I shrugged but didn’t respond to that. I was sure the grin on my face was more than enough response for her. Sure enough, she laughed, but mercifully, she let the matter drop.
“How’s working alongside him?” she asked. “Anything weird about that?”
“No, it’s actually been better than I thought it would be,” I told her. We hadn’t really had a chance to chat much over the past two weeks; she’d been running around crazy between the hospital and the kids’ activities, trying to keep things as normal as possible for them. So I realized I hadn’t really told her anything about work since before we had gone public with our relationship.
“There’s definitely some challenges,” I admitted. “Some sidelong looks in the business meetings and that sort of thing. But I think as people realize that I’m still there to do a job, and that I know what I’m doing, they’re actually kind of happy about it. They trust me to care about the business just as much as Daniel does, I guess. Or maybe not quite as much, because everyone knows what a workaholic he can be. But they know I’ve got their best interests at heart even when I’m contradicting Daniel on something.”
“That’s great,” Leanne said. “And it’s not awkward around the office, with the people you actually work with?”
“Nah, they all know Daniel. He keeps himself kind of separate from the rest of them, but they all know him well enough that they know better than to believe the tabloids and all the sensational stories about him. They know he’s a good guy. I think they’re genuinely just happy that he’s finally found someone who doesn’t love him just for his money.”
The words slipped off my tongue so easily, and I expected Leanne to call me out on it. Love. It was the first time I had said it aloud, even to myself. But I didn’t try to take the words back, and even though I could see the corners of Leanne’s mouth twitch with amusement, she didn’t tease me about it now.
“Do you think you’re going to keep working for him long-term?” Leanne asked. “Not because of your relationship but just because I know you can be a little flighty when it comes to jobs. No offense.”
“No, you’re right. I haven’t held down a job for longer than eight months since I graduated, I think. But I do think I’m going to keep at this one. At least for now,” I agreed, nodding my head. “I like the position. It feels like this is the one I’ve been waiting for.” I paused and shrugged. “I don’t know what’s going to happen in the future. Eventually, I still would like to be CEO, and I doubt Daniel is just going to hand the reins of his family company over to me. But at the same time, I feel like there’s a lot for me to learn here at the moment, and I’m eager to see what he can teach me. He knows a lot more about managing expectations and really building rapport with people than I could ever imagine.”
“Yes, he certainly has his charisma,” Leanne said, grinning at me. She dried off her hands as I finished wiping off the last of the dishes. Then, she gave me a hug. “We should be getting home, I’m sorry to say. I wish we could stay for a glass of wine and to chat a little more, but the kids really need to be in bed; it’s a school night. And Matt probably needs to head that way as well. He’s still on some pretty serious painkillers, and they make him a little drowsy.”
“No problem,” I said, giving her a big hug. “And seriously, the offer still stands, even though Matt’s back home now: if there’s anything you need, anything that either Daniel or I could help you with, just let us know. Whether it’s dinner or ferrying the kids around or anything.”
“Thanks,” Leanne said, smiling gratefully. “You guys have been fantastic through all of this. I’m just sorry that this is what it took for us to realize what a great guy you’ve found yourself.”
I waved that away. “Come on, let’s get you guys home,” I told her.
I ended up carrying Layla down the stairs while Daniel followed with Zach in his arms; Leanne supported Matt just in case, much to his grumbled protests that he wasn’t an invalid. But he seemed appreciative as he hugged both me and Daniel. “Thanks for everything, you guys.”
“I’ll call you when everything settles down so we can get lunch or something, Abby,” Leanne added, giving a little wave from the driver’s side of the car.
“Sounds like a plan,” I said.
Daniel wrapped an arm around my waist as we watched them drive off. Then, he steered me back into the building. “I just need to grab my jacket, but I can get out of here if you want,” Daniel said as we went back up the stairs. “Did you guys already finishing cleaning up, though? Because I can also help out with that.”
I laughed and glanced back over my shoulder at him. “If I didn’t know better, I would say it sounds like you don’t want to leave,” I joked.
“Maybe I don’t,” Daniel admitted.
I turned toward him, pulling him into my arms so that I could kiss him. “Then I guess it’s a good thing that I don’t want you to leave,” I breathed against his lips. I could feel his smile more than see it.
I turned away from him and kicked off my shoes. “I am, however, exhausted, and we have early meetings tomorrow morning. Plus, I’ll need you to catch me up on everything you talked to Aaron about. So if you are staying over, it’ll probably be just to sleep. I hope that’s okay?”
Daniel caught me around the waist, resting his chin on my shoulder. “That’s more than okay,” he told me, lightly kissing my neck before releasing me and looking around the place. “But seriously, there’s nothing else that needs to be cleaned up in the kitchen or anywhere? I’m sorry I didn’t help with that, but I was afraid that Matt was going to try to step in, so I figured it was probably better to keep him occupied.”
I laughed. “It’s almost like you know him,” I said. “That’s definitely something he would have tried. So thanks. For that and for everything else. I know Leanne and Matt have already thanked you effusively, but I just want to make sure you know how much all of this has meant to me as well.”
Daniel shook his head. “I’m the one who owes you a thank-you,” he said quietly, looking more serious than I had ever seen him before. “You’re the one who saved me.”
I frowned, not sure what he meant by that. Saved him? I didn’t know what to make of that. But before I could ask, he was kissing me again, his lips soft against mine. I surrendered to the kiss, feeling all my emotions bubble to the surface. I was so tempted to say it, to put words to how I really felt about him. But still, something held me back. The timing just wasn’t right, not yet. Or maybe I was afraid that saying it now would ruin the perfect night we’d already had.
Even though the more time I spent with Daniel, the more convinced I was that he loved me as well. I sure hoped so, anyway.
Daniel smiled at me as he pulled away, and I wondered if I even had to say the words. Leanne had told me that my emotions were clearly written on my face earlier, and I imagined that that was only more the truth now, with Daniel’s body close to mine, his warm arms wrapped around my lower back.
“Let’s go to bed,” he said quietly, before I co
uld decide whether I really wanted to say it now or not.
I nodded and let him lead me into my room.