Page 34 of Pucking My Off-Limits Billionaire Boss
Lucy laughs lightly. "Well, I have been known to be quite the charmer with the under-ten crowd. Must be my knack for making funny faces."
"I think it's more than that," I say, feeling a sense of rightness in her company. "He can tell you're a good person. Kids have a sixth sense for that kind of thing."
Her cheeks flush slightly at the compliment. "Thanks, Jake. That means a lot. Carter's a great kid. He's lucky to have you."
I find myself studying her, the playful banter giving way to something more profound. "Lucy, I've got to say, working with you has been... an experience. Challenging, sure, but there's something about it. Something good."
She meets my gaze, her expression open and genuine. "I feel the same way. It's been a wild ride, but I'm glad we're on it together."
The air around us is thick with possibility, a sense that we're on the cusp of something more. It's a feeling I can't quite define, but it's there, simmering just beneath the surface, ready to break free.
17
Lucy
Thesunisshiningbrilliantly over Cedarwood, the kind of day that makes you want to toss paperwork to the wind and just play. And that's exactly what I'm doing, outside the bustling construction site, with the most adorable co-conspirator a girl could ask for—Carter.
Carter, Chuck, and I are in the midst of a highly competitive game of tag, if you can call it that, with a three-year-old and a stuffed blue bunny. Carter's laughter peals through the air, a sound so infectious that I can't help but join in, my own troubles momentarily forgotten. "You can't catch me!" he squeals, a challenge I happily accept.
I'm about to launch into my ‘fearsome’ pursuit when Jake emerges from the site, clipboard in hand. He leans against the wall, watching us with a look that's a mix of amusement and something softer, something that sends an unfamiliar flutter through my stomach.
"Looks like you've met your match, Lucy," Jake calls out, a playful smirk playing on his lips. Carter, seizing his chance, dashes behind Jake, using him as a shield.
"Daddy! Help!" Carter giggles, clinging to Jake's leg.
I straighten up, brushing a stray lock of hair from my face. "Oh, I see how it is. Teaming up against me, huh?"
Jake's eyes meet mine, and there's warmth there, a tenderness that's new and yet feels right. "Looks like I'm the referee now," he says, lifting Carter up into his arms. Carter squeals in delight, the sound echoing off the half-built walls of what will soon be Cedarwood Tavern and Mocha Memoirs.
Standing there, watching them together, I can't help but feel a surge of... something. It's a mix of affection, respect, and a little bit of wonder. Carter, with his boundless energy and laughter, and Jake, who despite his sometimes overbearing ways, can be surprisingly sweet and paternal. It's a side of him I hadn't seen before, and it's endearing, to say the least.
In this moment, I can see a glimpse of something, a potential future that includes laughter, play, and maybe... just maybe, a family. It's a thought that's both scary and exhilarating, and I push it to the back of my mind for now. But as I watch Jake with his son, I can't help but feel a growing bond between us, a connection that's becoming harder to ignore.
"Alright, you two," I say, stepping forward with a mock stern look. "Time to call a truce. I think our construction crew needs their fearless leader back."
Jake grins, setting Carter down. "You hear that, buddy? Duty calls."
Carter nods solemnly, then runs off to continue his adventures among the piles of construction materials, a little king in his own bustling kingdom.
As Jake and I watch him go, our shoulders brush lightly, and I'm acutely aware of his presence beside me. It's a simple touch, but it sends a wave of warmth through me, a feeling that's becoming a familiar companion in Jake's company.
"Thanks for keeping him entertained," Jake says, his voice softer now. "You're pretty good with him."
I shrug, trying to play it cool. "What can I say? I'm a natural."
As we're soaking in the simplicity of the moment, Hailey arrives with Charlotte in tow. The little girl is a bundle of curly hair and boundless energy, immediately making a beeline for Carter. Watching them greet each other, you'd think they were long-lost pals, not kids who just met each other not too long ago.
"Hey guys!" Hailey greets, her voice a melody of warmth. She's got that supermom vibe down to an art – a diaper bag slung over her shoulder, and still managing to look like she's got it all together.
"Lucy, Jake," she nods at us, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "Looks like you've got things under control here."
I can't help but laugh. "If by 'under control' you mean being thoroughly outplayed by a three-year-old, then absolutely."
Hailey chuckles, her eyes twinkling with mirth. "Well, I'm here to relieve you of your duties. Charlotte's been talking non-stop about her playdate with Carter."
Carter and Charlotte are already deep in some serious discussion about the best way to build a sandcastle, or at least that's what it sounds like from their excited babble.
Jake crouches down to Carter's level, ruffling his hair. "Buddy, you're going to go with Aunt Hailey and Charlotte. You guys are gonna have a blast, okay?"
