Page 64 of Bargain With the Boss

“Not for everyone, but my sister definitely had a rough first few months. After that she was practically a goddess. Everyone was drawn to her. Even our parents. It took some work, but my mother is trying. Luna having the first grandchild definitely pushed her to be more open.”

I tried to picture my mother cooing over a child.

It wouldn’t come.

“I was asking about Jude and you have me talking about Luna again.”

I shrugged. “I wish there were stories to tell. Jude was a serious, studious boy. Our—myfather was hard on him. Always wanting him to be smarter or more athletic or more...anything.” I swallowed against the emotion. “Makes sense now that we know Jude has Hamilton blood in him.”

“Blood? That’s so formal.”

“So was my house. Love was conditional or transactional.”

The waiter came back with the wine and an appetizer, breaking the confessional between us.

“Did you have time to look over the menu?”

I hadn’t even lifted it. “Do you have a fish special?”

The young man with a faux-hawk smiled. “Actually, it’s my favorite dish today. Honey garlic salmon with fresh green beans from our own gardens. We have a creamy rice side, new potatoes, or salad if you’d rather.”

“The rice sounds nice. I’ll have the salmon.”

“Perfect. How about you, Xavier?”

“I’ll have the filet with coconut shrimp and a salad with the house vinaigrette.”

“You got it.”

“Thanks, Theo.” He smiled and handed over our menus.

When he left, Xavier slipped a tomato laden baguette slice onto a small plate for me and then himself. “I don’t know about you, but I worked up an appetite.”

My face went hot as I remembered the moment on the vista.

I looked at my watch for the first time in hours, realizing it was far more than a moment. I took a sip from my glass, the crisp white wine didn’t help.

When I glanced at him, the smile reminded me of the first time I met Xavier.

The shock of the news of Jude’s impending fatherhood—again—and Maddie had left me off-balance and reeling. Then there was this cocky man with curly hair standing in the kitchen. He looked like he’d stepped right off the pages of GQ.

My brother was literally slipping away from me, and Xavier thought I could be charmed by him.

Right now, he had the same smile. Like he had a secret.

Except it was me with the real secret.

“Excuse me.” I placed my napkin on the table and grabbed my wristlet. “I need to run to the ladies’ room.”

He stood and I could feel his eyes on my back as I rushed inside.

I knew it was abrupt, but I needed a second to catch my breath.

I was stupid to go out with Xavier. I should make my excuses to go back to my suite.

If I was really smart I should just go back to Seattle and try to change my mother’s mind. Maybe if I worked harder, she could leave Jude alone to his happiness. He could come back long enough to make it look like we were a happy family for the merger then be free.

Thinking back to our childhood made it all so much worse.