Page 80 of Stone Rules

I take her in my arms to the cheers of all my employees. I barely even notice the door closing behind Gretchen on her way out.

Chapter Thirty-eight

“It’s about time you fired that bitch,” Melissa says.

“I didn’t fire her. It was her choice to leave,” I say. “But I’ll tell you I’m not going to lose any sleep over it.”

A look of guilt washes over Charlie’s face. “Oh, Ethan. I’m so sorry. I should have just stayed downstairs. What are you going to do?”

“It’s fine, honey. Levi will call the temp agency and get a receptionist here within the hour.” I look at Levi. “You got this?”

“I’m on it,” he says, walking over to shake my hand. “Congratulations, buddy.” He leans in to give Charlie a hug. “I’m so happy for you, Charlie.”

The rest of my employees wish us well before I escort my fiancée to my private bathroom.

“You look fantastic in that,” I say, eyeing every amazing curve of her body. She’s really carrying the pregnancy well. Some women tend to show all over. Not Charlie. She has this perfect little round belly. She’s not one of those women who make you wonder if they are pregnant or just putting on a little weight. It’s clear to anyone who sees her like this that she’s expecting. And I love it. Just like the ring, it makes me feel like it advertises she’s mine.

“Really?” she asks, looking down on herself and running her hands along her baby bump. “I think I look like a freak of nature.”

“Are you kidding? Do you know how sexy you look right now?” I say. “In fact, how about we nix the walk and go for a repeat on my couch?” I wink at her.

She laughs, entering my bathroom. “I think you’re a little biased,” she says before closing the door. “You have love goggles on,” she shouts at me.

I laugh, draping her jacket on the back of my chair. I kind of hope she will leave it here and her scent will permeate the leather so I can smell her for the rest of the day.

“Ready?” she asks, coming back into my office. She sees me situating her jacket on my chair. “If you really think I don’t look hideous, would you mind if I leave my jacket here? It’s getting warm out there and I already have an oven attached to me.”

“You can leave anything you want here.” I walk her back through the office and we make our way to the elevator. “And I’m serious about that key. Use it anytime you want.” All of a sudden I have an idea. We ride to the ground floor in silence while I think of how to ask her what I want to ask her.

“Charlie, I don’t want you to take this the wrong way. And this isn’t about money, because I know you don’t need mine, but do you plan to keep working through your pregnancy and after?”

She looks up at me in wonder, like she’d never considered this question before. “Uh, yeah. Of course I’m going to work. I don’t know what I would do with myself if I didn’t.” She narrows her eyes at me and huffs, “If you think I’m going to stay home, barefoot and preg—”

I grab her hand. “That’s not what I was saying at all. I would never ask that of you, although I would be okay with that if it’s what you wanted. But I worry about you being on your feet all day long. Maybe you need a less demanding job, but one that still challenges you.”

“What are you saying, Ethan?”

“I’m saying I know of a great job that just opened up. Good pay and great benefits—one of which is that you get to sleep with the boss.”

“You want me to take Gretchen’s job?” she asks, like it’s the most unusual thing anyone’s ever asked her.

“Well, sort of, yes.” We walk across the street and head into the park. “I’ve actually been thinking of hiring a receptionist and separating Gretchen’s duties. The job is getting too big for one person. She’s been receptionist, bookkeeper, and office manager for five years. But I’m not sure the job would require someone full-time yet, so it might only be twenty or thirty hours a week.”

“You want me to be your receptionist?” she asks. “But I don’t have any experience.”

“God no. I don’t want you sitting behind that glass. We get some lowlifes in there from time to time and I wouldn’t put you in that position. I want you to be my office manager.”

“Yourwhat?”She stops walking. “Ethan, come on. I have no management experience whatsoever. No bookkeeping skills. You are crazy. I’d run your business into the ground.”

I laugh. “I was thinking just the manager part, not the bookkeeper part. I can find a receptionist with those skills. And you sell yourself short. I’ve been listening when you tell me about all the jobs you had overseas. You see yourself as a waitress, bartender, or shopkeeper’s assistant. I see you as a problem-solver, an organizer, a peace-keeper. I need that in a manager. And there are plenty of people around who would be more than happy to show you the ropes. You’ll need to learn the business anyway. You’re going to own half of it in . . . uh, when are you going to marry me?”

She starts walking again. “One life-altering decision at a time, Ethan.”

“Okay, honey, but I’m serious. Just think about it.”

“I will,” she says. “It would be kind of nice not to be on my feet all day.”

I smile. My plan is working. “So, what are you doing on your days off this week?”

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