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“I have certain expectations from those I employ. Manners.” He glanced down at my feet. “But respecting me is the main one.”
“I get it.” I puffed my chest out, trying to put on a tough front. Though, my “no drama llama” boobs made me seem like a sassy teenager compared to his commanding Wall Street look.
“Do I scare you?” Lucas’s voice was deep and gruff.
“Maybe?” I squirmed in my chair, completely turned on by his intensity. Liking his anger couldn’t be healthy, but I’d worry about that later.
“The only way for me to control an ambitious personality like Jared is through intimidation.” Lucas pushed off the chair and walked behind his desk. It was like a wall between us, releasing some of the tension in the air.
“Are you even listening to me, Maggie?”
The answer was no, since the manly part of Lucas had my attention more than his words. I blamed it on his perfectly messy hair, broad shoulders, and that insanely cut jawline. And I forgot my name when he looked at me with those nuclear blue eyes. They were deadly.
“I’m all yours.” Every pun imaginable was intended.
“Good. Back to my expectations.” I nodded, acting like I had a clue what he was talking about. “When Jared arrived for his first interview, he was already planning how to redecorate my office once he had my job. I wanted someone with his desire to succeed, but I had to contain it. So I keep him guessing and never feeling one hundred percent confident about his job status or my approval of him. I pay him more than is necessary. That’s his reward.”
Interesting. He was paying me way more than was necessary too. Was I supposed to feel the same way as Jared? Unsure if Mary Poppins was going to show up and take over?
“I’ve messed up already, haven’t I?” He shrugged. Yikes. I wasn’t expecting that response from him. “Okay. Tell me what you want from me.”
“I’d rather not address what I want.” Lucas cleared his throat, straightening his tie. “I need you to stop all the backtalk and attitude when you’re around Jared, or anyone else in public.”
“I’ll try.” Promising him anything else would be a lie, especially while a corporate climber watched over me.
“Start by helping him. He has no clue what a baby needs, and I sure as hell am no assistance.”
“Do we have a spending limit?”
“You’re kidding, right?” He laughed. I shook my head. My mother raised me by herself, so shopping without a budget was a foreign concept. It made me nervous.
“Buy whatever you need. Now, go relieve Jared. I have to prepare for a meeting.”
Lucas bent over his desk, his brows furrowed, focusing solely on his computer screen. I’d been dismissed without an upward glance. He moved on to another task in his day, checking Esmé and me off his list.
Whatever. I refused to let his rejection hurt me. I was his employee after all. Besides, J.J. was probably standing outside the office, waiting to toss the baby back in my arms. When I opened the door, I heard laughter coming from the main living area. When I walked in to see what was going on, I couldn’t believe my eyes.
Esmé had wrapped her fingers around J.J.’s power tie and was yanking on it hard, turning it into a baby lasso.
“No, Esmé, no,” he cried out, pretending to be upset. Esmé reacted with the cutest giggle, followed by J.J. beaming right back at her.
Well, what do you know?
“Hey,” I called out. J.J. glanced up at me, all smiles. I didn’t recognize this version of him. Hadn’t even imagined anything but a stuck-up smirk could reside on his face. “What happened to Lucas’s PA? I swore I left the baby with him.”
“I think I’m in love.” Esmé pulled his tie, and he made her giggle again. I couldn’t help it and started laughing too. They were so cute together.
It was too bad Lucas didn’t let go with Esmé like this. She was such a sweet, good-natured baby compared to others I’d babysat. But one thing really bothered me, Lucas hadn’t held her or touched her once since I’d arrived on Saturday night.
DNA proved he was her father, but did he know how to be her dad? I believed something major in his past kept him from opening his heart to his child. It was my wannabe-psychologist guess. He needed help finding his way. Since I had no idea where the hurt came from, I had to be gentle and not push too hard, or he’d withdraw back into himself.
A crazy idea popped into my head I thought might actually work. All I had to do was find a lifelike baby doll in this city.
“Let’s go, you two. Baby Depot opens at eight thirty.”
I grabbed the diaper bag and car seat. J.J. followed me out of the apartment with the baby in his arms and hopefully Lucas’s credit card in his wallet. I planned on putting it to good use today.
