Leon finishes typing out a text and places his phone face down on the table. “I have two. They’re eighteen and twenty-one. I don’t see them as much as I’d like since their mom is in Arizona.” He hesitates, voice dipping just a little. “At least I get to steer you lot out of trouble.”
A lump forms in my throat. They’re around our age? No wonder he fusses about us at work. Taking care of us is giving him the family he lost.
“You’re the world’s best work dad,” Ted says.
“Here, here,” Derrick adds.
“Next round of tacos and beer is on me...Dad,”Andy says, reaching for his wallet.
Leon grins. “I hope this means you’ll think of me on Father’s Day. I accept ties, coffee mugs, andif you really wanted to show your love, I wouldn’t mind a new flat-screen TV.”
“Don’t push your luck,” Derrick says.
Leon shrugs. “Just putting it out there.”
When I received the Excelsior Parks job offer, I expected to hate being in Orlando. But now, I can’t imagine myself being anywhere else. One week in and I already feel like I’m appreciated and on my way to being a part of a family.
Five
Monday morning arrives faster than I’d like. I keep telling myself I shouldn’t be nervous. I’m not holding a press conference or giving a welcome speech at a state banquet.
But thisismy first time presenting my work in front of real-life engineers. To the big boss, no less. I only get one shot at making a good first impression. And I hope I’ve done enough prep work to show that hiring me was the right call.
As I step into the conference room, my palms are damp, and my heart is thumping loudly. The room has a long table with several senior engineers already seated, speaking to one another. All the walls are made of glass except for one. It contains a projector and screen.
Anya stands next to it at the head of the table, plugging her laptop into the adapter. We’re the only women in the room, which suddenly makes the space feel ten degrees colder. Her eyes light up when she spots me, and she waves me over. “Kaori, so glad you made it. Come sit by me.”
“Thanks,” I whisper, sliding into the chair beside herand setting my tablet, notebook,, and pencil bag down, slowly unzipping it, pretending to look for a pen. Really, I’m just trying to keep my hands from trembling.
“Morning.” Leon waves.
I wave back, scrambling to make small talk. “No Derrick and Andy?”
“Those two aren’t morning people. They’ll roll in right ahead of Riverton.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Don’t worry, kiddo. You’ll be fine. Just remember to breathe.”
“I’ll try,” I mumble.
“Leon, I didn’t get your notes on Medusa’s Fury. Can you pop them into the shared folder really quick?” Anya interrupts.
“Sure, give me ten seconds.”
As everyone settles, a hush rolls across the room like someone hit mute. At 7:58, Andy and Derrick come racing into the room and slide into the two empty chairs near Leon. Their faces are flushed as they barely beat the clock. And at eight on the dot, in walks the man from my interview. I blink twice and swallow hard.Thisis the famous Riverton?
He’s taller in person than I realized—maybe five-ten—but he carries himself with a presence that occupies twice that space. He’s clean-shaven, and his dark, curly waves have been combed back, though a few rebellious strands still look ready to break free.
Unlike the rumpled crewneck sweater he wore during my interview, he’s dressed in a crisp three-piece charcoal suit. It looks hot—both literally and figuratively. The way it’s tailored to his lanky frame is perfection. It hugs everycurve, leaving just enough mystery for me to wonder what lies underneath.
Which, obviously, should be the last thing on my mind before my presentation. I quickly look away, my face heating up as I slide my notebook closer to write the date.
Leon is the only person bold enough to speak. Still slouching in his chair, he waves. “Morning, Theo. Hope you had a good trip.”
“Morning.” He grunts, dropping into the chair next to Anya.
“How was your trip?” she asks.
