Page 81 of Loved By You

Ria’s hands fly up to her mouth and her body starts to vibrate with laughter.

“I don't know what you’re feeding her, but it smelled so bad you should bottle that and send it to your enemies.”

“Well, now you’re back, I’m going outside to breathe in some fresh air and book myself a vasectomy, so I don't ever have to do that again,” Brad says, getting up from his spot on the floor.

“Right behind ya, buddy,” Harry says, following Brad out the door. Reaching the door, he mouths “Tell her”, before closing it and leaving.

“I think I ruined her. I didn't know if you used cream or powder and Lexi said both, so I did both and it made a paste. Now she looks like she’s been seasoned for the oven.” I look down at Elle, and her little eyes look up at me and I give her a weak smile. “Sorry. Kiddo.”

I wipe my brow.Shit, I’m sweating again.

She walks towards me, reaching out and affectionately stroking Elle’s face, then looking up at me, she says, “Thank you.”

“Thank you? For turning your baby into a rotisserie chicken?”

She laughs, falling into my side. The sound hits me right in the heart. I want to hear her laugh like that every day.

“Thank you for trying, thank you for looking after them. You did an amazing job.”

“The state of my office and the sweat stains forming on my shirt respectfully disagree, but I appreciate the praise.”

“You also have something here.” She reaches out to my cheek and wipes away some paste with her thumb, before moving in closer and kissing me. I think she will pull away as our kisses in front of the girls are always brief, but she doesn't. She deepens the kiss ever so slightly and I wrap my free arm around her, pulling her into me.

I stink of baby poop and sweat, and I’m covered in powder, but I don't care, and I don't think she does either. I know I need to tell her, to show her how serious I am about us. I just want it to be perfect. This moment feels like another turning point in our relationship as we navigate this journey from friends to lovers, hopefully forever.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Ria

Saturday night shifts at the club are always busy, but tonight, thanks to a new DJ, the place is packed. We've made every cocktail going and restocked the shelves twice already. Kate and Harley are on shift, and the three of us work so well together. We've had some unwanted attention from a group of brokers in the VIP area, but Kate has been lapping up the attention and who can blame her, she’s young and single and, as flattered as I am by the attention, no one catches my eye like Jack does.

It's been hard balancing my job, the girls and my new relationship, so the moments we can steal to be alone, we take them.

“Ri,” Kate shouts over the thump of the music. “Jack needs to see you in his office.”

“Okay,” I call back, nodding, placing the tray of glasses down on the bar and heading out back to Jack's office.

As far as I know, no one at work knows about us. I’ve wanted to keep it quiet at work. I'd hate for people to think I got special treatment because I was sleeping with the boss. I hurry down the hall knowing we won’t have long till someone comes looking for me. The clicking of my heels on the wooden floor echoes around me and I quickly smooth out my pencil skirt and fluff my hair before knocking.

“Come in,” a deep voice booms from behind the door.

I open the door to find him sitting at his desk looking delicious in his signature white button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up just far enough for his tattoos to show.

“You wanted to see me,” I say coyly.

His eyes rise from the paperwork he was reading and scan my body from my heels to face.

“I did. Lock the door,” he demands, not breaking our eye contact.

I do as he asks and then lean back against the door, trying to calm the excitement that is running through my body.

“You've been here six months now and as your boss I have to review your performance and fill out this paperwork,” he says, holding up a sheet of paper.

“Oh, really?” I reply, biting my bottom lip. “What can I do to ensure I get a glowing report?”

“I can think of a few things.” He lifts his hand and gesture me over. “Come here.”

Trying to appear cool, calm and collected—everything I am not—I slowly make my way over to him. He spins on his chair to face me and he reaches out for my hand and pulls me towards the desk.

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