He snorted and pecked a kiss onto my cheek. “I don’t care what anyone thinks. If you want to go with us while I take them around town, Papa would make sure Dad behaves.”
I ducked my head and smoothed out an imaginary wrinkle on the front of his shirt. “Lance is still in office. The last thing he needs is to show up in a pic with me.”
Lane pouted and then kissed me on the lips. He lingered over the touch, and I knew I’d miss him. “Have a nice day,” he whispered. I’d made him breathless and was a little proud. “No chores today, okay? Relax. You earned it by being a good sport last night.”
“Go me.”
He gave me one more kiss and then rushed out after his parents.
I lingered over the newspaper and saw Vane’s cheeky smile splashed across the front page. And page 3. And 5. And Jean-Paul was with him on the spread that took up pages 10 and 11 about the grant the mayor’s office had helped win from the state for Heart for a Home. I could have been doing things like that. I sighed.Too late to start giving a shit now.At least Jean-Paul looked good beside Vane. He also had a serious vibe I’d never been able to pull off that seemed to balance Vane out. I could see them taking the mayor’s office again. New Gothenburg was one of the few major cities that held the mayoral race in the fall, and I’d seen a ton of their campaign signs around town to gear up for the big day. They were doing a good job.
When I checked my phone, I had a text from Eli asking me to stop by his place at some point today to fill out new-hire paperwork, and that lit a fire under my ass. I honestly had no clear idea of how to do a personal assistant’s job. I texted Mark a fire emoji. I wasn’t disappointed when he texted back less than a minute later.
What do you need, sir?
I arranged to meet him in an hour at a nearby Starbucks and flew through my morning routine. I dressed up a bit, surprised by some of the clothing choices Lane had purchased for me as I dug through the closet. I snagged a green button-down and paired it with a gray suit coat and jeans. I didn’t look terrible or unprofessional, and I was pleased with myself when I left the apartment.
The walk to Starbucks was pleasant and the mild sun warmed my face. Mark was sitting outside at a table when I arrived, and I took the cup he held out for me before I sat down opposite him. I sipped and the coffee was exactly the way I liked it—four sugars and a drop of cream. Mark’s pale skin was a tad sunburned, like maybe he’d been out to the beach recently, and his red curls gleamed. I hadn’t noticed before, but he was kind of adorable when he was infuriated, especially with the way his lip pouted. He swiped at his hair and sat back in his chair.
“Why am I here? I’m still mad at you,” he said as a cold opening shot.
“I know.”
He smacked his cup down on the table. “You threw away years of my hard work. Years, Ross.”
“You said that last time we talked, and I know. I’m sorry. I’m happier now than I ever was in office.” I shrugged and sipped my coffee again, trying to fight off the guilt I’d been wallowing in ever since I went to jail. It was easier now than it had been in the past.
Mark stared out at the traffic passing in the street. “Vane says you’re living with that prostitute. The one you were caught with.”
I sipped my coffee. “Yep.”
He growled out a cute puppy-dog sound. “I just don’t get it. At all. What was so great about him that you ruined your life?” The baffled dullness in his eyes made me feel terrible, and I guessed it should.
“I don’t know, Markie Mark. I’ve always paid for ass and his was perfect. It’s just grown from there.” I lifted a shoulder in exasperation. “I’m human. That’s all I got for you.”
His expression dropped. “Alwayspaid?”
I glanced down at my coffee cup. It hadn’t occurred to me before Lane commented on it that the way I’d gone after sex all my life was extremely odd. I wasn’t quite embarrassed, though I had trouble looking at Mark. “Yeah.”
“How is that possible?” Mark snickered, and I cut him a quick glance. He didn’t appear happy, but he also didn’t seem ready to rip me a new asshole anymore. “I’m not exactly killing it, given the fact I’m always fucking working, but even I get my knob shined for free every once in a while.” He shook his head at me.
“I had cash, and it was easier than kissing ass of people I didn’t know, or want to know. All for what? An orgasm? No thanks.” I shuddered.
“The moral implications alone of what you’re suggesting are staggering.” Some of Mark’s usual agreeableness had returned, but there was still something wrong. I could see it in the twist of his mouth and the slump of his shoulders.
“Probably. But tell me—how do I do your job?”
“What?” His scowl and his red brows furrowing were adorable.
I laughed. “The only job offer I’ve had is as a personal assistant, but I don’t want to fuck it up.”
He pursed his lips. “Tell me about it.”
I gave him a quick rundown, and he nodded all the while.
Mark dragged out a small notebook from his back pocket and waggled it in my direction. “I like paper. I’m old-fashioned that way. Either be prepared to jot or type your notes from your boss. Chances are he’ll talk and expect you to pick out what he needs done. Most people who are in a position to have an assistant aren’t going to give you specific marching orders.” He began to make a list. “Lots of what a personal assistant does is thinking on your feet. You just have to learn to anticipate the needs of your boss.” I froze at his words, and he glanced up at me. “What?”
I started to laugh. I wasn’t sure if Lane had realized how perfect Eli’s job would be for me, or if he’d only known that he had a friend who would be willing to hire me. Either way, I paid attention to Mark as he made a list of the types of things a PA should be doing every day.
