I waved at her, not looking up from the book that was open on my lap. “Not the first time I’m doing this. Go. We’ll be fine. And I’ll call if anything happens. Which it won’t.”
“Good night, baby,” she called as she walked out the door not waiting for a response. Luca was already lost in the book.
I squeezed him to my side until he started to protest. I wasn’t kidding when I said there was nowhere else I’d rather be. “One book, then you’ll have to put your pj’s on, okay?”
“Two books,” he bargained, knowing full well I’d agree.
“Fine. But no complaining when it’s time to get dressed.”
He held out his hand and we high-fived on it. Eight books later he was putting on his pj’s.
I rushed into the office, trying to wrangle my thick hair into a ponytail. The chair groaned when I dumped myself on it, and I exhaled in relief at sitting down.
I ended up staying at Nora’s last night. She didn’t get home until four, and I took the kids out for an early breakfast to let her sleep in until seven. She’d be able to get a nap in the afternoon when the kids were taking theirs; I didn’t know how she survived on such little sleep.
“You have a stain on your shirt.”
My body jolted at the voice, and I nearly ended up on the floor. Mason was sitting on the couch near the front door, looking like a king holding court. Why he wasn’t in the garage doing his mechanic thing was anyone’s guess.
I followed his gaze that was currently locked on the front of my T-shirt. “Shit, I mean shoot, I mean how did that get there?”
“Looks like spew.”
I pulled the fabric up to smell the stain on my chest. “Huh, I guess it is.”
“Big night?”
“What? No! It’s not mine.”
“Right. I don’t really care if you got drunk or not.”
“It wasn’t me. It’s the baby’s.”
His stupid, Greek marble-statue face didn’t move a muscle, which, of course, meant I was getting more flustered.
“Not that the baby was drunk. Or me. But she spewed up after her bottle.”
There was a slight tick in his cheek. “Since when do you have a kid?”
“It’s my friend’s. I babysit for her sometimes.”
His face turned into a beautifully annoying marble statue again. “Right.”
I fought very hard to contain the eye roll that threatened to break free. “Anyway, I should get to work. Wouldn’t want to get in trouble on my second day.”
“Did you place my orders?”
This time I lost my fight against the urge to roll my eyes. “Yes. Just like I told you I would.”
Mason leaned forward and pointed at my screen. “What’s wrong with the computer?”
I glanced at the spreadsheet on steroids he was currently looking at and sighed. “I don’t know. Either Willa really likes neon green lines or the screen is broken.”
“Have you tried turning it off and on?”
“Have you tried not making useless suggestions?” I asked, my voice sugary sweet.
“Already sick of working and trying to get fired, princess?” he asked, his tone condescending.
I lifted my chin and channeled my inner ice-queen. It always paid to have her handy. “You know nothing about me. Just because you think I’m a spoiled little rich girl does not mean you get to judge me. Now if you would kindly remove yourself from my office so I can get to work, I would appreciate it.”
“Willa said you knew how to use a computer. If that’s not the case, I can provide pen and paper.”
He left before I could throw a pen at him. Or a paperweight.
The ringing phone provided a much-needed distraction. While I was talking to the customer, I pulled my shirt off and tried to get the stain out with a wet wipe I found in my bag.
While I had the receiver between my ear and shoulder, Landon opened my door. “Well hell, I’ve got great timing.” He looked at the ceiling and grinned. “Thank you to the higher power who led me here at the exact right time.”
I jumped at his voice and covered my front as best as I could with the shirt. I was wearing a red lace bra that I hoped he didn’t get a good look at. “No problem, you’re booked in for Friday at three. We’ll see you then,” I said into the phone.
I hung up and made sure my top covered the front of my body. “Doesn’t anyone around here knock?”
He was standing in front of my desk, a big grin on his face, showing me his dimple. His hair was a mess today, the curls sticking up in all directions.
“What do you want?” I asked.
“You gotta work on your customer service skills, chicklet. How about you offer me a donut?”
“I’m not wearing a top,” I deadpanned.
He sat down on the chair in front of the desk and waggled his brows at me. “I know.”
I tried to look stern but a smile slipped through. “I guess it’s my own fault for doing this in the office instead of the bathroom. Should have just let the phone ring.”
“Hey now, I’m not complaining,” he teased.
I chucked a pen at him, not liking where this was going. “What do you want?”
“Would you, pretty please, get us donuts from Sweet Dreams? Or their cupcakes. No wait, that’s Willa’s thing. I don’t want her to think we replaced her. How about their vanilla slice? And brownies. They are amazing.”
I sighed and rubbed my tired eyes. Guess I wasn’t going to get much done this morning. “Fine. But only if you do something for me in return.”
He sat up straighter and fluttered his eyelashes. “But, darling, I’m not that kind of man. And besides, I’m not allowed to touch you. Boss’s orders.”
“No, not that kind of favor. And tell Jameson I can look
