Page 26 of One Foggy Christmas
“All by yourself?”
“No, my brother Nolan came too. We thought college was a scam and wanted to see the world. That’s actually how I got the idea to start my business. We worked construction in Belize and remodeled a hospital, and they were always short-staffed on doctors and nurses. It was a huge problem. I wondered if that happened in the United States too. When we moved back, I decided to look into healthcare staffing, and the rest is history.”
“I should’ve known you were self-made.”
“Crap, you think less of me now, don’t you?”
“It’s the opposite. I admire everything you’ve accomplished. You’re very impressive. You’re not even thirty yet, and you have this successful business.”
“I believed I could, so I did.” I shrug like it isn’t a big deal.
She looks straight ahead. “Now what?”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re my tour guide, aren’t you?”
If Sadie wants to keep hanging out, I’m not turning her down.
“I am your tour guide.”
“So what’s next on the Nash Carter Chicago tour?”
“Have you done an Architecture Boat Tour since you’ve lived here?”
“No, but I like the sound of it.”
So do I.
Pretty much, I like the sound of anything as long as I’m with Sadie.
SADIE
“This bossof yours is so sweet. He sounds like the type of guy who would hold open an automatic door for you just to show you the respect he thinks you deserve,” Autumn says through the speakerphone.
I finally broke down and told my best friend about Nash. I need some advice or someone to knock some sense into me, because touring Chicago with Nash yesterday was one of the best times I’ve had in a long time.
But it wasn’t just yesterday. Another week of work passed, full of sparks and butterflies, and it’s not even Nash’s fault. He hasn’t done anything wrong. He’s the perfect caring boss. Professional and courteous, abiding by every invisible boundary—minus the off-the-record kissing talk—but that was off the record, so I’m not counting it. No, this is a me problem through and through.
I’m a confused mess.
“Heissweet!” I groan at Autumn’s assessment. “Did I tell you he noticed I don’t like lettuce and tomato on my tacos and ordered that stuff on the side when we stopped at a taco stand last night?”
“Wow. Sweet and observant.”
“Not to mention attentive and complimentary. There’s a big difference between him and Stetson.”
“Stetson is a lot of things, but attentive and complimentary are not part of his MO. But that doesn’t mean he’s not a good guy or even the perfect guy for you.”
“I know. I’m so confused about my feelings. I’m in constant turmoil.”
“If Nash wasn’t your boss, would you even hesitate going for him?”
Years full of memories with Stetson flash through my mind. He holds all my firsts, and I thought he’d hold all my lasts too.
“I’d still hesitate.”
“Because of Stetson?”
