Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 34934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 175(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 175(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
I walk back into the office and find Samantha and Carrie sitting at the conference table, pouring over spreadsheets.
I walk into my office and shut the door.
When I see Carrie getting her stuff ready to leave, I walk out of my office. I nod at her. “Thank you for all your help today.”
She smiles at me. “She catches on quick. I’ll be taking a few days off soon enough.”
I lean against my door and cross my arms over my chest. “I’ve been working you too much. You deserve a day or two.”
She puts her tote over her shoulder. “Bye, boss man. Bye, Samantha. I’ll see you in the morning. Don’t forget to put those feet up.” She looks at me. “I told her she could put them up here, but she wasn’t having it.”
As Carrie walks out, I glance over at Samantha. “Well, how was the first day?”
She looks tired but happy. “It was good.” She holds up a legal pad. “I have pages of notes, and Carrie said she’s teaching me invoices and materials.”
I nod as I fiddle with the keys in my pocket. “So I bet you’re ready to get out of here, huh?”
She blows out a breath. “Kane said he’d swing by here when he’s finished at the job site. I’m good. There’s a few spreadsheets I am going to look at to get ready for tomorrow.”
I take a step into the conference room. “Right, well, John is almost finished with your office. He painted the walls today. I opened the window to air it out, but it may be a day or two before you can move in. I know paint fumes aren’t good for you or the baby.”
She gestures toward the main entrance of the building. “I hate you went to all that trouble. There’s two desks open at the front. I can use either of those.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “That’s where the foremen come in and do their paperwork at the end of day, and there usually ends up being dirt or mud covering the floor or seats there. Plus, I want you to have your own space.”
She opens her mouth to say something but then closes it. “Right, well, thank you. I mean, thank you for everything. Most people wouldn’t hire me in my situation, so I really do appreciate the job.”
I walk further into the room, and her scent envelops me. It’s like sunshine and home all wrapped into one. “There’s something else I forgot to mention.”
She sits back in her seat, and her hands rest on her belly. “What is it?”
She’s nervous, and I hate to see she’s prepared for fight or flight. I pull the keys from my pocket and walk over to her. “Here’s the keys to your company car.”
She doesn’t hold her hand out, so I put the keys on the table in front of her.
She stares at the keys and then back at me. “I can’t take that.”
I pull out a chair from the conference table and sit down. “Yes, you can. You’re an employee of Wolfe Construction, and as an office employee, you get a company car.”
She crosses her arms over her belly. “I have a car.”
Fuck. I should have known that she’s just not going to accept it.
“Your car is not worth salvaging. Both the engine and the transmission are on their last legs. It’s not safe for you to drive, Sassy.”
She puts her hand on the table to help her stand up, but I stay seated. She starts to pace the room. “But it’s my car. I own it. That’s all I have and—”
“And?” I ask her.
She finally turns to look at me. “And well, the baby will be here in three months. I’m going to need a car and—”
I do stand up now. “And you think I’ll take your car away while you’re on maternity leave.”
“Maternity leave? Are you crazy? Today is my first day. I’ll have this baby in three months, and you’re telling me I have maternity leave?” She huffs out a breath. “Look, Elijah, I appreciate what you’re trying to do and all, but this is crazy talk. I’m not accepting your car, and I’m not accepting maternity leave.”
I chuckle. “Still stubborn, I see.”
She doesn’t laugh with me. If anything, her glare gets even harder.
I hold my hands up and walk around the table to her. I put my hands on her shoulders, and as soon as I do, I know it’s the wrong thing.
Being this close to her wreaks havoc with my nervous system, but touching her makes me feel feral in a way that I haven’t felt before.
“Why not? Give me one good reason why you can’t accept maternity leave or a company car.”
She stutters. “Well, because I don’t want any special treatment. I know you’re doing this because I’m Kane’s sister and—”