Page 4 of Triplet Babies for the CEO

The sun’s out, but the sky is heavy with clouds, and there’s a chill in the August air that hints at fall creeping closer.

I pull my hard hat over my head, adjusting it as I glance around the cleared lot. It’s hard to believe that in a few months, this space will be home to a forty-story skyscraper. It’s our latest project, and one of the biggest we’ve ever taken on.

Josh is already out, unrolling the blueprints on the hood of the truck, his brows furrowed in concentration.

I see a lot of myself in him: the focus, the way he sets his jaw when he’s deep in thought. I taught him everything I know, but he’s got a knack for this business that goes beyond just following orders.

“Steel delivery’s set for next week,” Josh says, tapping a section of the blueprint with his finger. “But I’m thinking we should double-check the supplier’s estimate. The last thing we need is a delay because of a shortage.”

I nod, scanning the documents in front of me, following along with his train of thought. “Agreed. And make sure the rebar’s good quality, not that cheap crap they tried to send us last time. I’ll handle the permits; you focus on coordinating with the crew.”

We’re surrounded by stacks of construction materials, everything from pipes to bags of cement, and a few excavators rumble nearby, preparing the ground. It’s a mess now, but I can already envision it—the clean lines, steel and glass gleaming in the sunlight, another landmark for the city.

As we go over the logistics, Josh’s face lights up with a grin. “Hey, did I tell you? Gemma got the book deal she was after.”

I glance up from the blueprint, and I can feel my eyebrows raise. “The children’s book? The one she’s been working on for a year?”

He nods, excitement spreading across his tanned face, and I can’t help but chuckle, shaking my head. “Well, I’ll be damned. That’s impressive. She’s got some serious talent, your Gemma. You picked a good wife, you know that? Bright, young, talented, beautiful. You’re lucky, son. Don’t take her for granted.”

Josh’s expression softens. He’s twenty-three years old, but he still looks boyish. “I know, Dad. I really do. And it means a lot, hearing you say that.”

He’s quiet for a moment, and then he adds, “You know, you could be just as lucky if you got out there and dated.”

The suggestion catches me off-guard, but I can see he’s serious, his sky-blue eyes steady as he looks at me. I almost laugh at the idea of me, in my late forties, starting over in the dating world. But there’s a warmth in Josh’s gaze, the kind thatsays he’s not just poking fun, he’s hoping for something more for me.

“Not everyone’s as smooth as you, kid.” I brush his words off, giving him a crooked smile.

He rolls his eyes, but there’s a glint of amusement brewing beneath the surface. “Maybe not. But it doesn’t hurt to try.”

I let out a laugh, waving my hand dismissively in the air. “No woman wants this old piece of leather,” I joke, but I can tell from the way Josh’s expression shifts that he’s not buying it.

“In all seriousness, son, I don’t want the stress. Running this company is a twenty-four-seven gig, and I don’t think a woman would deal with the hours a construction CEO puts in. Besides, it’s not like there are many good women out there to begin with. What makes you think I’d find one at this late date?”

Josh crosses his arms, leaning back against the truck. “Dad, you sound like a grumpy old man set in his ways.”

“I am a grumpy old man set in my ways.”

He snorts. “Seriously, though, Dad. It’s a shame you think that. You’re smart, successful…hell, you’re not bad-looking for a guy your age. You’ve got a lot to offer.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Not bad-looking, huh? Thanks, kid. That’s a real confidence boost.”

Josh grins, but there’s still that note of sincerity under the teasing. “I’m just saying, don’t count yourself out. Gemma always says there’s someone for everyone, you know? It’d be nice to see you happy. And who knows, maybe you’d be surprised.”

“Maybe,” I reply, “but it’s not like I’ve got a lot of time to figure that out.”

Letting a silence fall between us, I glance down at the blueprints again.

He’s got a point, but life’s not that simple.

Nothing is ever simple.

Josh shakes his head, a small, knowing smile tugging at the left corner of his mouth. “If you say so.”

We spend the next hour or so reviewing more documents before we both go our separate ways for the day.

I steer my truck onto the highway, the city lights fading behind me as I head west, out toward the countryside. The sun’s already dipped below the skyline, leaving the sky streaked with deep purples and navy blues. It’s that in-between hour where the world seems to hold its breath.

Out here, away from the city, it’s quieter, darker. The headlights cut through the growing shadows, illuminating the open road ahead.

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