Page 34 of His Long-Lost Baby

My hands are still in my pockets, and I ball them into fists. I’m an unexpressed mess of needs.

“Quinn?” I ask. “That’s a nice name.”

She looks taken aback. “Really? That’s what you’re telling me after yesterday?”

I feel a pang of guilt as she reminds me of yesterday’s incident. I know I need to make things right, and fast.

“I’m sorry about yesterday,” I say, taking a step closer to her. “I didn’t mean to offend you. I was just, you know, caught off guard.”

Her eyes narrow — a bad sign. “You don’t have employees need to leave for family emergencies sometimes?”

“Not… often.”

“They do have families, though. I’m sure they do. They’re just neglecting them in order to work here.”

A chuckle falls from my lips. “You’re ballsy. It’s almost like you’re asking me to fire you.”

Alarm lights up her eyes, and I instantly regret saying it.

“Relax.” I go to my desk, putting some space between the two of us. “I’m not going to fire you. You do things your own way, which is a problem, but you’re also an asset to this company.”

She folds her hands in front of her. “Okay.”

Wow. She really doesn’t give a fuck.

That or she has more pride than is good for her. If it’s the latter, I understand. I’m guilty of the same crime.

As I sit down at my desk, I can’t help but feel bad for hurting her feelings. I know that I need to make things right between us.

“Billie,” I say, turning to face her again. “How do you feel about taking a trip to Hawaii with me? There’s a big tech conference happening next week, and I could use your help. Terri will be holding things down here, and I won’t be able to do everything on my own.”

Billie looks at me, surprised. “Hawaii? That sounds amazing. But isn’t it kind of short notice?”

I shrug. “I have a private jet. We can leave at any time.”

She bites her lip, contemplating. “I don’t know, James. I have Quinn and—”

“You can bring her with us,” I interrupt. “I’ll make sure there’s a nanny to take care of her while we work.”

She looks at me skeptically. “Why are you doing all this? I don’t understand.”

I take a deep breath. “I know I came off as an asshole yesterday, and I’m sorry. I want to make it up to you, and I also need your help at the conference.”

She thinks it over. “Of course I’ll come. But only because it’s part of my job.”

“So you’re not accepting an ‘I’m sorry’ trip?”

“Packaging a work trip as an ‘I’m sorry’ trip is kind of lame, don’t you think?”

I snort. She has me there.

“I usually combine my business and pleasure,” I say.

“I’m sure you do.” She grins, and a heat wave passes between us.

A moment later, and we both get the unintentional suggestion behind the words. Billie clears her throat and looks away.

I can’t help but feel a tingle of excitement. I’m not sure what it is about Billie that makes me feel so alive. Is it her fiery spirit? Her quick wit? Or is it something else entirely?

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