Ice Queen Boss

Hunter unlocked the front door to his apartment, the weight of the long workday pressing down on his shoulders.

His mind was still replaying the sound of Ivy's laughter from their call earlier. He hadn't been able to stop thinking about her all day—the way her voice softened when she spoke to him, the way she'd blushed after receiving the flowers. She was special. Different.

But his good mood quickly shifted when he got into his house and noticed Derek lounging on his couch, legs kicked up on the coffee table as if he owned the place.

"Derek?" Hunter asked, eyebrows raised. "What are you doing here?" he asked regretting why he let Derek know his password.

Derek grinned, holding up a half-eaten bag of chips like it was an invitation. "What? A guy can't drop by and check on his friend? Thought you might be drowning in trying to make new recipes—or better yet, making moves on your Ice Queen boss."

Hunter's jaw tightened. "Don't call her that."