I Do the Boss (Managing the Bosses Series, #5)(16)

"Around Alex? Hell yes." He sat down in the booth and turned over the upside down coffee cup in front of him. "Well, you don't, but every other girl in the world. You know Kristen probably came in search of him to try to score a spot in his life. Why else? Who comes back after all these years to say thank you?"

"She said she just found him again." Jamie turned her cup over too, and thanked the waitress as she filled up their mugs.

"That's dumb. I like Kristen and all, but think this through. Alex has been in business for over ten years, right? He's been big shit for most of that time too. She knew where he was if she's turned on CNN or any news station. He's been all over the news for years. And on magazine covers."

"That's true." Jamie lifted her cup to her lips. "You don't think she's still after him, right? I was starting to like her."

"No, I don't. I think she realizes that his heart is yours and she's good with it." He picked up his menu. "I'm just not sure that it's time to turn toward a life of being single, at least until a girl that I can't live without turns up."

"You think that girl exists?" Jamie smirked.

"Now who's being the Negative-Nancy?" He glanced over the top of the menu.

"Right. Sorry." She dragged her finger down the list of pancakes and stopped on the light menu. She hated to eat her daily caloric intake in one meal, but chocolate chip pancakes sounded a whole lot better than gluten-free, sugar-free, fat-free pancakes.

Damn things should be free... They're made of air.

"I'll get a meat lover’s omelet with extra cheese, potatoes, and toast. You get a big-ass stack of whatever pancakes you like and we'll share." He set the menu down and leaned back. "Deal?"

How could I deny him?

"Yep. Deal." She moved the menu away from her, promising herself that she would run a few miles later that night and try hard to get back into her routine of taking Jake out for a morning run. The weather was perfect for it.

"So tell me about seeing your family last night. How did that drama go?"

"About as you would expect. My sister blames me for Stephen leaking the information to the press." She pursed her lips as Mark's voice rose.

"What? That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard in my life! Crazy. Who are these insane people that you come from?" He ran his hand down his face, making him impossibly cute.

Jamie laughed. "Right? I swear I was dropped off by a f*cking stork."

"Must have been." He lifted the menu to the waitress and ordered as Jamie turned and watch an elderly couple help each other get into their car. "And your mom and dad? Are they aware of everything?"

"Yeah." Jamie turned her attention back to Mark. "Yeah, my father’s disgusted, and my mom's loving it. She's as off as my sister is. I don't know what to do about any of them. I'm thinking it might just be best to let Alex and his lawyers handle it. It's not like I can talk sense to my family. My dad's the only one with a brain in his head."

"That sucks." Mark sat back. "My dad was pretty sensible too. He had his faults, but I miss the old bastard sometimes."

"I bet." Jamie took another drink of her coffee. "Are you enjoying the firm now that you're a little more settled in?"

"Yeah, it's great. It's a little too big for my liking, but I figure I'll hang out for another year or so, and then maybe look at starting something myself. A small accounting firm or something. Alex and I spoke a little about it the other day, but I'm going to bring it up again soon. I need to get him to teach me to play golf better. He's damn good at it, but it's a rich man's game. It's no wonder, right?" He smirked.

"Why do you need to be good at golf?" Jamie moved back as the food was delivered. "Wow, that was fast."

"If I want to impress rich people, I gotta act like them. A lot of deals are done on the golf course. Come on, you know this." He picked up his fork. "Why don't you get him to teach you, and then you teach me? I'd rather hang out with you than him any day."

"And my answer would be no for that reason alone. You guys need to work on your relationship. Golf sounds like a great way to do it." She shrugged and started to cut up the pancakes.

"You and your sister should go shopping more often together." He lifted his eyebrow as she glanced up.

"Right. Point taken. I'll get him to teach me golf." They shared a laugh and kept the conversation light for the rest of the meal. Mark might be Alex's brother, but he was quickly becoming Jamie's best friend.





Chapter 7


Jamie couldn't help but notice the way Mark's shoulders stiffened as she followed him out of the elevator. The source of his discomfort came into view as Jamie moved up beside him and noticed Paul and Kristen laughing at the front desk. Some part of her wanted to snap and remind them that it was working hours, and they should get their asses in gear, but it wasn't her place. She'd talk to Alex about it, probably out of the need to protect Mark more than anything, but either way... flirting half the day away wasn't going to fly.

"See?" Mark glanced over at her. "I'm ready to pull out all the stops to get her attention back on me, but, honestly, I don't want her attention."