Page 7 of Dad's Best Friend Boss
My mouth falls. What’s the man’s problem? One minute he’s hot as fire, and then the next, cold as ice. I’m so mad I want to tell him to go to hell. But I don’t have the luxury to dwell on my anger because the dog, Coal, is jumping all over Henry, and nudging its nose in his private area. I stifle a laugh as my boss struggles to maintain his professionalism while greeting the dog and its owner.
After receiving the same treatment from Coal, I say hi to Mrs. Smith, a friendly middle-aged woman with newly permed blonde hair and bejeweled hands.
“My late husband purchased the land twenty years ago, but we never agreed on what kind of houses to build. We were both busy with work and business. And then he became sick, and I had my own health issues. He passed away last year, and I decided to build a house the way he liked.”
It sounds so sad and romantic I want to cry.
But Henry remains cool and collected. “What a moving gesture, Mrs. Smith,” he says after clearing his throat. “And it’ll be a fantastic house. But as a licensed constructor, it’s my duty to inform you of the safety issues regarding building a house on top of a hill before we sign a contract.”
I stifle an eye roll. Must he be so direct?
Chapter 6
Henry
I barely know what I’m talking about when I explain the potential hazards with the hilltop houses to Mrs. Smith. I only know my mind is still dwelling on Mila’s sweet lips and soft curves. God only knows what I would’ve done if the dog hadn’t interrupted us. I’m a goner. First, I touched her hair, and then I kissed her. Fuck. I’ve admonished myself over and over in the past week, and I’ve kept a distance between us, but Mila has a mysterious power over me when we’re together.
Taking her out to meet with a client is a professional necessity but also a mistake. I can’t separate her from the little girl I was fond of from the woman who is my employee. The worse thing is, the little girl has grown up to be a woman that’s not only mature but also confident and competent. I’ve quietly observed her in the past few days and I'm very pleased with what I’ve seen. Mila is a fast learner. I shouldn’t be surprised by the fact that she was a straight-A student in college. But I’m still impressed to see how well she applies her knowledge to work. Many newly graduated kids have a problem connecting what they learned in school to real-life situations.
“Thanks for letting me know all the drawbacks, Mr. Hudson,” Laura says when I stop speaking. “I’m aware of them, and so was my late husband. That was one of the reasons we took so long to decide what to build. I insisted on purchasing the lot because of the fantastic view, and Rob gave in, although he wasn’t keen on the idea. It was meant to be an income property when we bought it, which made it all the more necessary for us to be careful with the construction. But now, I don’t plan to rent it out. I want to use it for a second home instead. I’ll retire in just a few months, so the inconvenient location isn’t an issue for me. As for landslides, fire, and earthquake, I’m sure you have the technology to prevent or reduce the damage from these natural hazards. Costs are not a problem. Safety first, as you say.”
“Wonderful,” I say, impressed by the woman’s determination. “Could you please tell me what architectural style you have in mind?”
“Of course,” Laura says. “I don’t know what it’s called, but I have the picture with me.”
She then taps on her phone and shows me a photo of a house she found online. “Similar to this one.”
It’s a contemporary-style home with two stories and lots of windows.
“All right,” I say after taking a look. “Looks good. We can definitely help you to design something similar to it. But first, you’ll need to come into our office, and we will help you with the project preparation. We’ll provide you with an estimate, draw a budget for you, and help you apply for various permits. And then we’ll find you an architect. For now, Mila will help you with making the appointment.”
“Sounds good,” Laura smiles and turns her attention to Mila.
I play with the black Lab as Mila takes out her tablet from her purse and checks my schedule for the next few weeks. When we return to the ladies minutes later, they have become friends.
“I think that’s a fabulous design,” Mila says to Laura. “It'll be worth the wait.”
“Thank you, sweetheart,” Laura says, squeezing Mila’s arm. “I’ll see you again soon.”
Mila’s foot isn’t hurting much, but I insist on helping her descend the hill. When I open the car door for her, I hear her stomach rumble. “Oops,” she says with an embarrassed look.
Damn. I curse silently. It’s nearly one thirty, and the girl hasn’t had lunch. “My fault,” I say. “I’ll take you to a restaurant.”
Her eyes widen. “Thanks, boss. But that isn’t necessary,”
“I insist,” I say firmly.
She swallows. “Okay. In that case, can you take me to a McDonald’s?”
I frown. “McDonald’s?” They’ve got tons of fancy places nearby.
“Yes,” she says. “I missed their milkshakes and was planning to go to the one on Hope Street earlier.”
“Okay.” I search on my GPS for the nearest McDonald’s and don’t waste another minute driving toward it.
I haven’t been to the fast food chain ever since my dad suffered his first heart attack a few years ago. But the place used to be my favorite when I was young. The menu hasn’t changed much, and it’s as busy as always. I marvel at the fact. People are more health conscious than ever nowadays but still consume as much junk food as ever.
I watch Mila order a double cheeseburger combo and a strawberry milkshake before I order a hamburger, the item with the least calories on their menu, and an iced tea.
