Page 34 of Bossy Romance

Rowan jumps back.

Nova addresses him in a calmer voice. “Our team is experimenting with a new, environmentally friendly foam that can expand to the length and width that a customer desires.” She places a gentle hand on his shoulder and steers him away. “It’s not ready for prime time yet. The engineers are still working out the kinks.”

Rowan gives the goo an interested look.

“Let me show you the cafeteria next.” Nova nudges him toward the door.

Rowan shuffles along with her and I take up the rear.

The staff in the cafeteria all stop and watch as we walk in.

“Morning, Nova.”

“Miss Delaney.

“Morning.”

The greetings come from all over. Employees know Nova as the face of Vision Tech and they treat her with respect.

She responds with a regal head nod.

“Who’s this?” Henry, one of Vision Tech’s youngest interns, stops in front of us. He’s sipping on a mug of hot coffee, his brown eyes studying Rowan like he’s another species. “Are we working on a kid’s toy?”

“No, this is my new friend,” Nova says. “I’m giving him the tour.”

A flush spreads over Rowan’s cheeks when Nova calls him a ‘friend’.

“Hey, kid.” Henry offers his hand for a high-five.

Rowan smacks his palm enthusiastically.

“Isn’t hecute?” Courtney, another one of our interns, shuffles toward us. She drops to her haunches and smiles at the kid. “What’s your name?”

“Rowan.”

“Rowan.” Courtney grins harder. “How do you know Miss Delaney?”

“Uh…” Rowan shoots me a panicked look. “She’s… uh…”

“Like I said, he’s a friend.” Nova’s voice is crisp and holds a hint of a warning.

“Oh.” Courtney’s eyelashes flutter. She straightens slowly.

Nova’s phone alarm goes off. She takes it out of her jacket pocket and says, “We have five minutes until the meeting. Henry, Courtney, can you set a fresh pot of coffee and bring it in along with the presentation notes?”

“Sure.”

The two interns scurry away.

Nova gestures to Rowan. “We’ll walk you back to my office now.”

We escort Rowan to the elevator. I note how the kid naturally edges up to Nova, as if he’s already decided that she’s his person.

I can’t lie. I feel a little jealous when Nova glances down with a smile and pats Rowan on the head.

It took months before she ever cracked a smile at me. When we first started working together, she always had her game face on and never crossed the line, no matter how much I tried to get her to loosen up.

Rowan’s got her looking all soft and sweet in only one day.

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