Page 71 of Bad Boy for Hire
“If you don’t mind, I’m going to let you two work out the timing for the app, and I can chime in after. Too many chefs in the kitchen.” May maintained her smile. Jewell watched her carefully, as if she had a sneaking suspicion that May wasn’t being forthright.
Which, of course, she wasn’t.
“May—” Xavier started.
“If you need my input, I’m right outside the door.” May eased said door shut, even though she felt like slamming it. She managed to pace to her desk rather than stomp. It was possible that the rage simmering along the collar of her autographed T-shirt could be partially blamed on her raging hormones, but she didn’t feel like giving Xavier the benefit of the doubt.
How dare he infer that he had everything under control when he wasn’t the only person involved? And yes, she was thinking about the pregnancy and not the creation of the app. But hadn’t he been talking about the pregnancy too?
Despite promising to be at her desk, she decided she didn’t want to be here. Xavier and Jewell could conclude their meeting without her help. She grabbed her purse and shut her office door. On her way out, she told Sara at the front desk that she would be back in an hour under the guise of taking an early lunch. “If there’s anything pressing, have Jewell call me.”
May refused to see this as running away. The break she was taking was more out of self-preservation than anything. Still, she didn’t recall her temper being quite so pointy before being pregnant.
After escaping the office and eating a few tacos, she felt less ragged than before.
By the time she returned to work, Xavier was exiting via the front door of the building. The parking lot was large, but not large enough for her to sneak by him. Even so, she wouldn’t have done that.
“Sara said you went to lunch,” he said as he approached. “I thought you and I were going to lunch.”
“And I thought mansplaining was out of fashion.”
His face pinched, but a confused smile remained. “Did something happen? I thought we had an understanding at Harvest Fest.” He gestured to her T-shirt. “I introduced you to Asher as promised. Although I think I benefited more from that in my bed afterward.”
Fact. She had been ready to go that night. No shame in that game. “We were good. Are. We are good. I just…didn’t like how you acted as if you knew everything in there.”
“I don’t think I know everything.” He squinted against the bright sunshine, which caused attractive crinkles around his gorgeous eyes. Asher, Schmasher. Xavier was so damned hot, it was hard for her to be upset with him. If she’d been upset with him at all.
Now she was questioning if she’d been more hangry than insulted. Plus: pregnant.
“Jewell and I unpacked the nitty-gritty details after you left the meeting. I told her that while I am confident I can deliver by June, I will defer to you on the best release date.”
“Me?”
“You. Jewell already knows I defer to her. You have a say in this too. I was just trying to show strength in front of two very strong, very intimidating women.”
May’s shoulders sagged. “Why are you so good at that?”
“At what?” One hand was holding the strap of a leather laptop bag on his shoulder, so he reached for her hip with the other.
“Disarming me.”
“Not trying to disarm you, May. I’m trying to support you. You can count on me. I realize that your family, for all intents and purposes, is gone. But I’m not gone. I’m right here. And starving, by the way, since someone went to lunch without me.”
He kissed her nose, which proved to disarm her further.
“Now, see, that sweet gesture makes it impossible for me to stay angry with you.”
“That’s a relief. I screw up a lot.” He dipped his head. “How about one for the road? A good one.”
Was there more to talk about? Yes. Did she want to talk about it now? No. What she wanted was to send him off with a kiss and then talk to him later when she was warm and cozy and, preferably, naked. That was when they had their best talks.
And so she kissed him, smoothed his beard, and told him he was nothing but trouble. To which he agreed before walking his fine ass to his Range Rover.
She waltzed into the office feeling lighter than before she’d left. Like the world was a touch brighter. Outside of her office, she encountered Jewell lingering in the doorway, arms folded.
“How was lunch?” her suspicious boss asked.
“Good. How was the meeting?”
