Page 28 of The Merger
I turn to circle back to Mom’s office. My fingers tap against the steering wheel as I stop at a traffic light. A slow smile spreads across my face as a warmth creeps into my belly.
“Nothing is too pretty to eat.”
Good God.
I’ve never had a man order a meal for me. They always stare at me until I choose something. Gannon just took the initiative and removed the pressure, which was so lovely. Thoughtful. Manly.
And the look he gave me when I tried to pay?Swoon.
It crossed my mind that if I get hired at Brewer Group, I might encounter Gannon during the business day.What if we got stuck on an elevator? Locked in a closet together? Trapped in his office during a wild winter storm?
I laugh, the sound filling my cute little Gremlin.
“You know you can’t actually jump his bones,” I remind myself. “Tate would kill you.”
But maybe it’d be worth it …
My phone buzzes with Tate’s ringtone, and I roll my eyes at his timing.
“Hey, buddy,” I say. “What’s up?”
“Be glad you’re an only child.”
I laugh. “Why? What happened?”
“Just be glad.” He groans. “Anyway, what are you up to? Sounds like you’re in the car.”
“I just finished work and am heading to Mom’s office for dinner. What about you?”
“I’m heading to Jason’s. Mimi misses me.”
“I bet she does.” I giggle.
Jason’s wife’s grandmother, a woman they call Mimi, latched on to Tate the day she met him. He, of course, charmed her, and I’m pretty sure they’d be dating if there wasn’t a sixty-year age gap. He goes to Jason’s, where Mimi lives in a guesthouse, and occasionally hangs out with her. It’s not surprising, though. Tate likes anyone who’ll coddle him and tell him he’s cute.
“I talked to Gannon today,” I say carefully.
There’s a pause. “Really? How’d that go?”
I consider whether to tell him I met him for breakfast and decide it’s not worth it. He’ll freak out and try to big brother me. And while I usually find it amusing, I’m not in the mood today—especially because the whole production was probably futile.
“It went,” I say, unsure how else to describe it. “He said he’s considering my proposal. I guess I have to wait and see if he gets back to me.”
“If I talk to him tonight, I’ll feel him out and see what he’s thinking.”
I grin. “You don’t have to do that. Honestly, I’m not counting on him hiring me. I booked another call for Monday, and I’ll continue moving on until something clicks.”
“That’s a good plan.”
“I thought so.” I pull into Mom’s parking lot and find an open space.The Gremlin fits in much better here.“I’m here, so I need to go. Have fun with Mimi.”
“Tell your mom I said hi.”
“I will. Later.”
“Bye.”
I cut the engine and ensure the call is disconnected before sighing.How do people function when they get up this early every day?
