Page 5 of One Bossy Date

“Good luck with your shop, lady.” Giving her a quick nod, I reached for the door to leave. “Have a nice life.”

“Yeah, thanks. You have a nice life, too.”

It sounded like she might have added “jerk” at the very moment I exited the shop, but I pushed forward, opening my umbrella, waving her from my mind.

3

ANDERS

The walk to my office was only another five minutes. Cursing myself for taking my motorcycle and not the car this morning, I shook the droplets from my coat and pulled it off while Caroline, my assistant, filled me in on my messages and meetings for the day.

“Oh, and Mr. Windham?”

“Yes?” I asked, sitting down at my desk and logging in to my desktop. My eyes instantly caught the fresh emails that had arrived.

“Ares and Hades will need a new sitter, unfortunately,” Caroline said. “Katie ended up in the hospital.”

I immediately looked up. “Is she okay?”

“Well, I believe so.” Caroline shrugged. “She broke her ankle while dog walking yesterday.”

“My dogs?”

“No, somebody else’s. It was a group of dogs.”

“Ah, I see,” I rumbled, not surprised in the least. I’d seen dog walkers here in Manhattan with up to ten dogs at a time. Damn. Yet another thing to worry about. “Would you please have a look at replacement options?”

With my boys, I knew it was a tough task, but Caroline wasn’t your usual run-of-the-mill assistant. Originally from Ireland, she was in her mid-fifties and appropriately plump. A hard-working and efficient assistant, she gave off a certain air of having things handled, which was why I’d chosen her. Caroline always took the initiative to get things done, and at times like these, even helped with my personal affairs.

“Sure, of course, Mr. Windham,” she answered and turned to leave. “Oh, Mrs. Windham! Could I bring you a coffee?” I heard my assistant say to an incoming visitor—the Head of the Board of Directors.

“Ah, Caroline, that would make my day. Thank you,darling. Nice shoes, by the way. Classy.”

“Mom.” Standing from my desk, I kissed her cheek before she settled onto the chair opposite me. “You’re early this morning.”

“Oh, I know that, son.” She blew out a deep breath, fixing her light hair while appearing utterly windswept—evidently, she’d also battled the rain and wind trying to get into the building this morning. Her hairdo far from perfection, she adjusted herself in the seat. The tousled hairstyle didn’t diminish her natural authority in the slightest. “I just wanted to see how things are going with you.” Settling her hands onto her lap, she looked up at me. “Anderson, you know I’m concerned about you and everything you’re planning.”

Here we go.

I gave her a deadpan expression. She knew she couldn’t change my mind about leaving New York again, but she still tried every day. The woman’s persistence was second to none.

“Things are fine, thank you. In fact,” I opened one of the emails I’d received, “Humphries Properties has accepted my meeting request.”

“Theyhave?” Her eyes widened as surprise captured her features. “You don’t say.”

My mother, Lilian Windham, was a tall and slender woman, commanding attention and adoration everywhere she went. Her short, wispy blonde hair was always immaculately done—except when wind and rain got in her way—and her deep-green eyes always sparkled with energy.

She’d been involved with the company, Windham Construction, since my late father had started it forty years ago. I’d always believed that it wouldn’t have gotten to where it was today without her informal public relations post. She had a reputation for not only throwing lavish parties, but the kind where important people of the city always attended to see her—and not just to mingle and make connections.

“I’m honestly surprised that the CEO of Humphries agreed to this. Does he know you’re leaving the country in three months?” she asked, arching a questioning brow.

“I didn’t exactly have the chance to mention that, Mom.” I tried to keep the curtness of my response from leaking into my tone. “This is business. Let’s wait to discuss those details until he’s heard my proposal.” Besides, it shouldn’t matter if I was here or not. The idea was so damn good it would almost run itself.

“It’syourbusiness idea, though.Icertainly won’t take it over, and I doubt Daxton would either.” She referred to my younger brother, who had never had any interest in the family business. Or any business in particular. But the truth was that I needed him to start taking an interest, and soon, because I couldn’t do it all on my own.

“Dax needs to start handling things here at Windham Construction, whether I’m here or not. I only stepped in because Dad passed, and the company was falling to pieces.”

“The company needs you,” my mom tried again.

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