Married to my Grumpy Minotaur Boss: a steamy monster office romance (Grumpy Monster Bosses Book 1)

TWENTY SEVEN

Ronan

“Mr. Kernos?”

“Hmm?” I’m jolted out of my highly inappropriate train of thought and I snap my attention back to the presentation on the screen.

Joseph, my head of marketing, looks a little crestfallen, but he pushes on despite my lack of attention. After another five minutes, I stop him, swiping a hand over my face. “Look, I’m sorry, Joe. I’m having trouble concentrating today. Migraine coming on. How about you send me the files and I’ll go over it all again tomorrow and we can meet again on Tuesday?”

“Oh. Sure. Sorry, Mr. Kernos.”

“It wasn’t your presentation, Joe. I have to admit I’m a little on edge, what with all the upheaval.” I jerk my head at the film crew who have been trailing me all day, relentlessly filming every time I sneeze. I made them wait outside the door for this meeting, since the content is sensitive. Even so, they’re filming through the glass.

Joseph smiles. “Ah, Married for a Day. How’s it going?”

I shrug. “Much as I expected.” Except it’s not. It’s both better and worse. Better because I can’t keep my mind off what an unexpected pleasure it’s been. Worse because, well...because I can’t keep my mind off it.

I like it too much.

That’s dangerous.

Joseph gives me a sympathetic look. “Not long now, sir. Things will get back to normal.”

I grimace. I’d rather not admit that’s what I’m most afraid of.

As I leave the meeting, I flick on my phone for the hundredth time, hoping for a message from Justine.

Nothing.

Stupid. Only, I can’t help wondering if she ended up attending the book launch and if it made her half so excited as it seemed it might this morning. That would be a sight to see.

Surreptitiously, I glance at the time on my computer screen. 3:45 pm. I could make it if I leave now.

Given the conversation we need to have tonight, I really ought to make sure she’s having a good time. I tell myself this a few more times just to be sure. It’s definitely not because I’d rather watch her enjoy her afternoon at the bookshop than do my work.

I only have twelve unanswered emails and no other meetings on the schedule for today. On impulse, I lock my screen and stand again so quickly the leather seat is probably still cool.

Sanjiv, one of my producers, rushes into the office flapping some paper at me. “Mr. Kernos. I’m glad I caught you!”

“Not now, Sanjiv, I’m about to head out for an appointment.”

“Oh. Sorry, sir. Can I come by later, then?”

I fix him with a look that brooks no opposition. “No. If it’s urgent, either put it in an email, or go find your direct supervisor and ask them. Otherwise make a meeting with me in the morning.”

Sanjiv’s eyes go wide. I don’t think I’ve ever turned down or redirected an urgent meeting in my life, so I understand why. I’ve certainly never left the office before 5 pm.

“Ah, yes, sir.”

I walk out without waiting for Sanjiv to leave my office, already messaging my driver.

Ronan: Get me to Hurst’s flagship store on Park St ASAP

My town car pulls up at the curb only seconds after I exit the building. I smile and slide into the back seat. I can’t wait to see Justine’s face before she knows I’m watching.

Justine’s expression is a look of rapt wonder as the author—whose mousy brown hair and frilly white shirt are all I can see of her—reads from a chapter of her new book. I managed to sneak in unnoticed just as I intended. I even evaded the film crew, leaving them in my dust back at Bullseye HQ. Which means I now have several missed calls and angry messages on my phone. Better yet, the crew filming Justine were apparently told they couldn’t film the reading and they’ve been forced to wait outside. I give them a wave and a grin as I slip past them, into the bookshop, flashing the message with my ticket at the guy on the door.

“...Dangerfield slid a strong hand up Emily’s thigh and she shuddered,” Ms. Hargroves reads.

“Oh, your grace, someone might see!”

“And if they do, Emily? What might they see?”

“Y-your hand on my unmentionables,” said Emily, her voice trembling.

Lord Dangerfield only smiled. “Only your unmentionables, Emily? I was hoping to do something far, far more scandalous than that.”

I know that flushed cheek look Justine has on her face. She’s sitting at the back of five rows of rapt fans. She’s biting her lip. My nostrils flare, trying to pick up the rich heady aroma of Justine’s arousal even across the room full of people. My tail flicks against my leg.

Yes, this was definitely a very, very good idea. I congratulate myself again for getting her the ticket to this reading. Am I the worst sort of bastard for harboring the sneaking suspicion I will reap the rewards tonight when we’re alone?

Her eyes dart across the room and I know the exact moment she spots me. Her cheeks grow just a little more flushed and her tongue slicks out to wet her pink lips.

