Page 55 of The Billionaire Boss and the Barista

She paused, looking at Emma from under her lashes. “Not like this morning anyway.”

“This morning?” she echoed.

“We ran into him in the lobby. He was grinning even before he spotted Rainer. And he’s not exactly what I’d call a morning person.” She winked at Emma. “I gathered he was still in a good mood from last night.”

Emma tossed a bit of ribbon in Georgia’s direction. “Nothing happened. Not like you’re implying.”

George’s smile was smug now. “But something did happen?”

“A scintillating night of dinner in front of the TV? You’re right, it was the thrill of a lifetime for both of us,” she said, deciding to leave out the part where he carried her to bed.

It hadn’t been a big deal. Shewasheavy but Garrett had muscles she’d never heard of.

Seriously, someone should study him. They could make more accurate anatomical drawings with that man as a model.

“He’s not interested in me that way,” she added.

Georgia held up her hands in surrender. “I didn’t say he was. But even if things are strictly platonic, Garrett may be enjoying having someone to come home to. Even if it’s just to veg out in front of the TV. We all need human interaction—and no. Work doesn’t count.”

Well, crap. “Except for my cousin, and now you, the only people I’m even remotely friendly with are people from work.”

“I didn’t mean you can’t have friends from work,” Georgia clarified. “My best friend Judy was a friend from my old job until I stole her to work for my new business. But I was thinking about Garrett’s business. I’ve met the top execs at Next Chapter and they’re not what I would calloutside of workfriend material.”

“What about Fletcher? I thought he was Garrett’s oldest friend.”

“Well, he has known him longer than Rainer,” she said with the enthusiasm of someone discussing a dead trout.

Emma’s lip twitched. “You don’t like him?”

“Fletcher’s fine,” George said with a little moue of her lips. “Don’t pay attention to me. I just get a vibe from him.”

“What kind of vibe?”

Georgia shook her head. “I can’t even explain it. It’s…”

“A bad vibe.”

“A… discordant one. I think he feels out of place sometimes among Rainer and the other guys.”

Emma reached for more ribbon. “Which other guys are these?”

“Ian and Elias. They are other high-powered bigwigs around the same age. The four are tight and do a lot of stuff together. Their business takes them out of town a lot but I’m sure you’ll meet them soon.”

Emma was going to nod but stopped herself. Best not to acknowledge she might be living here a while or the universe would make it happen.

“Fletcher’s a fifth wheel and knows it?”

George wrinkled her nose. “Yeah, I think so. Ian and Elias own the private security company that trained Rainer and Garrett.”

The what now?“They have military training?”

“Yeah, with a security force team. Auric is all ex-military, but they work private sector now. Rainer and Garrett still go out and run their grueling obstacle course for fun.”

Emma’s face twisted as if she had tasted something sour. Georgia laughed. “Exactly! My idea of exercise is a light jog. Maybe a leisurely swim.”

“I walk to and from work,” Emma said. “That’s it.”

“A woman after my own heart.” Georgia started packing up little cars into a bigger cardboard box. “Speaking of, do you like coffee or just sell it for a living?”

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