Chapter 9
nine
. . .
Georgia
I dropped onto my bed and picked up my phone to see the sibling group text and catch up on what I’d missed out on tonight.
Finn
I just had to do a sex scene with Jessica Carson, and she’s even hotter in person. I think they are going to make her my new love interest.
Cage
Well, that’s a rough day at the office. You’re getting naked with Jessica fucking Carson, and I’m checking the eyesight of the Wilsons’ hamster. Where did I go wrong when choosing my career path?
Brinkley
Jessica Carson is so hot, but I saw her in an interview, and she was a little full of herself. I just had to go into the locker room with a bunch of sweaty NFL players, and I saw more asses than anyone should see at one given time. But wow, those are some good butts on those men.
Hugh
There’s a lot happening here. Sex scenes, hamsters, and multiple asses? Georgie, anything you need to share?
Brinkley
She’s in a meeting with Mara Skye right now. Although her boss is awfully sexy. Even if he’s a broody bastard. But aren’t those the best kind?
I’m here. The meeting was amazing. She is going to sign a four-book deal with Lancaster Press, and she talked to me the whole night. I think I’ve found my calling. Nobody was nude at the table, though.
Cage
I knew you’d find your niche. And you were able to combine your business degree with your love for reading. Proud of you, Georgie.
Finn
Hey, I just had a sex scene with one of the hottest upcoming actresses on the planet. Are you proud of me, Cage?
Hugh
I’m guessing he’s envious, for sure. You need a woman, Cage. Spending your days with pigs and chicks and hamsters isn’t healthy.
Brinkley
It’s better than all the fancy boutique dogs you were seeing when you were in LA. Don’t knock the small-town life.
Cage
Says the girl living in the city.
I’m so glad you’re raising Gracie in Cottonwood Cove and not in Los Angeles. I’ll be home tomorrow. Let her know I’m going with you guys to see Santa this weekend like I promised. J.R. is the best Santa ever.
Finn
He is, but is Mr. Weber still running Santa’s village and dressing as an elf? That man was three sheets to crazy town last Christmas. He burped in my face, and he reeked of Italian sausage and peppermint Schnapps. I can’t eat a candy cane without having flashbacks now.
Hugh
He was at the restaurant last night, tipping back the whiskey sours and wearing a green jumpsuit and a hat. It’s safe to say he’s still a drunk elf.
Cage
My god. That man was a drunk elf when we were kids. How is his liver still working?
Brinkley
Remember the year we did that Christmas photo with me and Georgie on Santa’s lap and you guys standing around him for the family holiday card, and Mr. Weber photobombed us?
Yes. Mom was so mad when she ordered two hundred and fifty cards, only to see an elf with unusually red eyes jumping up in the background.
Cage
Well, if he burps on my daughter, I’m going to have a word with him.
Brinkley
I would pay money to see you go all papa bear protective on Mr. Weber.
Hugh
Why don’t you guys all come have dinner at the restaurant after taking Gracie to see Santa, and I’ll have Mom and Dad come, too?
Perfect. Going to bed. I’ll be home tomorrow.
I moved to the bathroom and ran a bubble bath in the fancy tub. I pinned up my hair and climbed in. I was deep into my beta read from my cousin, Ashlan. I often read on my Kindle app on my phone, and a text from Maddox appeared at the top of the screen.
Bossman
I just emailed you a copy of the contract that we are sending to Mara tomorrow morning. Check it over for me, and then we will forward it to her and that douchedick agent of hers.
I laughed so hard I nearly dropped the phone in the tub.
I’m glad you’re dealing with her and not just him. I don’t get a good vibe from him.
Bossman
Good. He’s bad news. Tell me why you and your ex broke up.
That was random. Why was he asking about that now?
Nice segue. Why do you want to know?
Bossman
You just answered another question with a question.
At least I’m consistent. Answer the question, please.
Bossman
Because my employee drives a motorized bicycle in the snow due to the fact that her asshat ex-boyfriend stole her car. He’s blackmailing you. So, I want to know why he’s taking the breakup so hard.
I let out a long sigh.
It was a lot of things. We didn’t have much in common. But the straw that broke the camel’s back was when I went to one of his concerts. I was in the back room of the bar, waiting for him. A fire alarm got pulled, and I ran to try to find him when I could have just run out the back door.
My feet slipped as I texted, and the water sloshed over the side of the tub and bubbles covered my hands.
Bossman
Are you going to tell me what happened? I’m guessing you didn’t use the back door?
That’s what she said! LOL. You set me up for that one. I wasn’t done with the story, but I got bubbles on my hands, and I had to wipe them off.
Bossman
Ridiculous sense of humor. Why are you playing with bubbles?
I’m in the tub. I added bubbles, and they got on my hand. Anyway…
Bossman
Is it appropriate to be texting your boss when you’re naked in the tub?
Is it appropriate for my boss to be texting me this late or inquiring about my ex?
Bossman
Touché. Finish the story. You’re in the back room. The fire alarm gets pulled.
I run to find him, right? Because if the place goes up in flames, you should make sure your partner is safe.
There was an exit right next to the room I was in, and I didn’t take it.
I ran to the stage to find him. But he’d run out the front door.
Not a care in the world about making sure I got out.
And I found him talking with his bandmates and laughing afterward.
He didn’t come to find me. So, I knew I was done in that moment.
Bossman
Who the fuck does that?
Dikota Smith.
Bossman
It’s a stupid name. So, you dumped him. And then he stole your car?
I wish it were that simple. I dumped him. He tried to get me back, and I ignored him. So, he slept with my roommate because he was having a temper tantrum.
Bossman
You can’t make this shit up. And then he stole your car after boning your roommate?
