Page 35 of Grumpy Boss of the Year

“Guys like me?”

“You know what I mean.” She winks.

“So, what do you like to read? What's your favorite book?”

“Believe it or not, my favorite book is a series.”

“Oh, let me see if I can guess.”

“Okay.”

“Is it theHarry Potterseries?”

“No, but I will admit that I did enjoy the books.”

“Me, too,” she says, nodding. “I actually want to go with Skye to Universal Studios so that we can go on the Harry Potter train.”

“Oh, yeah, I was just talking to my sister and niece about that,” I say looking at her. “I might try and fly them over and take them.”

“Oh, that sounds nice.” She looks taken aback.

“You have a niece?”

“I do.” I smile. “She’s amazing. She's funny, clever, naughty… She’s living the childhood I hope my children will live one day.”

“You want to have children?” She looks at me, shocked. I burst out laughing then.

“Don’t worry, Elisabetta. I’m not asking you to bear my children.”

“Trust me, that’s not a conversation we would ever be having,” she says, shuddering. “I would never want to be the mother of your kids. I would never want to be your wife.”

“Who knew you were so old-fashioned?” I say.

“Who says you have to be married to have kids? I mean, I think it’s preferable for the kids, don’t you?” she says. “I mean, I get why sometimes it doesn’t work out that way, but ideally, I think it’s better for kids to have a mother and a father.”

I nod slowly."It’s true. It doesn’t always work out that way.”

“I know. I mean, I was raised by my dad, so I get it.”

“Oh, you were?” I look over at her. “So, your dad was a single dad?”

“Yep, my mom died when I was young, and he raised me.” She makes a face.

“Well, technically, that’s not completely true.”

“Oh, what do you mean? What part of that is not true? Your mom didn’t die young?”

“No, of course, my mom died. I mean, my father got remarried, and I had a stepmom, but she wasn’t like a mom to me. She did have a boy, though, so he was a stepbrother to me. Well, really, a real brother. His name’s Romeo. He's cool.”

“You have a brother named Romeo, and you didn’t think to call yourself Juliet?”

“I was already born, so no. I'm Elisabetta.”

“True, so, what’s your stepmom like?”

“Typical evil stepmother, was only in it for the money.” She shrugs. “I barely see her. To be honest, my three aunts raised me.”

“Your three aunts?” I frown. “I thought you said your dad raised you?”

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