“Would you like to come in?” he asked, hopeful.
“Yes.”
His face brightened. “Splendid. Please take a seat.”
I found myself in front of his desk with him right next to me. This time, though, I think he was even closer than the last time.
“How was your day?” he started off.
“It was nice. We spent most of it with my parents.”
“I hope Henry wasn’t too much trouble.”
“Not at all. My parents were taken with him. He’s a real charmer.”
“He gets that from me.” Miles winked.
I may have believed that if he actually spent real time with Henry.
Miles laughed when I didn’t reply. “You find me arrogant.”
I bit my lip. “Maybe.”
Miles leaned back in his chair. “There is probably some truth there.”
“Admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery,” I teased.
Miles placed his hands behind his head. “I do like you, Aspen.”
I scanned his immaculately clean office, nervous, not knowing how to respond. I think I could like him. Maybe I already did. But there were some things I didn’t like, and those needed to be addressed first.
Miles interrupted my train of thought. “I saw you playing football out back. You and your daughter are good.”
My gaze locked with his. I had no idea he was watching us. “Were we being too loud?”
“Not at all. I was taking a break and noticed.”
“You could have joined us. I think Henry would have liked that.”
“I wouldn’t have wanted to show you up,” he said uncomfortably. “Besides, you Americans don’t even call it by its proper name.”
“That’s not true.”
Miles’s brow cocked. “I think you are mistaken.”
“I don’t think so.” I flashed him my best smirk. “The wordsocceroriginated in Britain around two hundred years ago, but when it became too ‘Americanized,’ your people stopped usingit.”
“My people?” he barked out a laugh. “I’m going to have to fact-check you on this.”
“Check away.”
“You are cheeky.”
“You have no idea.”
“I think I do.” The mood suddenly shifted in the room from playful to serious. “You are also brilliant. My publisher is raving about you. Your social media posts have sales up and me trending, so thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” I folded my hands in my lap and began to wring them. With him happy about my job performance, I thought maybe this was a good time to bring up my concerns. I took a breath, and after one more good wring of my hands, I rested them on my legs and leaned forward. “Would you mind if we talked about Henry?”
