Page 42 of Billionaire Grump's Baby

15

LUKE

Hazel and I largely avoid each other for the rest of the week. I head out to work every day—thankfully with no more shower mishaps. Hazel stays home and works on our book. Sometimes she emails Joey, my administrative assistant, requesting documents from the company’s archives she needs for background research. Other times she’ll text me asking if I still have my high school yearbooks.

But mostly we avoid each other until I come home from work. When I do, we have a business-like dinner, where she sticks to my approved categories of questions. We cover any details that need to be worked out for the wedding, like travel arrangements for her parents (flying on Helius, naturally). Then at the end of dinner, right before we go our separate ways, Hazel asks her one personal question.

Sometimes they’re silly, like when she asked what movie I normally watch when I’m sick.

Other times, she’ll ask me about one of my family members. When she asked me to tell me a happy memory about my mom, I told her about one dinner when I was about fifteen, and my dad and I were at each other’s throats, until my mom started a food fight. It was so ridiculous and fun. I can still remember how big my dad’s laugh was, and how we all ended the evening laughing and smiling.

I hadn’t thought about that day in years.

No matter what question she asks, it always catches me off guard, and cracks me open a little wider than I intended.

On Thursday she reminds me that I promised to let her shadow me this week at the office. So, on Friday morning we head to the office together.

I told Hazel to wear something discrete, so she’s in a black sweater dress that clings to her curves, paired with her cowboy boots and some dangling silver jewelry that catches the light when she moves.

I suppose it is discrete, by Hazel standards. But I can’t help sneaking glances at her as we ride up the elevator together. “Would it have killed you to wear a suit?”

She laughs. Then she catches sight of my face. “Oh. You’re serious.” She tilts her head. “Do I seem like the kind of woman who has a suit?”

No, I think.That’s the problem.

We head to my office. Hazel waves to everyone she met on the days she came in to interview me. They wave back enthusiastically.

Sit quietly in the corner, my ass, I think.

When Joey spots her, he immediately brightens. “Hazel! It’s nice to see you again. I found a box of old company newsletters you might like. There’s one of Luke playing games at the company picnic when he was six...”

I growl.

“...that you probably don’t want to see,” Joey hastily finishes, shoving the box back under his desk.

Hazel winks. “Thanks, Joey. We can talk more about that whensomeoneis busy.”

“I’m right here,” I grumble. “I can hear you.”

She swats me on the arm playfully. I pretend I don’t like it.

That’s when I notice Joey’s eyes have gone as wide as saucers. He’s staring at Hazel’s left hand.

“Hazel, you got engaged?” he asks.

Is it my imagination, or does he look a little disappointed?

Without thinking, my hand moves to the small of her back. Instinctively staking my claim. “Yes. She is.”

There’s an awkward second, as Joey figures out what my hand on Hazel’s back means, and Hazel and I realize thatof coursewe’re going to spend the whole day playing “newly engaged couple” in front of the whole office. If we don’t, it will get back to my dad, and he’ll be suspicious.

Hazel recovers first.

A giant grin takes over her whole face, and she shoves her ring under Joe’s face. “Isn’t gorgeous? I wanted to get an engagement band for Luke, but he insists that’s not a thing for men. He’s such a traditionalist, you know?”

“I...yeah. I guess he is.” Joey blinks up at Hazel in awe.

“I’m shadowing Luke today as research for his book,” Hazel says. “Could you give a heads up to everyone on his schedule today? Thanks, you’re a dear.” She flashes a brilliant smile at him again, and then swaggers into my office.

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