Page 97 of Bargain With the Boss

“I’ve just been busy at the other office.”

“You sure that’s the only reason?”

“What else could it be?”

Jude crossed his arms over his chest. “I know I threw you and Sydney together without checking with you. That was my mistake.”

Did Sydney go to him?

But Sydney threw a startled look at Jude, telling me she probably hadn’t been in on this conversation ahead of time.

Gavin came up the hill in a suit. His deep red tie was dripping from his pocket, but the rest of his three piece suit was crisp other than two buttons undone at his neck.

“Hey, X. Thanks for coming.”

“Is this an intervention or something?”

“Do you need one?”

“Sober as a nun.”

Sydney shot me a look.

Not as chaste as a nun, however.

She knew that all too well.

“Personally, the nuns I knew could drink me under the table.” Gavin rocked back on his heels with a grin. “But no, we’re not here to put you through the grinder.” He stepped back and waved us to follow. “All of you need to stop looking so dour. This is a good day.”

“You made it sound so damn ominous in the group text.”

“Think that’s more about you than us.” Gavin skidded down the bottom of the hill and kept the momentum to cross the crumbling parking lot.

So much damn work to do, but at least we actually were allowed to build—fucking finally.

We followed him down. Sydney stumbled on a rock in the hill, and I immediately reached for her. She gripped my arm and leaned against me for a moment, before stepping away. “Sorry.”

“It’s fine.” My voice was little more than gravel.

Jude glanced at me with a frown.

I skipped down the hill the rest of the way, with Jude and Sydney right behind me.

Gavin stopped at his truck and flipped down the tailgate. A burlap lump sat in the center of the truck in a box full of bubble wrap.

“What is that?” Sydney’s asked from behind me.

I stepped aside so she had a better view. “No idea.”

Jude dipped his hands into his pockets, a smile flirting with his lips.

“Care to let us in on the joke?” I asked.

Jude shook his head. “Just wait a minute.”

I sighed folded my arms again.

Gavin flipped the burlap back to reveal a stone.