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But Jeremy glanced from me to his dad and said, "It doesn't matter, Dad, I like being with you."
Duncan ruffled his hair, looking more relaxed than I’d ever seen him. Then he snapped his head up, staring over Jeremy’s head.
"Chase," Duncan said, and I straightened up instantly. I had no idea how near Chase was, but my body was already buzzing, anticipating his closeness. A few seconds later, I heard his footsteps, then felt the heat of his body next to me.
"Jeremy, I didn’t know you were here already.” He pulled his nephew into a hug, and I completely melted.
Oh, be still my beating heart.
"Hi, Uncle Chase," Jeremy greeted him.
“Hey! Want me to lift you up in my arms?”
Jeremy squinted. “You can’t. There are people watching.”
“All right.”
My God, they're cute.
"This is ‘visit your dad's workplace day,’ huh?" he asked.
"Yes,” Jeremy confirmed.
“I already managed to bore him,” I told Chase.
"Are Uncle Finn and Uncle Knox coming too?" Jeremy asked.
Duncan shook his head. "I already told you, buddy, I don't think they'll be here today."
Jeremy pouted, then turned to Chase. "Uncle Chase, can I come to your office after Dad gives me a tour?"
"Sure. But I'm only here until five. Then I have a meeting outside the office."
Duncan cocked a brow. "There's nothing on your calendar."
"It's a personal matter."
Duncan was frowning now.
Jeremy grabbed Duncan's hand. "Dad, come on, let's start the tour. I want hot chocolate. Do you have hot chocolate?"
"I'll find you something," Duncan said. "See you two around."
The second he left, I realized the break room was empty. I was alone with Chase, and my heart rate accelerated.
"He's so cute, but I totally did not sell him on a broker's job," I said. "I started talking about numbers and reports, and the poor guy didn’t know what hit him."
"He likes you."
"How do you know?"
"Because he usually doesn’t talk that much in front of strangers.”
That was probably typical of most young kids. “Well, I like him too. But if he ever comes around here again, I'd love a heads-up, and then I can think about a way to make all of this seem cool to him."
Chase looked at me with an incredulous expression, then smiled. "Why not? I mean, we haven't managed to impress him yet, but you might be able to pull it off.”
“Do you see Jeremy often?"