"You will?" I ask. He nods, turning to look at me. There's only warmth in his eyes. "Yeah. We already have Ace. What's one more dog?" "I'm happy to hear that," Mom says. She stands and brushes off her jeans. "Anyone want some more lemonade? Clive?" My dad looks up at her. "Well, I'll… yes. Yes, I do. I'll come with you. Anthony, another beer?" "I'm good, thank you." "I'll get one for myself, then." He puts a hand on my mother's back and they walk side by side to the house. Cooper and Hera rise from their sprawl and follow them, tails held low. "Well," Anthony says by my side. "That was subtle." I smile. "A guide dog, huh?" He looks down at the puppy in his lap, extracting one arm to wrap it around my shoulders. "They're nicer than a cane." "Cuter, at least." "Softer to pet." I chuckle. "A bit less well-behaved, but I think you'll survive." "So do I," he says. His hand curves around my shoulder. "When do you want to go?" I look down at my watch. It's a little past two. "Soon. In fifteen?" "Sounds good." "Do you know when Tristan and Freddie are driving up?" We've rented adjacent cabins in the Catskills for the weekend and I can't wait to breathe the fresh mountain air. Neither can Ace, though he doesn't know it yet. The last time he met Tristan's son, he received more cuddles and playtime than he knew what to do with. "They've already made it, I think. They wanted to take Joshua hiking this afternoon," Anthony says. I bump his chest with my shoulder, softly, not to jostle the dozing puppy in his lap. "See? Hiking is a perfectly acceptable activity in the Catskills. No life-risking involved." "We're not risking our lives by going white-water rafting." "I can see the headline now. Two of New York's most successful billionaires lost to the waters as grieving girlfriends watch helplessly from the shoreline. New York State mounts huge rescue effort." "That headline is too long," Anthony says. "If you were reading it to me from the Times I'd say they need to hire a new editor." "Anthony," I protest. He laughs, the sound deep and free. "I'll be careful," he says. "Trust me, I don't have a death wish, and Tristan most definitely doesn't. Besides, I have a feeling both you and Freddie will join." "What? This is your bucket list wish, not mine." "Yes," he says, grinning, "but you've never been one to back down from a challenge." I settle against his side. "You know just how to appeal to my pride." "Just as you know how to appeal to mine." He presses a kiss to my head, his hand sliding down my arm. He lifts it up and I gaze down at the diamond Cartier watch on my wrist. "I'm glad you finally accepted wearing this, by the way." "Yes. Means you're getting used to outrageously expensive gifts. Besides, I bought it for you." "You did not buy it for me." "Yes, I did. It was the one thing you looked at in that brochure." "When we were saving the rainforest?" "Yes. Think about it that way," he says. "You wearing that watch is making a real difference in the world." I laugh, unable to help myself at the dryness in his tone. His lip curls and he looks back down at the watch. "Besides," he says, "one day I'll give you something expensive for this finger, right here. The watch is good practice." "Summer," he says. Turns my head up and presses a single kiss to my lips, one that spreads through my chest and warms my heart. "But don't worry. I'll involve you in the process." "Involve me in the process?" "Yes. I think you'd prefer a vintage ring, if I know you as well as I think you do." "You do know me very well," I murmur, looking down at my bare ring finger. "I'd love to wear your ring." He's hinted before, but here it is, spoken out loud. My throat feels thick with emotions. And Anthony knows, because he always does, and presses me closer against him. His lips brush my temple. I look down at the puppy in his lap and wonder how he can make us feel so comfortable, just by being him. "Summer," he murmurs. I press a kiss to his jawline. "It's funny. When you bought Opate, I wasn't too happy about it. I knew you were saving us, but I was afraid you'd change things." "I did change things," he says. "Yes, but for the better." He chuckles. "I had to change it for the better. You gave me no choice." "For the record," he says, brushing a tendril of my hair back, "I wasn't too happy about it either." "You made that clear." "Have I ever told you how I ended up being the Acture partner who ran point on Opate?" "No. Is there a story here?" The puppy in his lap yawns, and he looks down, smiling. "There is, actually. We played poker for it." "You… played poker? The winner got Opate?" He gives me a look. "No," I say, bumping his shoulder with mine. "Don't you dare tell me it was the loser."
"It was, and I lost. We were at Tristan's and the lighting wasn't very good. I mistook the suits."
"I was bitter," he says. "I'll admit that. But the thing is, I might have lost that game, but I still won in the end. Opate is doing better than ever and here I am, sitting with a future guide dog in my lap, and you beside me. I saved Opate, but you saved me."
I can't tear my eyes away. He's never been more handsome to me than he is right now. "You saved yourself," I murmur. "By embracing the future."
"Embracing the future," he echoes. "For however long we have, and whatever comes our way."
Want more Summer and Anthony?
Join my newsletter to read a 6000-word short story told from Summer's perspective. She's happily married to Anthony and they're expecting. Anthony is ecstatic, but he's also a tad overprotective…
***
The story continues
In Say Yes to the Boss, Victor St. Clair is forced to take extreme measures to secure his inheritance.
Like marrying his assistant.
But while Cecilia Myers agrees, it's not out of kindness. No, she has no love for her arrogant, surly, and downright cruel boss.
It's a business deal masquerading as a marriage.
Nothing less, and definitely nothing more.
Right?
Grab Say Yes to the Boss now