Rock Star Billionaire

"No, just something your niece said," I tried to explain, but decided to let it go. "Look, the business is doing well, and that's thanks, in large part, to the job you do down here. I just wanted you to know that you're appreciated and for you to have a place to work where you feel valued."

"Thank you, Jack," she said as her eyes swept around the room and then settled back on me. "I appreciate that."

"My pleasure," I nodded in an attempt to ward off the urge to pull the clip out of her hair and run my fingers through her curls. "They'll be done with it by Monday, so you can have the guys move your stuff over once the furniture is in."

She nodded as she looked around the room and smiled. As I stood still, taking pleasure in her joy, my phone rang.

"I've got to get back upstairs," I said after hanging up. "Can you come up after lunch so we can talk about a few other things?"

She nodded again, and turned and smiled at me. I'd carry it with me the rest of the afternoon.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Leah

"Why did Jack come all the way downstairs to find you?" Riley asked as we sat at my desk eating the reheated burritos I'd packed for lunch. "Shouldn't he just have his secretary call you and tell you whatever it is he wants you to know? That's how they do it at my school."

"He came down to show me my new office," I said. "He just wanted to be nice and give me tour."

"I think he likes you, Leah," she said before taking a bite of her burrito that was so huge she had to chew with her mouth partly open.

"That's disgusting, Riley," I said handing her a napkin. "Cover your mouth so I don't have to look at your half-masticated food."

"Oooh, masticated is a good word to add to my vocabulary list!" she cried as bits of the half-chewed burrito fell on the napkin.

"Riley!" I protested.

"Sorry," she mumbled with her hand over her mouth. "Got excited."

"You're a piece of work, kiddo," I laughed as I took a bite of my own lunch and chewed thoughtfully.

"I think Jack likes you, Leah," Riley repeated once she swallowed.

"How can you tell?" I laughed. "He's my boss. He needs to be nice to me so that I do good work."

"No, that's not it," she said, thoughtfully tapping the side of her soda bottle as she tried to formulate the same thoughts I'd had but had failed to find words to describe. "I think he likes you because he says nice things, and he wants to hang around you."

"That seems like it could be anybody," I pointed out. "There are tons of nice people who say nice things and hang around."

"But they're paid to do it," she said as she pushed the remainder of her lunch around on her plate while she thought out loud. "He doesn't have to pretend like he likes you. He's the boss. Plus, he's a cute boy and you're a cute girl. That's how it always works out."

"You're kidding me, right?" I laughed. "You're suggesting that my boss likes me because he's nice and he's cute?"

"Yes," Riley said impatiently. "Seriously, Leah, what else do you want? That's how it's supposed to work! The cute boys pick the cute girls, and they live happily ever after. Well, unless you’re gay, then the cute boys choose the cute boys and so on."

"I'm not sure what fairytale land you're living in, but okay, we'll go with it," I said, shaking my head as I chuckled. "What are you going to do after lunch?"

"I'm going to finish my math and spelling homework, and then Burt told me I could come watch the guys work in the warehouse if I was quiet and didn't get in their way," she said. "What are you going to do?"

"I have to print out the orders, give them to Burt, and then go up to the office for a meeting," I said as I mentally organized the tasks I needed to complete before the meeting. "Let's work in companionable silence for a while, shall we?"

"What's companionable?" Riley asked, then paused and sighed heavily, "I know, I know. Look it up."

"Good girl!" I laughed as I cleaned up the remains of lunch and tossed everything in the trashcan. "Now, let's work!"

*

"Hey, sugar!" Norma called as I walked into the office. "How's it shaking?"