Page 77 of Miss Manage

“I’m sorry, too, for doubting your motive. Your family is lovely.”

“Are they?” he teased, stepping closer until his hand found mine, his fingers slipping easily between my own.

“Mhm,” I murmured, my gaze flicking toward the balcony overlooking the yard. “Though they’re over there watching us like it’s prime-time television.”

He glanced up to where his brothers were staring at us without any shame. “They’re plotting their revenge.”

“For what?”

“I was a bit of a grumpy asshole to Kelsey and Addison when I first met them.”

My brows went sky high. “Why? You didn’t like them?”

“It wasn’t that,” he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck with his free hand. “I didn’t know them, and I was grouchy and cynical about relationships.”

My mouth curved, amused. “And now?”

“I’ve made it right. We’re good. But you know what they say about first impressions. I definitely don’t nail mine.”

I chuckled. “I do know. But lucky for you, you’re pretty good at a redo. How are things with Samantha going?”

He smiled, the action making me realize how much I’d missed him this last week.

“Things with Samantha are good. Really good. We’re staying here tonight and plan to catch a movie tomorrow. What are you up to this weekend?”

“Austin had a game this morning. Tomorrow it’s brunch with my mom before she and Michelle take off for Hawaii.”

“You’re not going with them?”

I shook my head. “The timing didn’t work this time I leave for New York for client meetings on Monday. I’ll be back on Thursday afternoon.”

“It means a lot that you came today, and I’ll try to be patient and pretend like it’ll be okay to wait until next weekend to spend time together. If you’re open to it?”

My relief was immense. “I’d like that.”

“When do you think they’ll make the final decision?”

I glanced down at where our fingers were connected, the air thickening with the weight of that impending decision. “By next week, I’m assuming. I heard they’ve already let two external candidates go.”

He nodded, the movement slow and thoughtful.

The following silence wasn’t uncomfortable, merely charged with the awareness that whatever happened over the next couple of weeks, it would change things.

I only hoped we could survive the change.