Page 7 of Mafia Boss' Surprise Baby

“It is. It’s discouraging to know I failed. I mean, I’m grateful for the opportunity to start over and get my CPA, ride back into California in triumph, that kind of thing.”

“Sure. You’ll be riding in no time,” he says and my heart nearly jumps out of my chest at the double entendre he surely couldn’t have meant.

His gaze heats my blood and makes my breath come faster. I know I’m flushed. His dark gaze feels heavy on my face, my lips specifically. I want to step toward him, go around my desk and meet his eyes, be brazen and forget that the stakes, the rules, the fact that he’s not only my boss, but he’s Rory’s closest friend.

There might as well be an electrified barbed wire fence around him.

Looking at him now, I can almost forget that he’s been on the periphery of my world all my life, picking Rory up in his car while I waved from the front window. My brother’s friend, big and powerful and as out-of-reach as the moon. Handsome enough that I used to sneak pictures of him with my first cell phone—mostly crooked and sometimes blurry because I was trying to hide my spying.

“You okay?” He asks. I snap to attention and realize I’ve been daydreaming.

“Yeah, sorry. It’s just weird being in this position. But I really do appreciate everything you’re doing for me Mick.”

He laughs. It’s such a good laugh, deep and expansive and it twists something in the vicinity of my chest. “I mean Mr. O’Halloran.”

“Mick is fine, Kate.”

“You can call me Katie,” I say. I have to start thinking before words come out of my mouth, because this shit is embarrassing.

“Are you sure? You said in the interview it’s Kate now.”

“It is. Professionally.”

“Well, you’re at the office and I’m your boss. I’m not sure how much more professional it gets.”

“I know I’m at work,” I say, “but Rory still calls me Katie. You might as well.”

“I’m not your brother,” he says, and his deep voice feels warm and crackly when he says it.

“I know that too. Is this a memory test? I may be a nepo hire but I know who you are and where I’m at,” I roll my eyes at him. He is trying not to crack a smile but his eyes, those icy blue eyes I’ve always found so captivating are sparkling a little with amusement.

“You always did have a smart mouth on you,” he says.

“And you always thought you were hot shit,” I say in a low voice, grinning in spite of myself.

“Because I was,” he says matter-of-factly.

I can’t help but laugh. Wishing I could stand here and talk to him all day, I realize I might be sliding into dangerous territory. “Well, you’ve probably got some big meeting here and I’m keeping you from it.”

“They’ll wait for me,” he says nonchalantly.

He’s funny and sexy and I feel my cheeks heat. I probably have banners of feverish bright pink on my face right now. Flustered, I swallow hard. He’s crowding me. He smells amazing and the heat coming off his body is like being too close to the fireplace in winter. I stand there dumbly, unable to form another coherent thought.

“I can take a hint. I’ll let you get back to work.”

“I don’t want my boss thinking I stand around talking all day,” I say.

I sit back down at my computer, aware that he’s standing nearby and watching me. I sit poker-straight and log in to my workstation. After a minute he walks away and I watch him from the corner of my eye, those broad shoulders and that commanding stride.

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding and get back to work.

7

MICKEY

“Son of a bitch,” I mutter under my breath.

“What’s that?” My bodyguard perks up.

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