Page 12 of Boss of Attraction

Our bags could wait, but a drink with the president couldn’t.

“Just the usual: too many cases, not enough hours.” I took a sip of the whisky he handed me, relishing the smooth burn that washed away the stress of the week.

“I remember those days.” Patrick led us to the living room adorned with nautical decor.

While their house hadn’t changed much over the past few years, it definitely had a different vibe now that Patrick was the president. Still, I’d been around the agents enough that eventually they blurred into the background and things didn’t feel awkward.

Mary placed a meat and cheese tray on the coffee table and sat beside her husband on the couch. While reminiscing about the years Patrick and I worked together, we heard a car pull up.

“The boys must be here,” Mary announced, a grin spreading across her face.

A minute later, Patrick and Mary’s son, Fallon, and his fiancé, Rhett, walked in. Once hugs and greetings had been exchanged, they sat as well.

“Glad you guys could make it.” Patrick took a drink of his whisky.

Fallon smiled. “Me too. It feels like forever since we’ve come to the Cape.”

Rhett nodded in agreement. “Yeah, it’s nice to take a break from the city and enjoy some fresh air.”

“How’s my little princess doing?” Mary asked.

Rhett’s face lit up at the mention of his daughter. “She’s good. Unfortunately, her mother had already planned to visit her parents. Otherwise, we would have brought her with us.”

It still seemed strange that the little boy I once knew was now old enough to marry a man with a child. And from what Patrick and Mary had told me, it sounded like Fallon was a natural with her. That didn’t surprise me. Whenever Fallon set his mind on something, he put all his energy into it. I was sure being a stepparent would be the same for him.

I turned to Fallon. “So, how’s the job going?”

He grabbed a piece of cheese and a cracker from the charcuterie board before answering, “So far, so good. I’m learning a lot, and I think the Brighton Law Group is a really good fit for me.”

I nodded. “Well, they’re lucky to have you.”

Before he could respond, his phone rang. “Hey, Declan. What’s up?” he greeted, standing to move to the other side of the room.

My ears perked up at the mention of my employee. I tried to listen in, but Patrick pulled me back into conversation.

“So, what else has been going on with you?” he asked.

“Nothing much to be honest. I spend most of my time at the office.”

Mary tilted her head in concern. “You’re not working too hard, are you?”

“You both know how it is.”

Patrick nodded. “Yeah, but you need some balance in your life.”

“Okay, Mr. President. I’m sure you’ve figured out how to balance it all.”

“Touché.” He chuckled.

“You’re not the only one who’s said that though.” I took a sip of my whisky. “On the drive here, Morgan mentioned wanting to set me up with the mother of one of her friends.”

“Are you going to go?” he asked.

I shook my head. “I’m not opposed to dating, but I don’t want my daughter setting me up. I’d rather just meet someone and let things progress naturally.”

Mary’s eyes flicked to something behind me and she asked, “Is everything okay?”

I glanced over my shoulder to see she was talking to Fallon.