Page 120 of Bargain With the Boss

“I guess we’ll see about that.” I turned to leave, my hand locked with Xavier’s.

“You’ll come crawling back to me,” she called after us.

“Think Max wants my shares too?” I asked as we got to the outer office. “Pretty sure she’d go apoplectic if he owned 20 percent of her company.”

Xavier laughed. “He just might.”

Judy stood and came around her desk to hug me. “I heard everything.”

Startled, I dropped Xavier’s hand to hug her back. “Good thing no one else is on this floor.”

Judy laughed and pitched her voice low. “I’m so proud of you.”

My eyes stung. “Thanks. I’ll miss you.”

“Me too.”

“Judy!” my mother bellowed.

She stiffened in my arms, holding on for another moment before easing back. “Go on. I’ll deal with her.”

I let her go and rushed out of the room to the elevators. I pulled him in after me and threw my arms around him. “I can’t believe you.”

“You were majestic,” he said against my lips. Then he was kissing me.

My head spun and my heart tried to catch up.

“Wait,” I said and pushed him back.

“What?” He drew me back in and I didn’t mean to fall back into kissing him, but his scent and the loneliness of the last few days made me greedy.

He tasted so damn good. And he was here.

He’d flown all the way to Seattle to see me. To help me.

“Too much thinking, not enough kissing.”

“Sorry. I’m still reeling.” I pressed my forehead to his chin. “You came. I thought you hated me.”

“I don’t hate you, Syd. Far from it.”

“Did you really go to Max?” I eased back so I could pull myself together. “And were you serious about my team?”

“Yes to both. Jude gave me the idea when he mentioned that he offered to give you his shares.”

“He didn’t mean it.”

“He did. It may sound harsh, but he’s more than ready to leave Seattle behind.”

“And me,” I said quietly.

“No. God, no. Even if you stayed here, it wouldn’t be about you. It’s about what makes him happy, and he wants you to have the same thing.” He laughed as he lowered his mouth to mine again. This time the kiss was sweeter and softer. “He even mostly gave his blessing. In between a few threats.”

“My brother?”

“Yes. So many threats. And I am definitely not good enough for you, Duchess. But I am willing to make every effort to get there.”

The elevator opened and the sound of a clearing throat made me jump away from him. I whirled around to see Pete grinning. “One of the people I wanted to see.”