Page 14 of Boss of Attraction

“You named your car Betsy?” Rhett questioned.

I took a quick sip of the amber liquid, and it was definitely whisky. I felt it burn all the way down my throat. “Yeah. Didn’t think Bertha fit. She’s not that big.”

The room erupted into laughter.

“I think Betsy is a fine name for a car,” Patrick said.

“Don’t tell her that. She’ll want me to buy her new tires or something,” I joked, as though my car would gloat over the compliment and demand a gift.

“Does she break down often?” Sean asked.

I took another drink of the liquor. “Only on long drives. I can usually get to and from the office without a problem.”

“Good.” He bobbed his head up and down. “Don’t want you to get broken down on the way to work, or worse, stranded at work.”

“There’s always a stranger’s car,” I deadpanned.

Sean stared at me and then Fallon clarified by saying, “He means a rideshare.”

“Oh.” Sean chuckled. “Right.”

“It sounds to me like your boss needs to pay you more.” Fallon grinned at his uncle.

“He’ll get a promotion and a raise once he passes the bar,” Sean stated.

I smiled at my boss, appreciating his consideration. I just needed actually to pass.

“Speaking of passing the bar, we should probably study a little bit since that’s why you came.” Fallon stood, and I followed suit.

“We’ll call you boys when dinner is ready,” Fallon’s mom said.

Fallon kissed Rhett, and then led me to what I assumed to be his father’s office. We studied until we were called for dinner and then we joined everyone in the backyard. Fallon’s sister, Faye and another woman, Morgan, who I learned was Sean’s daughter, also joined us. I knew Sean was best friends with the Donnelleys, but I had no clue he had a daughter the same age as me.

After dinner, Faye and Morgan left for some party and the rest of us sat around the fire pit as the sun went down and talked amongst ourselves. Everyone slowly called it a night and went to bed until it was just me and Sean left. Neither one of us made a move to go to bed; instead we stayed next to the fire and enjoyed the heat. I wasn’t going to leave him alone, so I took the opportunity to talk to him one-on-one.

“It’s so peaceful out here,” Sean stated as he leaned his head against the back of the Adirondack chair and looked up at the dark twinkling sky.

“It is,” I agreed.

“Did you grow up in Boston?”

I shook my head. “No. Pennsylvania.”

“Oh, really? Did you attend college there or Hawkins University?”

“Out there. Made the move when I got a scholarship for Hawkins Law.”

“Oh wow. You must have done really well on your undergraduate GPA and LSATs.”

“I did,” I confirmed. I wasn’t one to gloat, but I had busted my ass to make something of myself so I could help my mom and live a better life.

“I knew you were smart. Glad to have you on my team.”

“I still have to pass the bar,” I teased.

Sean chuckled. “Yeah, but I have no doubt you will.”

“Hope so or it’ll be even longer until I get my mom out of her trailer park.”