Love the Boss (Managing the Bosses 4)

"I'd love that. I was just thinking how good a bacon double cheeseburger would be, but I didn't want to have all the calories from it." She smiled and pulled out her wallet. "I'll get this."

"Nope. My turn." He pushed her hand back as she tried to hand the lady her card. "Really. Go get a seat and I'll bring everything over. Coke or something else?”

"Diet Coke for me, please." Jamie smiled and walked to a booth, dropping down and sliding in. There had to be hope that Alex would be able to find some semblance of balance over the next few years. She loved hanging out with his brother, and would hopefully be doing so for years to come, but she had to be honest: she would rather be hanging out with Alex.

She stared out the window and tried to sort her head through things. She was thinking long-term, but demanding he change, or telling him he needed to spend less time at the office, was not going to fly. She loved him for who he was, and his business had been his baby for long before she showed up. She worked with him and could see him all day, so why was she complaining? She snorted quietly as she considered how he made up for dinner absences when they went to bed. He knew how to make love. Damn, that was a talent he knew better than making millions, and he was pretty fantastic at knowing how to make money.

She shifted in her seat, having grown warm at the thoughts running through her head. She missed him, and yet she had been well aware what kind of life she was signing up for with him. She pulled out her phone and sent him a quick text, wanting him to know that she was thinking about him and couldn't wait until he got home that night.

Mark brought the food over and set everything down in front of her before taking his seat.

"So... did you get a chance to talk to Alex about his secretary?" Mark worked to cut one of the burgers in half before sliding some of it over to her.

"A little. He's going to look into it, though I honestly hated to put that on him. Gina's been with him since he started the firm. The look on his face was so damn sad." She picked up a fry and dragged it through the puddle of ketchup between them. "I wish I could make it all go away, but I can't. I'm just trying to not pull anything

else into the drama right now."

"Anything else like what?" He took a big bite of his burger and groaned. "Damn, I love the food here! They have these burger huts back home."

Jamie smiled and handed him a napkin. "You have ketchup on your chin. I love this place too."

"Stop avoiding my question. What else could you bring into the drama? Something’s bothering you. I can tell." He wiped his mouth and watched her intently. “Spill it, Connors. Or I’ll smoosh this ketchup all over your pretty little face.”

She laughed at his fake-menacing face. “Ketchup? Really?”

“Stop avoiding, and answer the damn question,” he growled, holding the little tub of ketchup close to her nose. “Don’t make me use this.”

She moved to the right and held her hands up in mock defense. “Alright, alright, you win! I’ll spill the beans.” She took a bite of her hamburger and savored the delicious taste of fresh tomato, hamburger, bacon, and cheese. So good. She wiped her mouth with a napkin while Mark patiently waited for her. "It’s silly, I know, but maybe you can help convince me I’m being silly because I can’t stop thinking about it.” She inhaled and stared down at that the salty fries, unable to meet Mark’s eyes that were so similar to Alex’s. “I'm still trying to think through why Alex wouldn't have mentioned Annette coming to the office. He had it on Gina’s calendar but he blocked the time off on the joint one he and I share electronically as personal time. If he had told me, then I'd have gotten over it and been mature about it. I think not knowing makes it look… makes it feel like he was hiding something." She nibbled on a fry, wishing like hell that she had a girlfriend to share all of her silly unimportant concerns with. Mark was filling that spot brilliantly, but she knew it wasn't right. Alex wouldn’t appreciate it. Nor would she appreciate if Alex talked to her sister about his problems.

Marked watched her for a moment, as if trying to figure out how best to respond. "Maybe it just wasn't important to him. The meeting with the girl part, not you getting upset or reading something into his meeting. He probably just figured it was going to be quick and painless, and he could just get rid of her. Why upset you over her stopping by when he had every intention of just kicking her ass back out?" Mark lifted his eyebrow and shrugged. "I wouldn't have mentioned it."

"You wouldn’t have?”

He shook his head. “Why stir the pot that doesn’t need it? Annette is nothing to Alex, but her money might mean something to his business."

She nodded. "I hadn't really thought about it like that."

"What else is going on? Talk to Dr. Mark. Let's make you feel better. I know my brother, and I can tell you that he's beyond smitten with you. You shouldn't let anything get in the way of that." Mark took another bite of his burger. “What else is bugging you? Bitch it out, girl. It’s amazing how much better it makes you feel.” He pretended to sway his head and shake it side to side.

Jamie burst out laughing. “You go, sister! Oops, I mean brother.”

“Spill it, girl.”

“Fine!” Jamie settled back into her seat and tried to think of something else that was bugging her. It didn’t take long. "The girl who came by today. She's incredibly cute, and I know I shouldn't be jealous, Mark, but anyone who has a history with someone else is a little unnerving, you know?" She ate another fry and let out a short sigh. “She’s stinkin’ cute. Cheerleader cute. And you know what that means?”

He raised an eyebrow. “What does that mean.”

“She’s probably a gymnast or crazy flexible.”

Mark covered his eyes with one of his large hands. “Really? I’m having this kind of conversation with you?”

“You’re the one who told me to bitch.”

“Okay, okay. I think I know what you mean.” He took a swig of his Coke and frowned as he set it back down. “I think that one’s yours. It tastes like diet crap.” He grinned and switched drinks. "So my ex, Paula, had this old 'friend' who was supposed to just be a neighbor she grew up with. The guy ends up working with her, and she might not have thought too much of him, but, honey, let me tell you... he thought plenty of her. It's rare to have a relationship with the opposite sex as a kid and not have one of you in love with the other. It happens, I guess, but rarely." He snorted.

"What happened with the guy?" Jamie leaned in, more interested in the situation with Paula than her own.

"He got a little touchy-feely with her one night in the office and she whupped him with her purse and called security. The woman is mean. Really mean. At least that’s the story she told me." He made a funny face and shivered. "I'm glad to be out of that old life. She didn't scare me, of course, but she's just mean- spirited."