I found them naked in her room, and I was stunned. My roommate was crying and apologizing, and Dikota said it was my fault because I’d dumped him. Then he grabbed my keys off the counter and left before I realized it.
Bossman
This wouldn’t even work in fiction. I take it you and the roomie aren’t friends anymore?
We are not. And she sat next to me at graduation, which was super awkward. She keeps calling, but there really isn’t any way to come back after that.
Bossman
And your family doesn’t know he took your car?
They don’t know any of it. They would be upset. My brothers would probably hurt him. Brinkley would give them both a verbal showdown. I’ve got it handled.
Bossman
By driving a scooter in the snow.
Do you have siblings?
Bossman
One younger brother. He’d most likely steal your car and sleep with your roommate, so if you meet him, stay away from him.
Got it. I really like your grandfather. Do your parents live here, too?
Bossman
Show and share is over, Tink. Get some sleep.
Over and out, Bossman.
Bossman
That’s what she said. Night.
I laughed before setting my phone down and reaching for a towel and drying off. I pulled on my pajamas and climbed into bed.
And I fell asleep to thoughts of my boss telling off the man who offered me a job tonight.
Maddox Lancaster was full of surprises.
The week had flown by. I was hurrying to get out of the office because tonight I was going with my brother, Cage, to take my niece, Gracie, to see Santa. The whole family was meeting at Reynolds’ after, and it had been a few weeks since we were all together.
Brinkley lived in the city.
Finn was away filming in a small town between Cottonwood Cove and San Francisco.
And Hugh and Cage had been busy with work.
I saw my parents often, but it had been a few days, and they were excited to hear about my trip and how my meeting went with Mara Skye.
We’d been swamped at the office, as Maddox kept his schedule pretty packed, and between the trips he had coming up and the contracts that were going out, I could barely catch my breath.
I’d somehow managed to stay at the top of the winner’s circle in ping-pong at the office, and I really enjoyed my job.
It was busy and fun and challenging.
My boss was still exhausting and needy, but I didn’t mind it because Mara had signed the contract, and Maddox had given me a copy of the manuscript to read.
He wasn’t giving this particular book to Nadia, who’d initially turned it down but then backtracked when she heard that Lancaster Press had signed her.
He’d decided to have his chief editor, Helena, work on it.
And he was letting me meet with her to discuss things since declaring me a historical romance expert.
I’d been staying up way too late at night to read. I’d just finished the manuscript last night, and it was definitely Mara’s best work.
And we’d been texting nonstop about it.
Mara Skye and I were practically girlfriends.
My cousin, Ashlan, was over the moon that Mara knew who she was, and we’d set up a day to go to lunch in a couple weeks, after we got through the holidays, when they’d both agreed to come to town.
Life was good.
I’d just been in a two-hour meeting with Helena discussing the book, and Maddox buzzed her office looking for me.
“The boss needs you. Thanks for talking this through. You’ve got a good eye, Georgia.
And I know I showed you the cover art we were considering for this one, but I think you might be right about it looking more like a fantasy book than a historical romance book.
I have the team working on the concept that we discussed a few days ago. ”
In what world did anyone listen to me and my ideas about something so important?
I shook my head and smiled. “Wow. Thank you so much for letting me be a part of this.”
The door swung open, and Maddox stood there, looking irritated. His jaw was set, shoulders stiff, and one eyebrow raised as his lips remained in a straight line when he looked at me. “I’ve called and texted. You’re needed. Now.”
Helena chuckled. “Sorry. It was my fault.”
He held up his hand to her with a forced smile. “It’s fine. Let’s go, Tink.”
He’d started openly calling me by the nickname in the office, and Sydney thought it was hilarious because it was so unexpected coming from him. But no one else commented about it. I think they all knew we worked closely together and we’d formed a friendship.
“Where is the fire? We were talking about the book,” I whisper-hissed after saying goodbye to Helena.
We spent a lot of time together.
He texted me endlessly for things he needed.
Day and night.
He took the position of personal assistant to a whole new level. And patience was not his strong suit.
“Two hours is more than enough time. Come with me.” He was so bossy and irritated most of the time, yet I loved it.
I woke up in a good mood every day.
I’d somehow found my purpose here.
He led me down the stairs, and a few people yelled out to me about the ping-pong massacre today, where I’d literally destroyed Craig as he’d beaten everyone all week and wanted to challenge me for the title once again.
“Get back to work. Ping-pong is over,” Maddox growled.
“Says the man who never plays,” I said, as I followed him out the door and around the building. It was freezing, and he seemed completely unfazed.
He turned and handed me a set of keys, and there sat my piece-of-crap car, looking like it had a massive makeover. Had he painted it? It used to be a faded gray, and now it was a matte black.
“Is that my car?”
“Yes.”
“How’d you get it back?”
“I got it back when we were in the city. That night. But it was in terrible shape. Had he stripped the paint job? It was a horrible gray, and it looked like shit.”
“No. That was the way I bought it. Don’t be rude, Money Bags.
We don’t all have options about the color when purchasing our first car.
But I see you went with black. The color of your cold, jaded heart?
” I teased, as I moved around it and glanced inside.
“It’s amazing. Thank you. I don’t know what to say. ”
“Well, this is thrilling. You’ve never been at a loss for words. Sometimes less is more, Tink.”
“Says the man who publishes words for a living.” I raised a brow and rubbed my hands together as the snow started to fall from above.
He surprised me when he pulled his suit coat off and wrapped it around my shoulders. He could be so grumpy one minute, but then he’d catch me off guard the next by doing something nice.
He’d gone to the city to get my car for me.
Maybe Bossman actually had a heart.