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He nodded, arching a brow. “That’s putting it mildly.”
She sighed, knowing there was no reason for her to linger. “Is there anything else I can do for you, Mr. Dean?”
He looked at her, his smile melting her from the inside out. “I thought we’d progressed to Finn, Jessa.”
She stood, cradling Oscar. Why did saying his name sound so intimate? “Finn.” She paused. “Is there anything else?”
He sat back in his chair. “What do you think of the new tagline?”
His abrupt change of topic made her pause. Tagline? For the new sp
ort hybrids? It had to be. That was the focus of the marketing department right now—chasing down the elusive demographic of drivers wanting fast cars that wouldn’t leave a big carbon footprint. Not an easy task. “You mean: Dean Automotive, redefining smart and sexy?” she asked. “I happen to think it’s quite good.” And her idea.
“Because it’s a good tagline? Or because it’s yours?” he asked, steepling his fingers in front of him.
She hesitated, knowing this was an opportunity to remind him that her skill set extended beyond the domestic domain. “I take credit for it. Proudly. It’s exactly the tone we want to set for this new line. Isn’t it? Perhaps I am biased… But the test group seemed to respond favorably as well.”
“I know, I’ve seen the numbers,” he agreed, those unfathomable eyes riveted upon her.
She smiled.
“It’s good work,” he said.
“Thank you, sir.” If she kept smiling like this, she was going to burst. “I’ll let you get back to work.”
He nodded, his gaze fixed on his computer screen as she pulled the door shut behind her.
A good day, overall. Yes, Harry was going to blow a gasket when she told him she was leaving town. Each day his phone calls were becoming more frequent, and longer. He was managing, but only just. And she understood. He had a life, exams, and responsibilities of his own. The house, their brothers, had always been her responsibility.
And yet, even he’d been blown away by Finn’s generous offer. She didn’t keep their financial situation from them—they all knew every cent counted. They’d promised to step up, to make this work, and come out ahead for a change.
Besides she couldn’t leave Oscar—or Finn. Whatever was happening, Finn’s tension was palpable.
I can protect them. Finn’s words.
She shivered, holding Oscar closer and sitting in the new rocking chair. Who needed protecting? And from what?
Oscar lay on her lap, his little eyes red-rimmed and his mouth stretching wide in a yawn. She smiled, leaning forward to press a kiss to his head, and smoothed the copper curl on the top of his head. “Your daddy loves you, Oscar, he just doesn’t know how to show it yet.” She paused, stroking the baby’s soft cheek. “We need to show him you’re not something to be afraid of. You’re something to love.”
She sang her brother’s favorite lullaby, rocking Oscar gently until he was sound asleep. Only then did the anxiety return. As irrational as it was, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Finn’s phone call had something to do with Oscar.
Chapter Four
Finn’s fingers paused over his keyboard at the sound of Jessa’s voice. She’d left the baby monitor on his desk.
It was no wonder that Oscar responded to her. When she wasn’t talking to him, she was humming. If his son found comfort in her, he understood. In the last few days, he’d spent a surprising amount of time working from home. He’d tried to convince himself it was so he could be available if Jessa needed anything, but the truth was more complicated.
The wolf needed to be close to Oscar.
And Jessa, too.
Jessa.
He’d find a nanny, and then what? His wolf rejected—violently—the idea of letting her go. Finn’s heart tightened and his pulse quickened, as if he were bracing for a fight. Against himself? Because the wolf wanted her?
He had no fucking choice.
How the hell could he function with Jessa as his assistant? Working closely every day, tempted by her scent, her voice, her eyes… What the hell had he been thinking? Even taking pains to avoid her, he still sought out the rhythm of her heartbeat. It was enough, however slight the connection. To lose that… He rolled his head, breathing deep to soothe the wolf.
