Employed by the Boss (Managing the Bosses 7)

“You know,” Alex said, like he hadn’t just turned her insides to jelly. “When Zander hired Miss Eriksson I thought I was going to be disappointed, but she’s actually doing very well.”

The words were like a bucket of cold water over her head. Jamie straightened up, jaw tight. “You like her, then?”

“She’s adequate,” Alex said, pulling out the pot pie Murry had left in the fridge and starting the oven. “There are things that I think she could do better; you do them better. But overall she’s an asset to the company. And Zander is very happy with her.”

It eased Jamie a little bit to hear that Alex wasn’t singing Miss Eriksson’s praises, but it didn’t stop the worry entirely. “I met her when I dropped those papers off at your office the other day,” she said.

“Did you?” Alex looked up at her. “What did you think?”

“She was nice,” Jamie said. “She was very attractive. Very.”

Alex was back at her side in an instant, wrapping her up in his arms. “You’re jealous?” he asked, like it wasn’t really a question. He already knew the answer.

Jamie nodded against his shoulder. “She’s crazy pretty. And you do have a thing for secretaries.”

“Only one secretary. Don’t be jealous,” Alex said. His fingers tipped her chin up so that he could meet her eyes. “First, because there’s absolutely nothing she has that you don’t. You’re gorgeous. And you’re a killer PA. No one can do what you do. Everyone that ever tries to measure up to you is going to fail.”

Jamie held tight to the words, and to Alex. She’d felt less than sexy since the twins were born, despite having taken up her exercise routine again after Briana started working for them. Her mother’s visit hadn’t helped things. It felt good to hear Alex say that she was gorgeous.

“And secondly,” Alex said, still meeting her eyes, “even if I didn’t already have the perfect wife, she’s completely off the option list.”

Jamie’s eyebrows drew together. “What’s that mean?”

Alex laughed. “It means, baby, that even if I was interested in her—and why would I be when I’ve got you—she’s not even remotely interested in me. Or Zander. Or anyone who isn’t a woman.”

“What?” Jamie stared at him. “Seriously?”

“Seriously,” Alex said. “Zander was heartbroken when he found out.”

“Poor Zander,” Jamie said, but she burst out laughing, ridiculously relieved. “I bet he was really hoping he’d get a repeat of our love story.”

“I’ll bet he was,” Alex agreed. “Sadly, he chose the wrong woman to attempt to recr

eate it with.”

The oven dinged, and Alex stepped away to slid the pot pie in to heat. “Are the twins in the nursery with Briana?”

“Outside. They should be back in soon, though.”

“Or we could go out and get them,” Alex said. He didn’t wait for Jamie’s answer, just headed in the direction of the back door, and Jamie followed. Briana, a small, dark-haired young woman with a perpetually sunny smile, was sitting in the grass on a blanket, the twins beside her. Alex crossed the yard in a few long strides and swept a giggling Benton up into his arms. “Good afternoon, you,” he said as he lifted him. “Having fun?”

Benton, of course, didn’t have much to say, but he squealed happily, and Alex laughed.

“Guess that’s a yes.” He handed Benton over to Jamie, and picked up Lilliana the same way, greeting her with, “Hey there, little girl. Daddy missed you.”

Lilliana made a valiant and failed attempt to grab Alex’s nose in her chubby fist, and Jamie laughed.

“I think she missed you, too.” She looked down at the girl still sitting cross-legged on the blanket. “How are you, Briana?”

“Doing great, Mrs. Reid. They were having quite the time out here.”

“Good,” Jamie said. “Why don’t you come in and join us for dinner? There’s enough pot pie to go around.”

Briana gathered up the blanket, toys inside it, and followed Jamie and Alex toward the house. Alex was bouncing Lilliana as he walked, looking down at her with complete adoration on his handsome face, and Jamie wasn’t sure she’d ever been so in love with him as she was in that moment.

“You’ve got a great daddy,” she told Benton in a whisper. “He loves you both so much. And so do I.” She felt overflowing with it, like she was filling up with golden light until she might burst with it, her heart was so full.

How had she ever gotten so lucky?