Page 78 of Boss's Baby Surprise

“Steve, I want you to meet Clarissa’s son, Leo.”

Steve brushed off his hands on the sides of his jeans and extended one to the little guy. Leo, in all seriousness, shook hands and said, “Nice to meet you.”

I ruffled his hair.

“We’ll be back soon. I have no idea where the closest sushi place is,” I admitted.

“Don’t worry. I’ve got one pulled up on my phone. Looks like there’s one just around the corner, and it has a five-star rating.”

“Sounds good to me,” I said as I put Leo on his own two feet and took his hand.

“I guess,” Clarissa started. “It’s not going to be much of a secret about us in this location anymore?”

“I’m sure everybody back in Chicago has already figured out you’re why I’m staying here.” I chuckled. “However, they don’t know about…” I tilted my head in Leo’s direction.

“Well, they do now,” she said. “Steve is certainly not going to keep that a secret.”

“But I introduced him as your kid,” I pointed out.

Clarissa laughed. “Of course you did after he saw the two of you together. I saw his face. He definitely noticed the similarity between the two of you.”

It hadn’t occurred to me that other people would see the resemblance.

“How’s work?” I asked, changing the subject.

“I am very much enjoying it. They haven’t given me reason to complain about anything yet.”

“I don’t think I have ever heard you complain about any of your jobs,” I pointed out.

“That’s because you weren’t around when I was a waitress. I absolutely hated that.”

“When were you a waitress?” I asked.

“You were in Hong Kong.”

There was a drop in her tone, and that was my fault. It wasn’t Clarissa’s place to get over that hurt. It was my job to try and make up for the pain I caused her. That was a lesson learned the hard way.

“That’s why you’re so good to wait staff,” I said.

“I never want to be like the jerks I had to deal with, so, yes. When Leo makes a mess, I tip extra.”

“Noted. I will make sure that I’m paying better attention when we go out. It’s the very least I can do.”

She slid her arm through mine and hugged it.

“Thank you,” she said.

I wasn’t necessarily going to apologize every time it came up, but I wanted her to know that I was aware of my culpability and that I would constantly work toward making things up to her in the best way I could.

The sushi place was the kind where everybody working shouted out a greeting when we stepped in the door. Leo randomly yelled something in return. I have no idea what he thought he was saying, but the head sushi chef behind the counter laughed.

I expected Clarissa to order something basic like a California roll or a cucumber roll for Leo. She said he seemed to like the fish, so I shouldn’t have been surprised when she ordered him a spicy tuna roll. I ordered a variety for myself, and Clarissa ordered a tempura Bento box.

“I thought you liked sushi? I asked.

She shook her head and pointed to Leo. “He does, and Davey too. I still haven’t developed those taste buds yet.”

“What are your plans for this evening?” I asked when lunch was over and we stepped back outside. It was a lovely early spring day, and the constant overcast winter gloom had given away to blue skies and sunshine.

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