James
I thinkbrownies are my new favorite treat. I coax Alex into eating one more before she’s shooing me away. All I had to do was show them to Ryder and he ate them all before I could blink.
Alex is chatting with Jaz and Ashlyn when her mom starts walking towards me. I meet her halfway. “Mrs. Lewis.”
“James, or should I say owner of The Edward Corporation?” I don’t acknowledge the jab, so she continues huffing her chest. “I can’t believe you didn’t bother to mention that little tidbit earlier. Or that my daughter didn’t either in that case. I’m truly surprised she would consider a relationship with you.”
She’s clearly wanting some sort of reaction from me. “Why’s that?”
She scoffs. “Lord knows I’ve been trying to set that girl up with.” She looks me up and down, “someone ofyour standing for years, but she’s always denied me. Tonight, I had a few introductions planned for her, but then she shows up with you. It’s very peculiar.”
“I can assure you, ma’am, that Alex just learned about my business tonight.”
“Yeah, right. That girl.” Shaking her head, she looks over to Alex laughing with her friends. “I love her and want the best for her. But she’s always had a dreamer’s mind. She can’t be happy just pushing papers around and making a nice income, no. Not my Alex. She wants to be risky and wild forever.” She looks back to me, sadness creeping across her face. “Maybe you can finally tame her.”
I take in my girl in her red dress, black heels, her hair is getting wilder by the minute, and she can’t stop smiling and laughing with her friends. She’s lighting up the entire world without even realizing it.
“No. I don’t think I will.”
Mrs. Lewis starts to open her mouth again, but I interject. “Magic like that deserves to be out in the world wild. It would be devastating to try and tame the flame that demands to burn uncontrolled. I will gladly burn with her and be a better man for it.” Her mouth hangs open like a goldfish. “If you’ll excuse me, I see a business partner I need to talk to.” Jake from Family Farms just walked up to our little group of misfits.
“—just show the man your current painting. He obviously wants to see what you can do,” Ashlyn says lightly, shoving Alex.
I watch that blush caress her neck as she pulls her phone out of her purse, sliding it open and handing the device to Jake. “It was recently rendered, and I’m still working on the digital file, but that’s how it looks?—”
“You painted this?” Jake looks up from the phone with wet eyes. Jake’s been through a lot, kind of like me, so it’s no surprise that Alex’s talent brought emotion out in him.
I stand near Alex, but I make sure I don’t overshadow her moment. I remember seeing her pour her heart and soul into that painting, and she deserves this moment. Seeing others in awe of her talent.
“I—uh yes. I did.”
“James,” Jake scolds me.
“Jake.”
“You didn’t mention you already found a new designer during our last discussion.” He looks to me then circles to Ryder and Alester who say nothing. Both of them shrug at me with a grin.
Okay assholes.
I sent them the half-assed photo I took of the canvas, but we’ve been too busy in crisis mode to really talk about anything. Seems like they’ve been talking plenty.
“Well, I haven’t had time to present her with a job offer…yet.”
Alex’s head whips to me. “You what!”
Jake looks between us. “Seems like you have some explaining to do. We can talk more at our meeting next week. But James, make no mistake, I want her on myaccounts. I need that emotional depth within my designs. I won’t take no for an answer.”
With that he walks away.
Alex’s eyes bounce between the three of us. Ashlyn and Jaz are sipping from their drinks seemingly entertained. “What is happening?”
I pull Alex close to me, sick of the damn distance.Finally.“Alex, my lovely, lovely girlfriend. Will you please come work with myself, Ryder, and Alester at The Edward Corporation and be our full-time designer? You will have an office with a view, your choice of medium, and whatever other gadgets you may need.” She stares, stunned, so I push my bottom lip out in a pout. “Pretty please?”
“You’re serious?” She looks to my cousins, who both nod in return. Then she comes back to me.
“Dead serious. We don’t joke about business.” Again, she says nothing.
“For fuck’s sake, Alex! Say yes! This is your fucking dream being laid out in front of you,” Jaz spouts. She looks like she might throw her drink at Alex if she tries to say no.