I am in no control of the wicked grin that tugs at the corners of my mouth. I jerk my head to indicate she should join me where I’m skulking around in the self help section of the bookstore rather than interrupting the reading.

Justine hesitates, but after only a second, she gets up from her seat in the back row and quietly makes her way across the room to me.

At the lectern, Ms. Hargroves continues. “Oh, your grace. We shouldn’t! But oh, please don’t stop.”

Justine is full of shy smiles as she approaches. “What are you doing here? I mean, I didn’t think you’d leave work for another few hours. Not that I didn’t want you to. I mean...hello.” She trails off with a giggle and she doesn’t need to finish the sentence. Sounds like she’s as eager to see me again as I was to see her. Which is honestly a relief.

The way I’ve been feeling all day, it’s good to know I’m not alone, even if it is a little unhinged.

“Hello. Of course, I came. How could I miss seeing you light up at this dirty story?” I grin. “I didn’t know people were allowed to read stuff like this out loud in a public place! Surely it’s against the law.”

“It’s not against the—” She scowls. “Oh! You’re teasing me. Well, anyway, I don’t think this part is that bad. You should read the—” She claps a hand over her mouth.

“Oh, do go on.”

She looks up at me beneath fluttering lashes. “Well I was going to say you should read the later chapters of Ms. Hargroves’ books. They’re positively rude, but I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t shock you.”

“Is that right?”

She nods.

“And why is that, Justine?”

She squirms in place so much I wish I could push up her skirt and feel for myself just how much she’s been enjoying the reading. What on earth has gotten into me?

“Because you, um... you’re like a character from one of her novels yourself.”

This makes me grin. “Oh! As good as a fictional man, hmm?”

“Oh, no!”

Irritatingly, applause from the audience makes Justine hesitant to continue. Right when I so desperately want her to. In the silence after the reading as listeners stand, Justine leans close and lowers her voice. “It’s just that, up until you, I thought no guy could ever be better than fiction...”

“Better?” I quirk a brow.

She nods. “Yes.” Her chest rapidly rises and falls.

Her words cast some kind of spell over me. Why on earth should I care if she thinks I’m better than her wildest fantasies? Only I do. I very much do. “And now?”

Without realizing I’ve done it, I must have taken a step closer. We’re standing chest to chest in the narrow aisle.

We look at each other for a beat longer.

An announcement makes her jump. “Ms. Hargroves will be signing copies of the book now with personalized messages, so if you could make an orderly line to my right, we’ll get started.”

Justine’s eyes take on this glassy, far off look, and I know I’ve lost her—for now.

Tonight, I’m damn sure going to bring this topic of conversation up again because I suddenly feel an urgent need to test out every single fantasy of hers and make dead certain I supersede them all. Tonight! Every. Single. One. We only have a limited window of time after all. I have to make the most of it.

“Go,” I whisper.

She gives me a grateful smile and dashes off to join the line.

My phone buzzes in my pocket and I fish it out with a groan rather than watch her go like a besotted idiot.

“What?”

Amy coughs on the other end of the line. “Uh, sir. Have you had second thoughts about filming this week?”

I sigh. “No. I had something urgent I needed to attend to. We can continue filming now.”

“Oh, good. Because the crew has lined up the family dinner for tonight, and I was just wondering if you’d like to host it at your apartment, or if you’d prefer me to book a restaurant?”

My jaw drops open. “The what?”

“The family dinner, Mr. Kernos. It’s home stay week tradition. Each spouse’s closest family attend a dinner together, so everyone can meet. I’m sure we ran through the itinerary this morning.”

I’m sure I didn’t pay any attention beyond wondering if Justine likes pancakes and book signings. “Fine.”

Once Amy hangs up, I swear it’s not even five seconds before my phone buzzes again with a message from my mother.

Mom: Ronan! Why didn’t you tell me you were looking for a girl? I could have fixed you up with someone easily! Not that I’m not happy for you. I am. Ecstatically. I’m sure I’ll love her!!!

I groan. I can already tell from the number of exclamation points Mom is going to be all in on this. I should have told her about my little stunt before the show started filming about my little stunt. I should have known she’d get her hopes up. And when she meets Justine, I know she’ll love her. Because how could she not?

Rubbing at the base of my horns, I sigh. This situation is quickly getting out of hand. I already feel the lines between reality and fantasy blurring. I’m going to have to find a way to have a quiet word with Mom and explain things.

That’s going to be delicate, though. The last thing I need is another lecture about how the clock is ticking. It’s an operation best performed face to face.