“Um, yeah. I’m fine. We can start trying to find them when you’re ready.”
She makes space between us, her hazel eyes pinning me with sincerity. “Would you really help me find them?”
“Of course.” Her bottom lip wobbles, and I wipe her tears. “Don’t cry, Sunshine. We’ll find them.”
We finish our dinner before we clean up the kitchen. As we creep up the stairs and head for the bedroom, my mind still flicks through Addison’s family names. There’s a subtle bell ringing, but nothing I can place. It’s strange that I think I may know her uncle, but that isn’t possible. I brush it off as a common name before we climb under the covers and fall asleep.
***
“Take your shirt off!” Addison shouts from the porch.
I suck in a breath before bringing the ax down over another log. It splits in two, and I let the tool hang down by my side. “You only want to objectify me.”
“Hell yeah, I do!” She laughs. “Now take it off!”
I smile breathlessly as I drop my ax and take my thermal shirt off before tossing it to the ground. “Better?”
She’s holding a steaming cup of coffee in her hands as she warms them comfortably from the blanket cocoon she’s wrapped up in. “Much! Do a little spin!”
I place my hands on my sides, squinting at the risingsun. “This isn’t some kind of calendar I’m posing for. You can’t just tell me what to do.”
“I can and I will. Spin, Assassin Man!” She commands with a shout.
I look up at the sky, cursing my creator for making me a damn fool for this woman. She could ask me to skip in circles, and I’m pretty sure I would do it.
“I’m waiting!”
“Alright!” I sigh before giving a little spin and holding my hands out. “Are you happy?”
“Flex a little for me.” She smirks.
“I feel like a fucking tool,” I grumble before flexing my biceps. “Can I finish chopping the wood now?”
She waves me off. “Carry on!”
I get a few more logs cut before she interrupts me. “I was looking over the reports on your desk this morning.”
I pile my split pieces onto a stack. “You shouldn’t be looking at that. You’re not on payroll.”
“Just hear me out!” She begs. “I think you could benefit from having some kind of organization process implemented. Maybe a virtual assistant? I know it sounds ridiculous—”
“Sunshine,” I stop her, dropping my ax before walking over to stand in front of her. “You’re missing my point. You’re not on payroll. Don’t work unless you’re on the clock.”
She gives me a withering look. “I’m only trying to help—”
“And you’re still not hearing me. I’m asking you to be on the payroll.”
Her eyes widen. “Like work for you?”
I tilt my head to the side. “For the syndicate, actually. I’ll be your boss, but I’m everyone’s boss. What you did the other day was impressive, and I’ve needed help for a long time, but didn’t want to ask for it until I met you.”
Her expression turns wicked. “Did my desk blow job bring this fantasy to life?”
I chuckle. “The greatest head I’ve ever received, but no,baby. Your intelligence did. You have a gift with numbers.”
She preens under my compliment, the corners of her mouth lifting even more. “Thank you. I’ll think about it.”
“My offer stands until you’re ready,” I wink before going back to work.
