Keir

It’s been a week since I signed the contracts in the HR office of C&C. There’s no real job description for all Miles needs me to do, but they came up with “Special Project Coordinator”. The money is more than I’ve ever made in my life, and the perks are unreal, so they can call it whatever they want.

I don’t have a special Corrigan apartment like my sister did before she moved in with Zack, but I got a huge discount on a rental in Summerlin. The childcare for the building includes school pick-up on days I can’t make it, there’s the free food, a gym, and the list goes on and on. I’m psyched to be working here, and making a new start for the boys. Connor and Trevor deserve the best, and since it’s just me now, I’m going to be the best parent they could ever have.

“Daddy, you have to go!” Trevor tells me, practically pushing me towards the door.

I know he loves the thought of spending the night with his football star uncle, but I still have to give my seven-year-old a hard time. “You want me to go? Don’t you love me?”

“I love you, Daddy,” Connor tells me. He’s almost five, and loves trying to outmaneuver his brother.

“I know you both love me. I’ll miss you,” I tell them, picking one up in each arm.

“Impressive,” my brother-in-law, Zack, says.

“Can’t let you be the only one with big guns in this family.”

“Save it, bro, before I throw up.”

Ainsley mimes gagging, and I pull her into a hug once I put the boys down. “Thanks for watching them for the night.”

“Always.”

“Thanks for the job, too.”

“I just got you the interview.”

“Just take the compliment, brat.”

“She’s still getting used to compliments, even after years of me showering her with them,” Zack explains, wrapping his arms around her, and kissing the top of her head.

I’m happy for my sister, because she deserves that kind of love, but at the same time, I wish I had it, too. Not with Jacky, my ex, because that ship sailed the moment she walked out on me and the boys, but with someone. The voice in my head—that sounds a lot like Ainsley—reminds me I need to be dating to find that person. As usual, I ignore it, because it’s low on my list of priorities right now. Speaking of which, I say a quick goodbye and make my way to the airport.

“You’re late,” Grace tells me when I board the Corrigan jet we’ve been assigned for this trip.

“I’m exactly on time.”

“Being on time is being late.”

“Look, I apologized to you, and I’ve met every one of your requests over the past week, even though I know some aren’t real.”

“Excuse me?”

“Part of my job was really to try every brand and type of salsa I could find, and create a spreadsheet on my thoughts about each?”

“We’re going to a Mexican restaurant,” she reminds me, but there’s no missing the sparkle in her eyes, or the smile she’s trying to hide.

“I don’t need to be a salsa expert to know if the food and service are good.”

“If I say you do, then you do.”

So, that’s how it is. “Yes, boss.”

“I don’t do this—I’m not like this with anyone else. You just bring it out in me.”

“I hurt you, but I swear I didn’t mean it. If a guy had been at that desk, I would’ve asked him for water too.”

“Would you have? Really?”

“Yes,” I answer without hesitation, because it’s the truth.

Grace intrigues me, and I want to know her. Maybe as a friend, and maybe as something more. I can’t rush into anything, because of the boys, but I can start something, and see where it goes.

“Can we start over?”

“Dinner tonight can be our first date.”

Her eyes go wide, and my mouth is opening and closing with no words coming out. I don’t know why I said that. I was thinking it, but those words were not supposed to come out of my mouth.

“This isn’t a joke, or a way to get back at me for the salsa, is it?”

“Absolutely not.”

“Under other circumstances, I’d like a first date with you.”

“What’s wrong with our circumstances?”

“I’m your boss.”

“Technically, yes, but I have the job title no one understands. Miles was listed on my paperwork as who I report to.”

“I’ve worked hard to be taken seriously.”

“No one has to know, but us. They can think the meals we share are still just fake dating.”

“You’d be okay with that? With hiding?”

“If it’s what you need, yes. When you’re ready for people to know, we’ll tell them.”

“You seem pretty confident we’ll want breakfast tomorrow to be our second date.”

“I like you, Grace. And honestly, it’s been a long time since I liked someone the way I like you.”

“You haven’t been dating?”

“Since my wife left me, I’ve been on one date, and that was set up by my sister.”

Silence descends as Grace takes that in. I realize we’ve never brought up my being divorced. Or my boys. I haven’t decorated my office yet, since I’ve been busy moving into the house I’m renting. If tonight goes as well as I hope it does, I’ll tell her I have sons. If not, she’ll find out anyway. I may be willing to hide her for the time being, but I’ll never hide my kids.

Grace

He’s divorced. I knew there had to be something that wasn’t perfect about this man before me. I’d already noticed his hair and eyes at our first meeting, but over the past week, I’ve noticed so much more; his muscled forearms, fantastic ass, and once, when he was moving furniture around in his office, his t-shirt lifted a little, and I saw the bottom of a six-pack. I have no shame about looking, and I’ll own it if I’m caught.

What do I do now, though? I’ve already agreed to a date, but that was before I knew he might be pining for an ex. I’m usually comfortable with how I look, and who I am, but I don’t normally walk into a losing battle when I’m not at work.

Give me a hostile takeover, and a CEO who doesn’t want to deal with a woman, and I’ll fight to the death. I fight so hard in my professional life that I need easy in my personal one. One-night stands, casual hookups, and even a previous beneficial relationship with a friend are the norm for me. Dating a guy who’s divorced? Not in my wheelhouse. Until now.

“Kids?” I ask, because I want all the info now. No, I need it.

“Two boys. They live with me.”

“Your ex is around a lot, then?”

“Not at all. She left us all, and didn’t look back.”

Great. Rebound all the way, which should be a good thing. For some reason, it’s not.

“What are you looking for, Keir?”

“I don’t know. I like you, Grace, and I’d like to see if this goes anywhere, but I don’t know where we’ll end up.”

“Are you pining for her?”

“Not even a little.”

“You’re sure?”

“If I was looking for a rebound fling, I’d have been going out with women over the past year. I’ll be honest; my boys are my number one focus.”

“Of course.”

“So, did I scare you away, or are we still doing this?”

I look him in the eye for almost a full minute, and all I see is honesty in his eyes. I like to think I’m a good judge of character, and the water incident aside, he’s been nothing but hard-working and genuine this past week. And he has those abs.

“I don’t scare easily.”

His smile is wide and real. “Yes?”

“Yes.”

I may regret this, but right now, I just don’t care. He’s smart, sexy, and those dimples should come with a warning. Yeah, I’m in trouble.