Of all the harebrained things Sienna has done, this one surprises me the most.

She told her family I was her boyfriend?

When?

And what exactly did she say?

And most importantly, how long until we can be alone so I can ask her those questions instead of letting them just roll around ominously in my head?

Until we have a minute to ourselves, I’ll go with whatever they say. Jake? Sure, I can be Jake. I used to go by that back in college.

When I was Sienna’s age. A familiar guilty pang spikes deep inside me, reminding me that I’m not only her employer, but I’m also a decade older than her. The inappropriate feelings that have fuelled my cross-country chase need to be tamped down, especially because now she’s gone and done her usual reckless thing, and thrown us into unnecessary trouble.

But before I can ask to speak to her alone, we’re inside the luxury house I tracked my supposedly impoverished assistant to. A woman who is clearly her mother claps her hands together and croons, “Is this Jake? Oh, isn’t that sweet! You surprised Sienna by coming after all?”

If only she knew the truth. Because borderline stalking someone to her family vacation isn’t romantic.

It’s unhinged, even I know that, and I did it. Because I had to.

“He didn’t want to be apart from her for the holidays!” That’s Sienna’s sister, who is still clinging to my arm.

She’s not wrong.

Her father chimes in next. “And it’s nice to see someone really care about her, especially after her misguided crush on her asshole boss—”

“Dad!” Sienna gasps.

My gaze snaps to her face.

Time stops as her cheeks fill with color.

I can feel her entire family watching us, and despite my misgivings about the impulsive tendencies of my young assistant, I will not embarrass her further.

So I do my best impression of one of the haughty dukes she loves to read about so much, and give them all a casual, cooly confident look, shrugging like it’s no big deal that they seem to know she’s had a crush on one man while—or just before?—dating another man.

Both of whom are me, I’m gathering.

“That’s old news,” I say dismissively to them, while giving Sienna a look that says asshole boss? Really?

“Definitely didn’t want to think about him this holiday,” she snaps. Go away, her glare demands.

My eyes harden, because no fucking way am I taking bossy demands from the spoiled princess who has gotten us into this mess. Not after the day I’ve had. “I know you don’t like to think about him anymore.”

But I’m not going anywhere, I wordlessly add.

Her father chortles. “Then I shouldn’t have brought him up. Sorry about that. Well, come in, son.”