Even the Score(31)

“I feel bad that I didn’t have a chance to get you really nice furniture, though. This all happened kinda quickly.”

“Don’t feel bad about that. Not at all.” She shook her head. “I’m more of a beer girl than a wine girl anyway. It doesn’t take a lot to please me. As long as I have a desk to work on, I’m good to go.”

Before I could respond, she straightened up. “And when they carried the bookshelf in, I noticed there was a big scratch on the side, so I argued and got them to take half off. Saved you about two hundred bucks. Then I put it against the wall, so no one would see it anyway.” She giggled, clearly proud of the deal she’d finagled.

I laughed, too. Proud of my new negotiator. “Well, I’m impressed.” My eyes scanned her desk quickly, pausing at the black mug in the corner that held her pens. I picked it up to read it out loud. “I Love Balls . . . ?”

Danicka cringed, pinching her eyes tight. “My friend got me that a long time ago.”

“Sadie?”

She pressed her lips together and shook her head. “How’d you guess?”

I let out a quick laugh as I set the mug down. “She just struck me as someone who would buy her friend an I Love Balls mug.”

“She definitely is.”

“Anyway, I’m really happy that you’re here and that everything worked out, Danicka.”

“Please.” She reached out and gently touched my arm before quickly pulling back. “Call me Dani. And thanks. I’m happy, too. Excited to get in here and really get going tomorrow. I already have four meetings set up.”

My eyes widened. “You do?”

“Yeah, just local clients,” she said nonchalantly. “Nothing major, but I wanted to bring them in, show them my new office, and just make sure everything is good with them for now.”

“Nice.” I was shocked. I knew that she was assertive and could definitely hold her own, but I had no idea she was that much of a go-getter. Between the office and the appointments, I really was blown away. “Well, don’t stay too late, and if you need to, have Jerry, the night guard who sits at the desk in the lobby, walk you to your car.”

“Thanks, but I’m fine.” She bit the corner of her lip, trying to hide her smile once more.

“All right.” I took a step toward the door. “I gotta get home to my kids before they kill me, but I’ll see you bright and early in the morning.”

“Can’t wait.”

I left her office and smiled to myself as I got to the elevator and heard the music turn back up, all while secretly wishing she’d wear that outfit again tomorrow. And every day after that.





CHAPTER 12

Danicka

Despite only getting a few hours of sleep the night before, I woke up the next morning energized and ready to head to my new office. I couldn’t wait to park my ass in that new white chair with the cute teal-and-gray cushion and make some new deals.

“Don’t be mad!” Ellie called out, scaring the crap out of me as I exited the elevator.

I whipped around, nearly dropping my coffee and bag on the floor. “What?”

Her hand flew up, covering her mouth. “Oooh, sorry! I said don’t be mad at me.”

“Already?” I chuckled. “For what?”

“I couldn’t stand the suspense. I had to see how much you got done last night, so I peeked in your office.” Her eyes lit up as she caught the corner of her bottom lip in between her teeth.

Her excitement was making me even more excited. “Did you like it?”

“Oh my God,” she groaned, tossing her head back. “It’s amazing. I can’t believe you got all that done in one night. What time did you leave?”

“You don’t want to know. I think maybe one in the morning. Here, follow me.” I nodded toward my office with my head. “I want to set all this junk down.”

She cupped her coffee mug in her hands and trailed behind me. The door swung open, and it was as if my office grew arms and reached out to hug me as I walked through it. It was warm and cozy and adorable, and I kinda wanted to add a couch just so I could sleep over if the mood ever struck.

“You think if I asked really nicely, Andy would let me move my desk in here with you?” Ellie asked as she looked, starry-eyed, around the room.

“I have a feeling we’d get no work done, but it’s worth a shot.” I giggled as I set my stuff down. Grabbing two new picture frames from my bag, I propped them up on the bookshelf.

Ellie strolled over and took a closer look at everything on my shelf, noticing the new pictures I’d just added. “Oooh, he’s cute. Who’s that? Your boyfriend?”