Page 24 of The Billionaire and the Runaway

I put up a hand. “Oh no. No, no, no. I can’t. I’d…” I look around and lower my voice. “…kill her. I’m bad at the pet thing. I’ve never really had one.”

“Seriously?”

Sighing, I nod. “Yep. No pets allowed. I always wanted one though, like maybe a cat or dog. Hell, I’d have taken a fish.”

“Well, maybe we’ll have to get you one,” he says as he leaves. I watch him pull away in his truck, wondering where he’s off to in the middle of the day.

After a few minutes of petting the lamb, and then visiting with Mooman, I go back inside and start contacting some people who might be able to help me with the farmstand. I soon learn I need to take measurements. Buck loans me a measuring tape, a tool that I actually know how to use, and I get to work. Kingsley asks me what I’m doing and I give him a general idea.

“I love that. Eric’s going to be stoked,” he says.

“I think I want to surprise him,” I say.

He grins. “He’ll love it.”

I head back to my desk to email some measurements and freeze, when I see a fishbowl with a single colorful fish inside.

“What’s this?” I ask.

“That’s our new intern,” Eric says as he walks in from the bathroom.

“I’m sorry, what?”

“I got you an intern,” he repeats, grinning.

“Eric! I’ll kill him,” I groan as Joy and Eric start laughing.

“You won’t. I won’t let you,” Eric assures me.

“I think this is a really bad idea,” I state as I look at the fish which is red and blue with some purple. He’s very pretty. “What is he?”

“He’s a betta fish. They are basically indestructible. Consider him your starter pet,” Eric announces.

“What does he eat?” I ask. And just like that, Joy and Eric teach me all about owning a betta fish. I even got a small booklet filled with information from the pet store.

“What are you going to name him?” Eric asks as we all look at the fish.

“Barry the Betta,” I announce.

Joy giggles. “I like that.”

“Barry, it is,” Eric says.

“Thanks,” I manage as I take my seat to start working again. I’m surprised when Eric sits down at his desk while Joy packs up for the day.

“See ya, Joy,” Eric says as she goes to leave.

I wave at Joy and she nods in my direction as she shuts the door. Eric and I work in silence for about an hour before he turns to me. “How about we go get pizza? I’ve been craving some all day.”

“I should probably finish this,” I say as I point to my laptop because I’m afraid I’m going to start falling for Eric or maybe I already have. But it can’t end well. So I need to not fall for him. And getting pizza with him is going to make that a whole lot harder.

“Come on, little farmer. You can’t work all night,” he says as he stands and opens the door. I contemplate what to do for a full five seconds until I channel my inner Katia and decide what the fuck? I have to eat, right? Or at least that’s what I tell myself as I grab my purse and follow Eric out to his ridiculous, old, blue truck.

CHAPTERTEN

Eric

I keep telling myself to stop hanging out with her every night. Five nights ago, it was pizza. Then Thai. We cooked shrimp scampi. Two nights ago, I taught her how to grill burgers. And last night was a lesson on roasted chicken.

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