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If she wouldn’t take any money from him for helping with the photo, there’s no way in hell she would accept a job from him. Besides, he didn’t have employees. What he did was best done alone. If he needed help, it wasn’t the kind she could give him. Unless she’s a weapons expert and failed to mention it. Nothing regarding Gia would surprise him. Then again, he probably wasn’t what she thought either.
“What if it wasn’t a dream?” She couldn’t see the value she had to offer to a company through her research abilities. And if he was correct, Brice was going on her past work experience. He hated to do it, but he might need to intervene in her career path. Why not open doors she never knew were there? Roger prided himself on not being indebted to the Hendersons for a damn thing. Somehow that had changed since meeting Gia. If she won’t chase her dream, then it might have to chase her.
She was quiet for a minute and then asked, “What time do you want to leave in the morning?”
“Gia, I’m serious.”
“So am I. There are things I need to get ready.”
Her tone said she was getting frustrated with the conversation. But why was she so resistant to talking about it? Pushing was an option, but doing so probably meant calling this an early night. He didn’t want to leave her so early. Hell, who am I fooling? I’d spend the night if I thought she wouldn’t regret it in the morning. But Roger knew she would.
“Is this your way of telling me you’d like me to leave?” If she was, he’d respect that. Not like it, but respect it.
“I don’t . . . don’t know.” She sighed. “This is not at all what I expected when I met you. I never thought you’d . . . that I’d . . . see you so much.”
Neither did I.“It was unexpected for me as well.”
“So much has changed in the past week. I’m not used to it. Usually I have my day, heck my entire month, planned out. I live a very routine life. Or at least I did. Now . . . heck, I’m going to New York with you tomorrow. With no plan for where we will be staying or anything. This isn’t me. Or at least, not usually.”
It was becoming clearer to him. She was out of her comfort zone. It wasn’t that she didn’t like it, as much as it scared her. That’s why she stayed in the compliance position. Taking a blind leap was breaking whatever rules she’d set up for herself. And I’m one who doesn’t follow any rule book but my own.
“Maybe it’s time to break a few of your rules.” When he saw the panic in her eyes he said, “Or maybe just bend them a little. I’ll make the hotel arrangements if that is okay, and you can plan what you’d like us to do while we’re there. Is that acceptable?” Giving her control was the only way he knew she’d still agree to go.
“You might regret this.”
I already know I’m going to.Raising his beer to his lips, he said, “Only one way to find out. It’s late and the pizza is cold, but let’s eat before the beer is warm.”
She laughed. “Sounds like we have a plan.”
There definitely were things in the works. Things she might not approve of. But since when did what people think about him matter? He was calling Brice when he left Gia’s and set it all in motion. That smile he’d seen on her face was one he never wanted to see fade. Hopefully she never finds out I’m the one who put it there.
She was so adamant about not taking money that having a job created for her wasn’t going to go over very well either. What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her. One thing Roger was very good at was covering his tracks.
