Page 62 of Snowed In with the Bosses

“Harrington,” Ethan said from behind me. I’d recognize his voice blindfolded in a room full of men. It brought a delightful shiver along my spine and begged me to stand, turn, and throw myself into his arms. I did none of those things, but I did strangle my napkin in my lap.

Alexander and Liam walked around either side of Harrington and took a seat. Ethan moved to my left, the pad of his thumb grazing the skin along my neck and down my arm. I’d worn a long sleeve dress, but his touch was as familiar to me as snow on the mountains. It pressed into the marrow of my bones and sent my pulse racing.

“Ah, you made it.” Harrington’s eyes creased at the corners. He tossed his napkin onto the table and stretched across to shake each man’s hand. “Eat with us. Clara is thinking over my proposal.”

Was I? I’d almost forgotten about it with the sudden appearance of the men I loved. “It’s a kind offer.” My lips pursed.

“I sense a but coming.” Harrington resumed his seat. “You’ll likely be happy to note that Alexander filled me in on the entire situation. You have nothing to worry about from me.”

“Really?” I arched a brow, a silent question on my lips.

Alexander tore a breadstick in half and sank his teeth into the bread. “Harrington might not be as conservative as we first thought. He’s not unfamiliar with our situation.”

“And it’s none of my damned business, is it?” Harrington steepled his hands again. “I’m not in the business of passing judgment on anyone. Love who you love. It makes no difference to me.”

The burden of guilt that had locked my heart in a cage these last few days rattled loose. “You don’t care that I’m sleeping withthree men?” I threw the question out there with all the dignity of tossing a grenade.

Harrington lowered his hands to the edge of the table. His expression was as serious as I’d ever seen it. “No. I care that you do your job, and that you do it well. You’ve been an excellent part of this team. I’d hate for something as inconsequential as who warms your bed at night to come between us and the success of my project.”

Inconsequential. The three men around me were anything but inconsequential, but I gathered his real meaning.

“What happened at Summit?” I angled the question at Alexander.

He wiped his fingers on the napkin, his expression brooding. “Nothing. We were all allowed to stay, as you suspected.”

“It’s bullshit.” Liam slammed his arms across his stomach and leaned his chair back on two legs. “They’re a bunch of self-righteous hypocrites.”

Relief and anger played tug-of-war with my emotions.

“Come work for me.” Harrington met the stunned silence with a bolstering laugh. “I mean it. All of you. I’ve been after Alexander to leave Summit for years. Maybe it’s finally time, yeah?” He forked up another bite of ravioli and saluted Alexander with the fork. “Give it a thought like Clara. At least don’t shoot me down before we end the meal.”

“I’m going to finish the project.” I sat back as everything clarified. “I’ve put in too much work to let someone else take over. It’smyproject, and no one can take it from me.”

“That’s the spirit.” Harrington raised his water glass in a toast.

I wasn’t done yet. I looked around the table and found nothing but encouragement from Ethan, Alexander, and Liam. “But I won’t go to work for you.”

Liam pumped a fist in the air. “That’s my girl. Tell him like it is.”

“Shut up, Liam. This is Clara’s moment.” Alexander slapped a hand over Liam’s mouth.

Liam rolled his eyes and bit Alexander’s palm. God those two were a mess. The playfulness from Alexander came as a bit of a surprise, but I rolled with it and faced Harrington.

“I want to be a freelance architect. I’ll finish the project as long as you hire me my way.” Nerves fluttered. Had I finally crossed a line?

“Done.” Harrington wiped his mouth with his napkin. “What are your terms and your pay rate? I understand you might need a few days to prepare a work contract. I’ll expect it in my inbox by the end of the week. Outline your requests there.” He winked. “And I’d ask for more money, if I were you. Summit is no longer taking a cut of your pay for bringing in the commission.”

I nodded, not trusting myself enough to speak until I’d taken a moment to understand what he meant. “I’ll have it to you by Friday.”

Alexander’s smile was congratulatory, as was Ethan’s hand on my leg beneath the table. Liam raised both hands and pumped them into the air. They were celebrating me.

Holy hell. I’d just told the most influential man in the business to kiss my ass and hire me at the same time, and his response was to offer me a raise.

“To the newest, and only, freelance architect in Silverbrook.” Alexander raised his water glass. The others did the same, myself included, and we clinked our glasses together before taking a deep drink.

28

ETHAN

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