The Virgin Cowboy Billionaire’s Secret Baby(79)
“Really?”
She nodded. “It was one thing when I was in college. These days? It’s exhausting.”
“Yes, I agree.” He picked up his water glass. “To skipping all the bullshit thanks to the Internet.”
Giggling, Julie clinked her own glass against his. “Cheers.”
He sipped his water, relieved that she had a sense of humor about these things. “So, um, how do you like living in Goldmount?”
“I really like it here.” She glanced around the rustic-style restaurant, as if it somehow represented the town around them. “I spent my whole life in cities, so the small-town life is a nice switch.”
Matt was amused by the idea of Goldmount qualifying as a small town, but after living in Chicago, he could see how it certainly appeared that way. Not everyone had grown up in Podunk shitholes like Aspen Mill.
He cleared his throat. “So, what cities?”
“When I was a kid, Seattle, Boston and Orlando. I went to college in New York, and then lived in Albany until I transferred out here.”
“Wow. I’ve been to all those places, but never for very long.”
“Eh, you’ve seen one big city, you’ve seen them all. But I might be a wee bit jaded.”
“Or right on the money.”
She laughed. “What about you? Are you new to town?”
He shook his head. “No, I actually live in Aspen Mill. Born and raised, but I moved away for about ten years. Just came back last year.”
“Where’d you live?”
“Chicago.”
She sat a little straighter. “Really? How did you like it?”
“As you said, you’ve seen one big city—”
“You’ve seen them all.”
They both laughed.
“What took you to Chicago?” she asked.
“Some buddies and I started a company after college. Basically producing software and hardware to enhance security and prevent identify theft, credit card fraud and data compromise.” He shrugged. “Not the most exciting thing in the world, but it turned out to be the right product at the right time.”
“Oh wow. But you’re not doing it anymore?”
“No, I…” He swallowed, not sure how far to tip his hand. “I’m mostly working with my sister right now. Breeding and training horses, maintaining the farm. That kind of thing.”
Julie cocked her head. “That’s quite a switch from running a tech company.”
“It is. I needed that switch. The burnout was killing me.”
“Oh, I hear you, loud and clear.” She blew out a breath. “One of the reasons I took the job here? I was so burned out at my last one.”
He folded his arms on the edge of the table. “Is that right?”
“Yep. Don’t get me wrong—I work hard. But there’s only so many sixteen-hour days a person can take, especially with one day off every blue moon.”
“God, yes. That is so true. You ever slept under your desk?”
She laughed. “Yes. Have you?”
“Ugh. Unfortunately.” He leaned in closer. “You ever had a drawer in your desk specifically for toiletries?”
Julie threw her head back and laughed again. “You know, I was starting to think that was normal.”
“Where I worked, it was normal.”
She mirrored him, folding her arms on the table, and lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “You ever cooked your own breakfast in the company cafeteria?”
“That’s the whole reason we had a company cafeteria installed.”
Julie giggled. “You’re funny, Matt.”
“Think I’m kidding?”
“No, I don’t. I’m pretty sure you’re completely serious. But it’s seriously funny.”
She winked.
And Matt shivered.
It was nearly midnight before Matt and Julie finally decided to take off. Matt generously tipped the waitress for putting up with them for so long, and they were still talking on the way out to the truck, down the road and into the condo’s parking lot.
“…so I wasn’t surprised at all that I didn’t get a callback after that interview.”
“Yeah, I had a few of those.” Matt pulled into a space and shifted into park. “I interviewed for an investment firm during my senior year, and impressed the shit out of them with my knowledge of Harkness & Beninato.” He groaned. “Too bad the interview was for Franklin & Chester.”
Julie laughed. “Oh, that must’ve hurt.”
“It did. Not my best moment, let me tell you.”
They both chuckled.
“Well, I guess we’re here.” She looked out at the condo and then turned to him. “I had a really nice time.”