The Intern (The Dalton Family #4)(97)

“For you, I have more than a second.” As she walked inside my office, my hands left the keyboard, and I leaned back in my chair. “What can I do for you, Miss Dalton?”

As she took a seat, she glanced toward the door she had closed. “What did you say to Alice? She ran out of your office like you’d lit her on fire.”

“I might have.”

“Ah. The bark is back.”

I smiled. “The bark never left, baby.” My arms stretched out wide, and then I cupped the back of my head with my palms. “Everyone is getting on my fucking nerves today. I’ve been trying to draft this settlement for Walter, and I have had no time to finish it.”

She cocked her head. “Should I leave, then?”

“Don’t you dare.”

“Not that I wish your bark on anyone, but admittedly, it’s nice not to be on the receiving end of it anymore. Christopher doesn’t growl; he whines. That sound is much easier on the nerves.”

“What are you saying, Hannah?”

She was holding a folder and set it on the chair next to her, leaning her arms on my desk. “You should buy Alice something nice for all the hell you put her through.”

“It’s her job.”

“Technically, yes, but she deals with a pit bull every day when she’d rather be working for a doodle.”

I huffed. “You’re not comparing me to a fucking dog, are you?”

“I’m saying, you should give me your credit card, and I’ll pick her up a gift card to a spa, or I’ll buy her a new Chanel bag or something that will make sure she continues to show up every morning.”

Alice was a good assistant.

If Hannah thought a gift would take away the edge, then it was worth it.

I reached into my pocket, removed my wallet, and tossed the credit card across the desk. “Have fun.”

As I settled back in my chair, I was reminded of the days when she had been my intern, when I would come into my office every morning and there was breakfast and coffee waiting for me.

“What I wouldn’t do to have you back on my team.” I shook my head. “Christopher, that lucky bastard.”

“You now have me living in your house, and you get to wake up to my face every morning.” She grinned. “I’d say that’s even better, no?”

As I thought of the way she had looked just a few hours ago, soundlessly asleep on my chest, I growled, “You might have a point.”

“I have another point to share with you.” She set my credit card on her lap, her expression changing as she took several deep breaths.

My brows rose. “What is this about?”

“I have news.” Her hands flattened on my desk. “Things around here—at least for me—are going to be changing.”

My fingers tightened into a fist. “What do you mean … changing?”

At one point, over the last couple of weeks, Hannah had told me that she was concerned about us working in the same building every day, that she was worried that the business environment would affect our relationship.

She wanted nothing to come between us.

I’d reminded her that she worked on a different floor now, on a completely separate team.

There was no overlap.

And, as far as I was concerned, her new office put her too far away from me.

I wanted her close.

I wanted her in the desk right outside my office, like she’d been in before, so I could look at her every goddamn day.

Change meant something new, and I hoped to hell that didn’t mean she was leaving the firm.

I wouldn’t stand for that. Neither would her family.

She tucked a chunk of hair behind her ear and took a deep breath before she grabbed the folder off the chair beside her. “I was offered a new position.”

I had every intention of destroying that offer the second I got my hands on it.

Shredding the contract bit by fucking bit.

I reached out my hand. “Give it to me.”

“Declan …” She glanced down, breaking our eye contact.

Fuck.

I didn’t like the look of this.

I didn’t like the sound of it either.

“Hannah, let me see it.”

She slowly slid it across my desk, and I clasped the folder between my hands and opened the top flap. The first thing I looked at was the logo at the beginning of the contract, followed by the position that was being offered.

“My fucking girl,” I moaned as I read the start date and the salary, flipping to the end to see the signatures that had already been notarized. “Hannah …” I said as I met her eyes.

She bit her lip. “I know.” She stood from her seat and came around to my side of the desk, sitting on my lap, where she wrapped her arms around my neck.

“I’m so fucking proud of you.” I held her so tightly. “Baby, you not only passed the bar, but you also just got everything you’d ever dreamed of.”

“I got the bar results about an hour ago and rushed into my uncle’s office to tell him. Dominick, Jenner, Ford, and my aunt came in and handed me my contract. I signed it right away.” Tears began to fill her eyes. “An associate lawyer at The Dalton Group.” She shook her head. “Declan, I can’t believe it.”

I wiped the bottoms of her eyes. “I can.” I kissed her. “I never questioned it for a second. You earned this; you deserve this, and now, we’re going to celebrate.” I held her cheek, rubbing my thumb across her lip. “What do you want to do tonight?”