

  “You always get lucky. But I think we’re safe to slip away right now if you want to test out your little theory anyway.”

  “I do, but, uh, first,” he said, taking a step back, “I have some good news to tell you.”

  “Ooh, what is it?”

  “I booked another wedding at the hotel today.”

  “You did? That’s fantastic. Oh my gosh, that’s our tenth one this year. Anyone I know?”

  “Yes, you could even say you know this person…intimately.”

  She frowned. “Who?”

  Damon smiled into Kinsley’s eyes. “Me.”

  “You?” She half laughed, shaking her head until she began to understand what he was hinting at. “But…I thought you hated weddings,” she said lamely.

  “I do. Unless it happens to be the right wedding.” Damon reached into his blazer pocket, pulled out a small black box, and removed the ring.

  Her eyes widened at the beautiful cushion-cut diamond ring he held out to her. It had to be at least two carats. She blinked twice, unable to do anything else.

  “Kinsley Roberts, I think I fell for you the moment I saw you standing there in that ugly pink bridesmaid’s dress.”

  She shook her head grimly, wiping a stray tear from her eye. “I knew that dress looked hideous on me.”

  “Don’t interrupt,” he said, placing a finger lightly against her lips. “I think I even fell for you a little more when you thought Magic Mike was a well-known classic movie.”

  She winced. “It could be in certain parts of the world.”

  “Trust me. It’s not.” He smiled. “But I love the fact that you think it could be because you have to be right all the time. And I love how grouchy you are before you have your first sip of coffee.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him. “Um, I hope this proposal gets better.”

  “It does,” he said with a chuckle. Then he went down on one knee. “Because I also happen to love your humor and your dedication to your work and to the community. I love your strength in business that you don’t even realize you have. And that you’re a sucker for fat cats, unpottytrained dogs, and lonely New York bigwigs. But most of all, I love your heart—and that you’ve given something as precious and tender as that to me. And I love you right back, Kinsley. With all of my heart.”

  She gazed down tenderly at the man she loved more than anything. Damon had her heart because he was her heart, her life.

  She sniffed, her breath catching. “Okay. You were right. This proposal did get better. Way better. In fact, it might go down in history as the best proposal ever received.”

  “I doubt that. But overall the proposal is kind of meaningless without the answer I’m waiting to hear.”

  “Oh my gosh, yes!” She laughed, taking the ring and immediately slipping it on her finger. “Yes, of course I’ll marry you. I love you, too. So much.”

  Damon hauled her in tight and kissed her. A wave of emotion rushed over with such strength, she was glad Damon’s arms were supporting her.

  He slowly drew back to look at her. “That’s good, because I’m going to want a short turnaround time on this wedding. But I’m thinking if anyone is up for the task, it’d be you. Unlimited budget this time.”

  “Unlimited?”

  “Within reason. Maybe we should go discuss the details up in my room,” he said, with a devilish gleam in his eyes.

  “Okay, but remember, I’m no pushover when it comes to budgets.”

  He took her hand and kissed it, then led her out of the ballroom. “Don’t worry,” he said, whispering into her ear, “I’m prepared to negotiate all night if I have to.”

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  Acknowledgments

  This book is extra near and dear to my heart because so much of it is based off of my own small beach town, Ocean City, New Jersey. I always tell people it’s very easy to write romance books when you actually live in a romance novel setting! Definitely worth a visit. For more information, please check out: http://www.oceancityvacation.com/

  Thank you to all t
he women in my critique group: The Passionate Critters. They’re there to cheer and console me whenever I’m whiney (which, sad to say, is often). I also want to extend a BIG EXTRA heaping of thanks to Keri Mikulski. You dropped everything to read for me. You are a goddess among authors. And a good friend, too.

  More hugs and kisses to my husband and daughter. You never ever complain when I’m holed up in my office all day and don’t have time to make dinner. That’s love.

  It goes without saying that I need to extend the biggest THANKS and PRAISE evah to “World’s Best Editor,” Stacy Cantor Abrams, and her “No.1 Editor” partner (and phenomenal writer herself), Lydia Sharp. You ladies took a hot mess and turned it into one of my favorite books. I bow before your editing greatness. Thank you.

  And lastly, thank you to my whole team at Entangled Publishing. You’re all a pleasure to work with! I’m so happy to have found such a supportive and professional publisher, and I’m very proud to be among so many talented authors.

  About the Author

  Jennifer Shirk has a bachelor degree in pharmacy—which has in NO WAY at all helped her with her writing career. But she likes to point it out, since it shows romantics-at-heart come in all shapes, sizes, and mind-numbing educations.

  She is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of sweet (and sometimes even funny) romances for Montlake Romance and Entangled Publishing. Her novel, Fiancé by Fate, a 2015 Readers’ Crown Finalist, was an Amazon #1 bestseller for Series Romance. And recently, Wrong Brother, Right Match, won the Sweet Traditional category of the 2017 Golden Quill Contest and became a #1 Amazon bestseller for Holiday Romance and USA Today bestseller.

  She serves on many volunteer boards in her community, but is most proud of her work on the Ocean City Free Public Library Board of Trustees, where she has served as President for over three years. She resides in a beach resort in NJ, and when she’s not involved in all the above, she’s taking care of her most treasured possessions: her husband, daughter, and dog (Sox).