“She still volunteers with Village Hearts, so it’s on the list they gave me.”
“I think it’s cool how you two get along.”
“Me, too.” Olivia closed her planner with a sigh. “It’s definitely different than any of the divorces in my family. And I’m glad, since I’m not sure I can handle a relationship with an ex like my mother in it.”
“You’ve seemed different since you started dating Derek. Happier, even when you’re a little stressed out by how things have changed.”
“I am happier. There are some issues, of course—there always are—and one of them is how my schedule sometimes feels like it was tossed in a blender without the lid on.”
Kelsey laughed, but her amusement faded quickly into an uncharacteristic seriousness. “You know, since you’ve been seeing Derek, I’ve picked up some more responsibility and helped out with follow-up and stuff.”
Olivia nodded, not surprised. It would have been about the time for the question of a raise even if nothing had changed in her personal life to put more weight on Kelsey’s shoulders. “You have, and I appreciate it.”
“I also know you’re a little behind on your book, which you could technically write anywhere.”
Olivia frowned, both because she didn’t like being reminded she was behind schedule with the manuscript and because that didn’t seem relevant to where she’d thought the conversation was heading.
“I’m not that far behind,” she said, hating the defensive tone in her voice. “And I chip away at it.”
“It wasn’t an accusation.” Kelsey blew out a breath and then gave her boss a nervous smile. “I’m just going to say it outright. I want to do more. I’mreadyto do more, to the point you’re wasting my skills on tasks any decent office manager can do. It’s inefficient and fiscally irresponsible.”
Olivia made sure her expression gave nothing away. “You’re trying to push the buttons you know work on me.”
“Just hear me out. I can do follow-ups. I can work with smaller clients on the basic systems. I can troubleshoot. There are alotof things you’re doing that I can take over without diluting or weakening your brand in any way. We could easily train an assistant to do most of my day-to-day things. Some of the work would still be mine and, combined with taking on some of your work, leaves me with a solid career path. And it leaves you more free hours to focus on the high-end and high-tech market. The big money. Or it leaves you more free hours to enjoy more time with Derek.”
She wasn’t wrong. Olivia knew Kelsey was capable of more than what she was given to do, and she trusted her knowledge and drive. Kelsey stepping up had always been part of the plan, but just not yet. “I’m not basing business decisions on my personal life.”
“It’s not that simple, though. You have to make room for him somewhere, and he can’t comeaftereverything else on your to-do list.” She set her bag down and went to the fridge to grab a drink. “I’ve thought a lot about this lately.”
“I have been, too,” Olivia admitted. “I don’t want him to come after everything else, but I also can’t just let my responsibilities slide. I got here by making a solid plan and executing it. If I start wandering off the plan, it crumbles.”
Kelsey put the cap back on her drink and picked up her bag. “I just know it’s starting to weigh on you and I wanted to tell you that I’m ready to step up my role in your company so that when you’re thinking about it, you have that information.”
“Thank you.”
Kelsey was almost to the door when she stopped and turned back. “And you might want to consider that fighting to stick to your plan isn’t the right answer. It might be time to make anewplan.”
* * *
Derek kissed his kids goodbye, feeling a pang of regret as they ran past their mom into the house. It was Saturday and they should be with him.
But Olivia was coming over around dinnertime and there was no reason they couldn’t all hang out at his place—and they probablyshouldbe—but he’d had the uneasy feeling he and Olivia were losing traction and it was time they talk about some things.
He wanted more.
And he didn’t want to have that personal of a conversation in hushed voices with the kids asleep on the other side of their doors, so after spending the day with them, he’d asked them if they’d mind going home for the night. He’d pick them up again in the morning and do something fun. They didn’t really care which place they physically slept in, so thesomething funbribe worked.
“They’re fine,” Amber said, probably reading the second thoughts all over his face.
“This is their time with me. I don’t get to see them as much when school starts, so I feel guilty about not taking every minute.”
“You are a part of every single day for them, whether they’re here or there. And what you’re doing is in their best interests, not just yours. You’ve looked happy these last couple of months, which makesmehappy, but you also look tired. If she’s the one for you, it’s time to start looking forward at how it’s going to work before you burn yourself out trying to be there for everybody.”
When he’d called to ask about bringing them home, not wanting to break up any plans she and Jason might have made, he’d told her why.
“Yeah, it’s time for us to start looking forward.” And it made him nervous as hell.
He wasn’t any less nervous when Olivia showed up, looking delicious in leggings and a lightweight summer sweater that draped over her hips.
