Page 14 of Triplet Babies for the CEO

When we pull into the office parking lot, he doesn’t turn the engine off right away.

Instead, he looks over at me, his dark eyes catching the last bit of light from the sunset. “How about we grab some dinner instead of heading straight home?” he says, and I feel a flutter in my stomach.

“Yeah, okay,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady, even though my nerves are exploding within me. I’m excited and nervous. I’m suddenly very aware of how close we are in the truck, the way his voice gets a little softer when he talks to me, the way his eyes keep looking over my body.

The drive to the bar is more relaxed, and there’s this flirty banter between us. I feel like I’m laughing at every little joke he makes, even the dumb ones. I know I probably look like some silly schoolgirl with the way I keep giggling, and it’s starting to annoy me a little.

I shouldn’t be acting like this, no matter how hot he is.

I mean, come on, this is my boss.

But then he looks into my eyes again, and there’s this spark. It’s like he knows exactly what I’m thinking, and it sends a little jolt right down my spine each time.

I can feel the warmth on my cheeks as we pull up to the diner and bar. I’m trying to look out the window and convince myself to relax, but our chemistry is palpable.

We’re outside one of those classic Midwestern dive bars, complete with a flickering neon sign that reads, “Dale’s”, and a gravel parking lot dotted with pickup trucks and motorcycles. There’s nothing fancy about it, but it’s got that warm, familiar look.

Brody parks, and we walk inside together, the gravel crunching under our boots. I steal another quick glance at him. He’s got this casual, confident way about him. Even hiswalkdrips with confidence.

It’s like he fits in everywhere, and I suddenly feel a little giddy just being there with him. Again, I have to remind myself to keep my cool. I catch myself smiling and look away at the setting sun, trying to act relaxed, but it’s no use.

“Hope this place isn’t too nice for you,” he jokes, and I laugh, smacking him gently with the back of my hand.

Every time I think I’ve got a handle on the way he makes me feel, he makes me laugh again and throws me off completely.

Inside, the bar is warm and a little noisy, with a soft, low hum of classic country music playing in the background. The walls are decorated with old saloon-style wood paneling. There’s also a pair of longhorn horns, faded pictures of bull riders, and license plates from every state mounted all over the place.

There’s a big wooden mantle over the bar with vintage whiskey bottles lined up like trophies, and the lighting is dim, giving everything a kind of golden, crystally glow.

It smells like fried food, beer, and wood polish. It’s all comforting and familiar despite me not having been here ever.

We grab two stools at the bar, and I’m acutely aware of how close we are, our shoulders almost touching. Brody notices it, too, his eyes flicking down to my shoulder, but he gives me a warm smile that makes me suddenly feel veryhot.

The bartender, a bearded guy who looks like he could swing a sledgehammer all day, nods at Brody in recognition. “The usual, whiskey neat? And for you, miss?” he asks, and Brody nods before looking over at me.

“I’ll have a rum and coke,” I say, and I reach for my purse to pull out my card, but Brody stops me with a hand on mine.

“I’ve got it,” he says, his voice firm but gentle. “This is a celebration, right? Your first day. I can’t have you pay. You’re my new employee.”

I hesitate, pushing my card back into my wallet, feeling a mix of gratitude and a little discomfort. Still, I let him pay, and when the drinks come, I lift mine up, giving him a small smile. “To new beginnings, I guess,” I say, and he clinks his glass against mine gently.

We start talking, and I’m surprised at how easy it is to slip into conversation with him. He tells me about bringing up Josh as a single dad when Josh’s mom and he split up. He says how he’s proud to be running the company with his son, and I can tell there’s a lot of love there.

It makes him seem more...human, somehow.

Like he’s not just my boss.

We order food, and it’s nothing fancy, just burgers and fries, but it smells amazing when it arrives, all greasy and perfect. It’s just the kind of meal you need after a long day of hard work.

The first bite I take is better than I expected, and I’m surprised. It’s probably one of the best things I’ve tasted in weeks.

“This burger is really good,” I say, wiping my mouth with a napkin.

“Oh yeah,” Brody comments. “There’s a reason I brought you here. Getting my hands on one of these was the main reason,” he jokes.

“Was that your only reason?” I ask, feeling my eyes search his face, and the smirk that comes over his lips nearly brings me to my knees.

Uh oh.

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