Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
“ W hat is up with you? You’re glowing. It started when you came home from New York last weekend. I’ve noticed it all week.”
Jill looked up from her laptop to see both Emma and Izzy looking at her. Izzy was in Emma’s lap as she sat across from Jill at the kitchen table. It was Friday morning, and Emma was heading into the restaurant soon for a lunch shift.
Jill smiled. She hadn’t said anything yet because she wasn’t convinced at first that what she and Billy had was real, but they’d been talking every day since she saw him, and it was starting to feel very real. She’d already booked a flight to head to New York the following weekend.
“I guess Billy and I are sort of dating now. It just happened this past weekend, and it’s still really new.”
“Good, it’s about time. I like Billy and the thought of the two of you together.” Emma looked thoughtful before adding, “Maybe it’s better this way, with you here. You can let it unfold more slowly, kind of ease into it?”
Jill nodded. “I hope you’re right. We’re not really telling anyone yet, especially the employees. We’ll have to figure out the best way to handle that. For now, it’s easier with me not there as much.”
When Jill arrived in Manhattan the following Thursday night, Billy was at the airport to collect her. He looked as excited and as nervous as she felt, and she was relieved to see it wasn’t just her feeling that way.
“I’m glad you’re here,” he said before pulling her in for a welcome kiss that took her breath away.
“Me too.”
They went to a cozy Italian restaurant in the West Village for dinner, and it was a perfect, romantic night.
The food was wonderful, but Jill didn’t really care what she ate.
Billy ordered her favorite wine, a rich Chianti, and they talked for hours, enjoying their pasta and wine and laughing and catching up.
“I’m so glad we did this,” Billy said as they left the restaurant and walked hand in hand back to Jill’s condo, which was nearby.
It was a clear night, and the stars shone brightly in the sky, and Jill had never been happier.
It felt so natural to finally be together.
Billy spent the night, and the next morning, they went into work together.
Billy went in first, and Jill stopped off at a Starbucks and had one coffee before going up to the office.
They didn’t want it to be obvious yet to their staff that they were together.
Jill’s assistant, Jenna, let out a squeal when Jill walked in and rushed over to give her a hug. “This is a fun surprise. Billy didn’t mention that you were coming in today.”
Jill laughed. “I wanted it to be a surprise. It was a last-minute thing. I miss being here on Fridays. Now that things are going smoothly at the restaurant, I hope to make it back more often.”
Jenna looked pleased to hear it. “Well, that’s great news. I was actually just about to call you. We need to reschedule the in-person interviews for your two final candidates. The VP is going to be overseas. They want to do it next Wednesday instead.”
“Okay, I’ll get it done. Thanks, Jenna.”
Jill walked through the office, and Billy winked when he saw her.
She grinned and waved to his team. It was so good to be back in the office.
She loved the energy when everyone was on the phone, talking to candidates and making deals happen.
There was nothing like it. And now that she and Billy were together, it felt like they were unstoppable.
Fridays were funny days. Sometimes they were quiet, but more often than not, it was a false calm in the morning before a storm of activity in the afternoon as clients raced to get offers out to candidates before the weekend.
Today was no exception, and by the end of the day, the office had several offers extended and accepted.
Which meant they had a lot to celebrate, and everyone headed out for drinks after work.
And then Jill and Billy ordered takeout and went to Billy’s condo, which was closest to the office and where they spent most of the rest of the weekend.
It was a whirlwind and the best time ever.
They were both sad when Billy dropped her at the airport Sunday night for her flight back to Nantucket.
“When will you come to Nantucket again?” she asked as he walked her in.
“I’d love to come ASAP, but do you think maybe we should wait a while on that? People in the office might start to wonder if I go too soon.”
He had a good point.
“I didn’t think of that. And there’s probably more benefit to me being in the office with everyone anyway. So for the next few months, I’ll come your way, and then we’ll see. Sound good?”
He answered by pulling her close and kissing her senseless before pulling back and grinning. “Works for me. Text me when you get home.”
“I will. Bye, Billy.”
Jill felt like pinching herself as she settled into her seat on the plane and gazed out the small window, watching the other planes take off. Finally, she and Billy were together, and it was better than she’d imagined it could be. She just hoped it would continue and that nothing would change.