Page 37 of The Boss Problem

Tess thought for a bit before she hummed her assent. “That makes sense. I’m surprised you have such a clear vision, Chloe. It’s the first step to manifesting.”

Tess would not stop talking aboutThe Secret, and I’d long stopped arguing with her over it.

“This kind of man doesn’t exist,” I said wearily.

She gave me a commiserating sigh before she spoke. “You, Chloe, have single-handedly taken care of Henry for ten years now, and in all those years, you’ve only had one boyfriend. And a jerk at that. I know how amazing you are. I’ve seen you be strong, compassionate, and resilient. I wish you’d realize that there are better men out there. I know it’s only been a few months since your relationship with Bruce ended, but whenever you’re ready to date again, I hope you’ll remember that there are good men out there. Good men who are worthy of you. Good men who will cherish you and spoil you.”

It was one of the last thoughts in my mind before I drifted off to sleep later that night. Going by the way Sean had looked at me earlier that day, with heat and intensity, I wouldn’t classify him as a good man. But I couldn’t forget his firm grip on my hand while he’d thanked me for agreeing to help him. He couldn’t be too bad of a man if he cared so much for his son.

If only my dad had cared about me and Henry half as much as Sean did his son. When I’d seen Sean that night with Lucas, I’d noticed a flash of pain in his eyes when Lucas stormed pasthim into his office. It wasn’t the first time Lucas’s words had hurt him, I bet, and it wouldn’t be the last. I’d become invested in wanting to help him even before he asked.

When I woke up to a wonderful New York morning—a bright, sunny autumn day—I instantly thought of Central Park and how beautiful it ought to be right now.

That gave me my first idea for Sean and his son. It wasn’t a Thursday today, so I couldn’t join them, but this was something I was sure Sean could tackle on his own while I kept Henry company at home. Thursdays were my only truly free evenings—days when Henry had a social club that ran late in the evening and I could be out on my own. Thursdays were the days Bruce and I used to go out on dates. The same free days I could offer Sean.

When I got to work, I walked into his office, pausing only for one moment to take him in while he finished his phone call. God, he looked good today. He looked like he had just finished his morning training session at the gym, and his gray suit stretched across his shoulders as he reached for a pen. He hung up the phone and turned to me, a roguish, handsome look on his face when he met my eyes. As though he’d seen my eyes raking over him, taking him in, and enjoyed my scrutiny.

Swallowing, I closed my eyes only briefly before I caught him up about his day. Sean and I would never happen, but in my dreams, I could let loose, couldn’t I?

Sean kept his wild, humorous grin on me while I talked, and he only nodded his acknowledgment at the end to thank me for the update. That was when I brought up the suggestion that he could end his day—or rather evening—by biking through Central Park with his son as a bonding activity.

Sean looked surprised for a minute before he nodded. “You’re right; he’s been playing indoors at home for too long,” he mused, running his thumb over his jaw as his eyes took ona distant look. He looked up, and his eyes cleared up when they met mine. “Thank you, Chloe,” he said finally, his voice deep. “That’s a great idea.”

I nodded and was about to leave when something else struck me. “Do either of you have bikes?” I asked.

The long stare he gave me said it all.

“I’ll order them for you,” I said with a nod. “Any preferences?” I asked.

His tone was wry. “No tassels on mine, please,” he said, and I laughed.

“I can’t make any promises,” I said, grinning at this moment of humor from him. I hesitated, hand on the door before leaving. “So, you’ll let me know how it goes tomorrow?”

He answered my question with a frown. “What do you mean? Aren’t you joining us?”

Join them?

Damn, I should have thought it through. I’d already promised Henry I would be at home in the evenings. How could I explain today’s absence to him?

“That would take away the father-son bonding that you really need,” I said, pushing away the impulsive voice in my brain that said I desperately wanted to join them. But my anxiety ramped up every time I was home late.

He shook his head. “I can’t calm him down if he’s having a meltdown. You’re the only one who can. I’ll need you there.”

Lucas had a nanny, which I was about to point out, when Sean added, “What if Lucas hates biking with me? What if I end up making the wrong conversation? You’re the bonding coach. I need you there.”

I swallowed. The idea of a man like him needing a woman like me sent my mind spinning. But I’d do it. At least for the impulsive woman in me who was desperate for a chance to becarefree for one evening. I’d find a way to make it up to Henry later.

“What time should I be there?” I asked at last.

20

CHLOE

At half past five in the evening, I left home with my old bike. It was a bit rusty, but I’d used a little oil, and you could hardly hear it creaking anymore. I’d told Henry about my task, earning a frown that doubled when he realized it was with Sean. He hated Sean already.

Henry had insisted I shouldn’t have to work so hard, and while I loved his sentiment, I didn’t tell him the bitter truth. Being paid for overtime would help afford his medicines. I’d led Henry to believe that the medicines were covered under my new employer’s health insurance plan, which was a lie.

Tassater Inc. had an abysmal health insurance plan, no better than my previous one. Higher-paid employees at Tassater had access to premium plans and better coverage, but I was not one of them. This was another reason I needed to get my PMP certification and get my career going, but seriously, when did I have the time for it?

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