“Enough about me, dear. Tell me all about you and your dashing other half,” she says, sipping her tea and looking at me with a cheeky smile on her face. Wearing a long, beige skirt and a mint green blouse, she looks exactly like the stylish retiree I imagined her to be. Both sophisticated and approachable.
“What do you want to know?” I ask, chuckling at her question. These past couple of weeks with Jackson have been incredible. We eat together, laugh together, and sleep together. He makes me happier than I can ever remember being.
“That! What has that dreamy look on your face?” she says, smiling over the rim of her teacup.
“He’s wonderful. He’s caring and charming and funny and he makes me feel desired. Like I matter.” I sigh, dreamily. No one has ever made me feel like I matter before. Jackson is wonderful.
She reaches across the table and takes my hand, sending me a warm smile.
“That my dear, is love,” she says, with a sigh of contentment, before pulling back to take another sip of her tea. Then she launches into her plans for another fundraiser, talking animatedly. The joy she gets from her charity work is admirable.
I laughed off her love comment, but it sobered me. It isn’t love, is it? Do I love my boss?
Chapter 22
Jackson
The last couple of days have been stressful as hell, trying to organise Mia’s surprise without her knowing. I spend every minute I’m not working with her, so I had to make the calls while I was at work in between meetings.
She hasn’t mentioned the fact that today is her birthday, but I remember seeing it on her driving licence when I had her put on the insurance of one of my cars. Hardly surprising that memory has stayed with me considering how much of a fight she put up about it. I’m pouring two cups of coffee when I hear her make her way into the kitchen.
“Morning,” she yawns, looking adorable in her lilac ‘Coffee first, adult later’ PJs. She pulls her unruly bed hair into a messy ponytail. “You’re up early.”
Smiling, I pass her a cup of hot coffee and say, “Happy Birthday.”
She looks at me in surprise, taking her mug from my hand.
“How did you know?” Taking a sip of her coffee and smiling, she looks up at me waiting for my answer.
“I am a man of many means.” I wink, leading her to the dining table and pulling a chair out for her to sit in like a gentleman.
Sitting down she looks at the breakfast I have laid out for her. Smiling up at me, she says, “This looks amazing. Room service?”
Laughing, I say, “Are you implying I couldn’t have made this myself?”
“That is exactly what I’m implying. I know you, Mr. Carrington. This is beyond your kitchen skills.” Giggling, she takes another sip of coffee and sighs happily.
“Busted. I had one of the staff run across to the bakery I know you love and pick up some of your favourite pastries,” I admit, sitting down at the table with her.
“Thank you. This is amazing,” she says, and I’d do it every day if it meant seeing that beautiful smile stretching across her face.
“You’re welcome. Happy Birthday.” Handing her the plate of pastries, I watch as she takes her time selecting a couple of her favourites.
We eat in a comfortable silence for a little bit before I say, “So, I didn’t know what to get you for your birthday. Instead, I have something planned for today. We both have the day off. You need to be ready to leave in an hour.”
Stopping with a pain au chocolat halfway to her mouth, she says, “You didn’t need to get me anything, Jackson. You’ve already done too much for me. Where are we going?”
Motioning zipping my lips shut, I say, “Finish your breakfast. We can grab a coffee to go before we leave.”
She looks at me in frustration but nods and continues to demolish her pastry selection.
An hour later, we are ready to go. With her travel mug loaded with coffee and her bag over her shoulder, Mia stands by the door looking as stunning as ever. She’s wearing black leggings and a royal blue dress over the top. Her hair is pulled back into a ponytail and she has put a small amount of makeup on, which only enhances her natural beauty. This woman blows me away.
“You ready?” I ask, smiling as I grab my keys. I really hope she likes my present, I spent ages thinking of what the perfect gift for her would be.
“Yep! No driver today?” she jokes and I just smile.
“No. Just us today.” Grinning, I take her hand and lead her from the penthouse. Once we are in the elevator, I turn to face her. Running a finger over her bottom lip, I say, “You know, this is the first day I’ve taken off of work in as long as I can remember.”
“Really?” she asks, surprise lacing her voice.
“Yeah. I’m pretty work driven, in case you hadn’t noticed.” Chuckling, I smile at her. “It’s kind of an unspoken rule of mine, no personal days.”
“I noticed, boss man,” she jokes, leaning forward and placing a quick kiss on my lips. “Thank you for breaking your no time off rule for me.”
“I’d break all the rules for you,” I say honestly. Leaning down and taking her lips in mine. She tastes of pastries and Mia, and it’s a heady combination. All too quickly the elevator comes to a stop and she pulls back with a contented sigh.
As the door opens, the underground car park comes into view. Taking her hand, I lead her to my black Bugatti Veyron and open the passenger door for her. Looking up at me as she slides in, she says, “A tad ostentatious, isn’t it?”
I grin. “A boy has to have some toys.” Shutting her door, I make my way around to my side and get in, starting the engine and loving the purr.
“I’m guessing this is one of your favourites?” she asks, gesturing to the car.
“Sweetheart, this is one of everyone’s favourites. It can do over 250 mph,” I brag, rubbing the leather steering wheel in affection.
“But what’s the point in that? There are speed limits everywhere. You’ll never get to drive it that fast,” she argues, perplexed by my love for this incredible machine.
“But you could if you wanted to. It’s the knowledge that you have all of this power at your fingertips, even if you choose not to use it.”
“Ah, so you’re a control freak,” she jokes, nodding like it makes perfect sense.
“Only in the bedroom,” I say with a wink, laughing when her face flushes a beautiful shade of pink.
Chapter 23
Mia
As we pull up to another huge hotel, Jackson jumps out handing his keys to a young valet and coming over to help me out of his flashy car.
“You’re trusting him to drive your baby?” I ask, joking. The valet looks like all of his Christmases have come at once.
“I’m trying not to think about it,” he admits through gritted teeth and I laugh as I take his hand.
This place is huge. Walking through the entrance, I’m mesmerized by the black and gold theme. Huge golden chandeliers hang from the ceiling and the floor is black marble. Jackson leads me through to the back, where there is a woman waiting for us.