Possessing Liberty (Claimed 1)

Liberty

"What are you working on?" Summer Alessi asks, plopping down in a chair across from my desk. She kicks her shoes off and curls her legs up underneath her, tugging on the hem of her floral Midi-dress to keep it from riding too far up her thighs. As usual, she looks gorgeous with minimal makeup and her red hair hanging in loose waves.

"The networking app," I mutter, blowing my hair out of my face and sitting back to peer at her through bleary eyes. I've been looking at my computer screen for so long I feel like my eyes are starting to cross. "It's driving me crazy. The algorithm is all wrong."

The stupid thing is supposed to match potential donors and volunteers with like-minded charities in their immediate area, but there's a glitch that keeps matching people with charities that don't align with their interests. We can't put it through a hard beta test until we get the algorithm issue fixed.

"Maybe Dominic can take a look at it for you," Summer suggests, referring to her new husband and my boss, Dominic Alessi. "He needs something productive to do. He's driving me crazy."

"Whatever," I say with a smile, not missing the sparkle in her eyes or the way she glows. Ever since Dom finally married her three months ago, she's been walking on cloud nine. "You love it when he's following you around."

Which he does all the time since they found out two weeks ago that she's pregnant. Watching our giant boss chasing her all around the building is hilarious. He's so adorably in love with her and their baby. Seeing them so blissed out makes me so happy for them.

Summer is a sweetheart, and Dom is an incredible boss. I've never had anyone look at me the way Dom looks at her and vice versa. I grew up in foster care and then spent my high school years in an all-girl's boarding school. At twenty-two, I know next to nothing about men or dating. But I know enough to know that Dom is head-over-heels for my best friend. He's been in love with her since the day she started working here. The only one who didn't know it was her, but they're past all that and gloriously happy now. They deserve it.

Summer grins at me, her entire expression lighting up. "I do love it," she admits with a little laugh. "I love everything about him."

"He feels the same about you. Where is he anyway?" I ask, rubbing my temples like that's going to stop the dull ache already prodding at me. I probably need to get my eyes checked but haven't had time to do it.

"In his office. He's meeting with a potential client."

"A nonprofit?"

"I don't think so," Summer says, her brows furrowed. "The client was kind of short on the phone and didn't say much. Just that he needs an app developed and someone recommended us. I tried to explain that we don't really do development for individuals, but he was insistent."

"Weird."

Summer shrugs. "Dominic agreed to see him. I guess he knows him or his brother or something. I don't know. He'll fill me in later. Do you want to get lunch while he's busy? I'm hungry."

"Is it already lunch time?" I glance at the clock on my computer and then curse beneath my breath. It's almost one. I've been at my desk for the last four hours straight. No wonder my head hurts and my eyes are tired.

"If I could hyper-focus like you do, I'd get so much done," Summer says, laughing at me. "You get busy and tune out the entire world."

"It's easy when you've done it as long as I have." I save my work on the program and then grab my wallet and keys out of my desk drawer. Growing up the way I did, I had to learn to tune out the world. It was the only way I ever got anything done over the sounds of the television blaring, the other kids playing, and the foster parents yelling. Once I was accepted into the boarding school, I worked hard to keep my scholarship so I didn't end up bouncing from home to home and school to school through high school. But I don't tell Summer that. I don't want her feeling sorry for me.

She reaches across the desk and squeezes my hand, sympathy welling in her baby blue eyes. She sees through me so easily. Most people don't. To them, I'm the smart, overweight girl who doesn't say much. I prefer it that way. But Summer had me pegged about three minutes after she walked in the door for the first time.

She's my best friend…my only friend, really. I don't get close to many people. But trying not to love Summer is impossible. She's genuine and has a heart the size of Texas.

"You have family now," she says, her voice soft. And then she squeezes my hand and drops the subject. "Can we have burgers? I'm craving fries soaked in ketchup."

"Sounds good to… Maybe not," I mutter when my desk phone lights up. I shoot Summer an apologetic grimace and then grab it. "Liberty Connor."

"Hey, it's Dom. Can you come to my office, please?"

"Now?"

"Yeah. I've got a project for you."

"Um, yeah, sure."

"Thanks."

He hangs up on me.

I frown, replacing the receiver. "Your man needs me in his office," I tell Summer. "Rain check on lunch?"

"Fine, but tell him he owes me French fries," she says, pouting. We both know he'll get them for her. He'd do anything to make her happy. She hops up from her seat, slipping her feet back into her ballet flats. "I'll order us takeout. You want your usual from Andy's?"