Page 11 of Bargain With the Boss

“Do you want to see the office first?”

I turned to Xavier. “What else did you have in mind?”

“We could have some lunch and look over the blueprints. I have my laptop in my car.”

Did I really want to spend an extended amount of time with this man? But if I got a look at where they were in the build of this project, maybe I could find a way to push them in the wrong direction.

Again, my chest ached as I looked over the crumbling parking lot and the killer view. Where I would demolish the old building, I definitely saw the appeal of the water. The entire town was picturesque in a way that Seattle didn’t own. Oh, it was gorgeous, but it had a different...vibe.

There was really no other word for it. Crescent Cove practically had a stamp over it that saidFamily Values.

“Or we can go for the food trucks over by the water. Unless that’s too pedestrian for you.”

I glanced back at him. “Could there be a taco involved?”

He gave a delighted laugh. “Why yes there is. Damn good ones.”

I nodded. “Then, yes please.”

“No good tacos in Seattle?”

I shrugged. “There are, but I prefer Asian cuisine in the area I live.”

“Lived.”

I swallowed. Part of me wondered what it would be like to move away from my mother. From the business that had defined me for over two decades. I pushed those thoughts back. Even if I wanted to leave the company, I couldn’t leave my team high and dry. “For now.”

He gestured around to the crumbling blacktop and the dumpsters full of decaying shingles. “What? This isn’t your dream place to live?”

I lifted a shoulder. “Crescent Cove is very different from Seattle.”

“Well, when you see the plans for the Lakeview Terrace apartments you might just be amazed.”

“That remains to be seen.”

“Do you want to walk to the trucks?” His gaze skimmed down to my feet. “Never mind. We can take my car.”

“No, it’s a nice day. I like the lake breeze.”

“In those?”

I glanced down at my Louboutins. “I can run a mile in these if necessary.”

“Good to know.” He nodded to the sports car at the top of the drive. “You can drop your...bag.”

“I’m good.”

“After you, then.”

I pulled out a pair of ballet flats and quickly swapped shoes, then climbed the incline to the path. I could feel his eyes on me. It unnerved me enough that I turned and folded my arms.

There was a level of annoyance riding me, but the worst part was the fact that I didn’t hate the way he looked at me.

Unrepentant, he grinned and stopped at his car. He reached inside, coming out with a slim computer. “You’re something, Syd.”

“Sydney,” I corrected. “And stop staring at my ass.”

“Sorry.”