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“I do. We’ll all find out tonight,” Zander said, laughing. “And lookie there, here comes your girlfriend and she is alone.”
He turned and saw Chloe coming in the front door. He was waiting in the hallway with Zander for the Fierces and his father to show up. There was space on the second floor that would meet Zander’s needs for an office and storage area. Just about eight hundred square feet and more than enough. He didn’t even need a bathroom and could use the one in the hallway, he’d said. It’d keep the costs down on construction and rent. Zander had always been a simple guy.
“You didn’t tell me you were coming,” he said when Chloe reached them.
“I was in another meeting and wasn’t sure I’d get out on time. I told Grant and Garrett I’d meet them here if I could. I didn’t want to tell you if I couldn’t make it. It’s nice to see you again, Zander.”
“You too, Chloe. Royce was just filling me in on your bosses.”
“Oh, really?” she asked. “You mean how sneaky they are?”
Zander laughed. “I didn’t hear that part. Maybe you’d like to share that over dinner later?”
“It’d take more than one dinner for that,” she said, grinning.
The three of them laughed and his father walked in at that moment. “We are almost all here. I know Grant and Garrett are on the way. Zander, so good to see you again.”
“You too, Richard,” Zander said.
“And how is life treating you?” his father said. “You still single like my son here or have you settled down and gotten a wife and some kids?”
Royce looked at his father, then Chloe and finally Zander and shook his head. It was never going to end, he realized.
“No wife or woman. Haven’t found out about any kids yet, but you know, that is always a possibility.”
“You did like to joke about those things,” his father said. “Your mother would kill you and you know it.”
“She probably expects no differently,” Zander said.
“Did Royce introduce you to Chloe?” his father said. “She’s a gem, all right. You two might have some things in common. I’d thought maybe she’d hit it off with Royce, but I realize now there is no way. My boy isn’t good enough for her.”
His father winked, Chloe blushed, and he fought back the scowl. Maybe he had those doubts in his head with his limited availability so that statement burned hotter than it should. His father was still working on it, but it scorched just the same.
Zander slapped him on the back. “I did meet her. She is pretty sweet on the eyes and all, but I’m probably not good enough for her either.”
“Really, gentlemen,” Chloe said. “You’re talking like I’m some goddess and we know I’m not,” she said, grinning at them, but her eyes landed on Royce and stayed a fraction longer.
“Yes, she is,” Grant said, moving closer as he’d heard that statement when he opened the door. “I want to say queen of my office, but then that would be Jade and if she found out we gave that title to someone else, there’d be hell to pay.”
“Now you guys are all making my head swell,” she said. “Can you tell my parents how great I am? They don’t seem to think so. You know, like you two men, seems I can’t quite settle down.”
She was playing with her bosses and Royce couldn’t help but smile. Maybe he needed it after the statement his father threw out there.
“You’ll find your man,” Garrett said. “We’d offered to help her, but she’s pretty adamant she has this on her own.”
This was getting out of hand and he had to put an end to it before he slipped. “I’m sure Zander is busy if we can show him the space and see what he thinks.”
“I’ve got time,” Zander said. Damn, his buddy was enjoying this. But at least Zander would understand what he was battling here and why they were keeping it quiet. “I was hoping if it worked out we could get some dinner after this and discuss some things.”
“A man after my own heart,” Richard said. “Maybe Chloe wouldn’t mind going if she doesn’t have plans.”
“I’d hate to take you away from anything or anyone,” Grant said. “But if you have plans, I’m sure you and Royce could meet up another time with Zander.”
“No plans tonight that can’t be changed,” she said. “If it works out for Zander.”
The group of them went to the second floor and looked at the space that would be for Zander’s office. His friend knew what he wanted and agreed it worked for him. The Olsons had already talked rates with him prior to construction so things were falling into place.
“I’m pretty simple,” Zander said. “I know you’ve got some big projects ahead of me. I told Royce as long as I’m in by the end of the year I’m fine.”
