Page 31 of Taming the Boss

“Can’t you do it? At least pinch hit?”

“I’m your business admin, not your majordomo.”

I had not one clue what a majordomo was, but it sounded important and like a role she had no interest in possibly taking on. Not that I did either, although perhaps it served as both childcare and some sort of capable household staff? I’d be researching it very soon, that was for sure.

“I can go shopping,” I offered, giving Owen a quick smile that made him smile back tentatively. “I’m an expert at picking out popsicles, matter of fact. And since it’ll be Independence Day soon, that means the store shelves will be full of sales on rocket pops.”

Both Keller males stared at me as if I was speaking some foreign language they had no desire to learn anytime soon. Jude’s admin managed to almost smile fondly at me.

“Not that sales are an issue around here. But it’s still good when you can get the same items for less green.”

“Green?” Jude asked.

“Like money?”

Jude returned his gaze to his son. “How are you feeling, buddy?”

Even to me, the buddy sounded wholly insincere. Owen jerked his shoulders and started to turn into the cushions, away from all the prying stares. Then he sat up and cocked his head again. “Baddie?”

“Maddie.” I sounded my name out for him carefully though I was growing to love Baddie too. “So, you want more sneakers like we got you the other day?”

The ones currently on his little feet. So cute.

“Yeah. I want more Marvel ones. Like these.” He leaned down to tug on his laces, undoing them until I knelt to lace them back up again.

“Have you seen any of the Marvel movies?”

“No.”

“Well, the animated Spider-Man movies would be good.” I tapped the top of his sneaker. “Kinda like your shoe. That one isn’t too bad for your age. Your daddy should rent them on streaming.”

“Oh, should I now?” Jude asked edgily.

“Yes. Owen will enjoy it. Or at least my nieces and nephews do. Unless he’s not allowed such things.”

For a second, I thought Jude’s admin had audibly gasped at my temerity, but she hurriedly cleared her throat and made some work excuse if she wasn’t needed any longer.

“We’ve got it from here, Caro. Thank you.”

She rushed away down the hall and Owen watched her go. I was truly concerned that little boy was far too used to watching people leave him.

I didn’t want to be one of them, but that was up to his father—not me.

“Do you want to come shopping with me?” I asked softly. “With us? As important as more sneakers are, it sounds as if you need other things even more. Like food.”

Jude’s jaw locked. “At an actual grocery store? I usually get my food delivered.”

Well, la-de-da.

“Some of us actually do our own shopping. Pick a store, park, get out. Select our own items. You know, just like we did at the shoe store.”

“But that was just one item. Not many.”

“We don’t have to get a lot unless you need a lot. And sometimes we even use self-checkout and bag them ourselves.”

Owen made a strangled noise that almost sounded like a laugh, but when I looked at him, his big blue-green eyes remained solemn on mine. Wasn’t a joke like that kind of above a three-year-old’s head, anyway?

“Fine. Do you want to shop for more sneakers or food, Owen?” Jude’s tone made the question akin to asking if you wanted to streak through town naked during a thunderstorm.

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