Page 5 of The Housekeeper's Billionaire Boss
Geez, he’d been so wrapped up in figuring out her Christmas bonus, he’d forgotten to mess the place up. “That’s all right. It’s good you’re here.” He handed her the envelope filled with cash. “I won’t be here for Christmas, and I wanted to make sure you got your bonus.”
Her fingers brushed his as she took it, and his heart skipped a beat as a zing of energy lit up his arm. An electrical fence wouldn’t have shocked him as much. Whew, he definitely needed to date a little more when he returned to Dallas next year. Or maybe by the next year, he’d have the guts to ask Molly about her relationship status.
Molly opened the envelope and gasped. “Mr. West, this is entirely too much money.”
He shook his head. “No, it’s not. It’s a Christmas bonus. Those don’t count.”
A single eyebrow went up, and she leaned back. “You already pay me really well. I can’t accept this.”
“Yes, you can. I just gave it to you. That’s how this works.” He gave her a cheesy grin.
Her lips rolled in, and her cheeks lifted as she tried to hide her smile. “What am I going to do with you?”
“Uh…” Kiss him?
He nearly choked on the thought. He’d never been happier to have a filter in his life. If that had actually tumbled from his lips, he would’ve been looking for a hole to hide in and possibly a new housekeeper.
Taking a deep breath, she shook her head. “You’re a very sweet man. It makes no sense to me why you’re still single.” She quickly put her fingers to her mouth. “I meant…” She sagged a little. “I’m so sorry. That was a weird thing to say. I just meant you’re too nice to be alone.”
Josiah slipped his hands into his pants pockets, hanging his head so she didn’t catch him blushing. “I appreciate the compliment.” He turned and stopped on his way out of the room. “I guess I’ll go finish packing.”
“Is there something you need me to do?”
“I have some laundry that needs folded, but other than that, I need you to have a great holiday. Take some of that and pamper yourself. Okay?” He glanced at her and smiled. “Merry Christmas, Molly.”
“You too, Mr. West…” She mumbled something under her breath, but he couldn’t quite make it out.
He walked into his bedroom and grabbed a few more of his toiletries he’d used earlier that morning. With those packed, he zipped his suitcase and stood there a second, trying to think of anything he might have forgotten.
The doorbell rang, startling him. Why would anyone be coming by to see him when they knew he was leaving town? He walked to the living room, pulling his luggage behind him, just as Molly walked in from the laundry room.
“I have no idea who that could be,” Josiah said as he crossed the room and opened the door.
A distraught woman holding a car seat with a crying baby covered in a pink blanket stood in front of him. “Uh…”
“Is Molly here?” The question came out in a rush. “I…”
He turned and nearly ran into Molly for the second time that day. “There’s a lady looking for you.”
“Molly, I’m so sorry, but I have to leave early today. My mom fell down the stairs. I just got a call from the service, and they’re rushing her to the hospital.” She quickly stepped forward, handed the baby to Molly, and waved as she rushed away. “I’m so sorry. I’ll call you.”
Josiah’s eyebrows shot up. “I feel I may not have been as observant as I should have. You have a baby?”
Molly took the wailing infant out of the car seat and cradled her in an effort to soothe her. “I’m so sorry.”
He held out his hands. “Let me try.”
She hesitated a moment before giving him the baby.
He gently rocked her back and forth and smiled. “Hey, what’s all this ruckus?” he asked softly. “You’re too pretty to cry.” The longer he talked to her, the less she cried, until she settled down.
“Wow, you’re really good,” Molly said.
He glanced up at her as the baby wrapped her tiny hand around his index finger. “Yeah, my mom tells me I’m wasting my power by not being a politician.”
Molly laughed. “I’m really sorry for all this. I promise it won’t happen again.”
“It’s okay.” Josiah continued to rock the little one. “What’s her name?”
