Page 55 of Bargain With the Boss

He took my hand and pulled me toward the large doors. “Let’s get you into one of those sundresses and I’ll show you my favorite place in the Cove.”

“Don’t you have work today?”

He pulled his phone out of his pocket and waggled it. “Have phone will work. Besides, it’s Friday.”

“I am aware.”

“Time to act like it.” He pulled me down the stairs and the quick burst of excitement unnerved me.

But the orders I was under rankled, and I just wanted a day where I didn’t have to think about FHK or A Home You Love. A few hours where I was just a woman with an attractive man.

His Porsche was in a close spot—the top already down, of course.

He stopped at the passenger side and flicked open the button of my suit jacket. “This has gotta go.”

My breath hitched at the feel of his fingers against the silk of my shirt. He stayed in front of me an extra few seconds before opening the door for me.

“In you go.”

I shrugged out of my jacket. I grabbed my sunglasses out of my purse and put them on. Before I could stow my bag, Xavier took it and my jacket and put it in the trunk.

“Don’t need your phone or anything in there.”

I sighed and got in. He came back around and closed my door before jogging around to the driver side. It wasn’t like he was the first man to hold a door for me, but more often than not the men I’d dated were aware I was an independent woman and acted accordingly.

I rarely let anyone take care of me.

Moreover, no one jumped to do so either.

Pushing away the annoying thoughts I lifted my face to the sun and the wind as Xavier pulled into traffic. There was more foot than car traffic since it was so beautiful. The town hall was on the far edge of Main Street near the library. As we passed the park, the sun glinted off the lake.

A perfect summer day.

“Memorial Day weekend, the park will be full of vendors.”

I glanced over at him. “You mentioned that briefly before. What kind?”

“Food mostly. A good bit of wares in there too. Between A Place For All and the park, I think it’ll be bringing in more people this summer.”

After my visit with Claire, I’d done some research about the vendor space that had been added to the large candy store on theother end of Main Street. It was closer to Lakeview Terrace than the park and would have some like-minded shoppers for FHK’s target demographic.

Another point in favor of their project.

Guilt pricked at me because I saw such promise in my brother’s company.

It made me want to dig in and put my own stamp on things.

But I had people who depended on me.

He slowed to a stop outside the Sherman Inn. He jumped out when the valet came forward and swapped places with Xavier.

“Hi, Jerry. Don’t bury her we’ll be back out to leave in less than an hour.”

The valet nodded. “No problem, Mr. Hastings.”

He came around to my side and opened my door. I let him help me out of the low slung car. “Do you know everyone in this town? Or do you use the inn often?”

Xavier grinned. “Which answer would piss you off more?”