I shook my head. “Too soon to know.”
She sighed dreamily. “I hope it’s a girl. Maybe because it’s all I’ve ever known, but there is something special about it.You’respecial, honey.” She reached for my hand across the light wood table and gave it a gentle squeeze.
“Thanks, Mom,” I said, feeling so thankful for her in that moment.
I glanced at my watch then, realizing it was time to get going to the office. After playing hooky yesterday, I didn’t want to also show up late today. Just because I was CEO, I didn’t want to abuse the privilege too much. Chandler was already there, holding down the fort.
“I should go…” I said regretfully. I could have easily stayed another hour or two talking with my mother, but she nodded with understanding.
“I’m so glad we got to do this, sweetheart. Please, let’s set up a dinner so I can meet Chandler soon. Your father has spoken very highly of him.”
“How about tonight?” I asked.
“How about now?” asked a familiar voice. I looked up in surprise and saw Chandler standing over us, looking ridiculously handsome in a charcoal gray suit and a charming smile.
“What are you doing here?” I asked wide-eyed, standing up and hugging him.
“Your father said you were grabbing coffee with your mother. He’s at the office. He insisted I get over here to meet your mother.” He chuckled.
I smiled up at him and turned to my mother, interlacing my fingers with his.
“Mom, this is Chandler. Chandler, this is my mother, Grace.”
“Grace,” he said, his voice dripping with sentiment as he held out his hand, “it’s a pleasure.”
My mother held her hand out nervously, and I could see I wasn’t the only woman he had this effect on. I stifled a laugh.
“What am I doing?” she asked suddenly, standing up and pulling him in for a big hug. “It’s so wonderful to meet you, Chandler. I’m so excited for you and my daughter. You have no idea!”
She finally released him and looked at me with a pleased smile on her face.
“Do you have time for a coffee?” she asked.
“I have about half an hour to spare before I have to take this one back with me to the office,” he said, nodding toward me and taking the seat next to me.
My mother clapped excitedly and signaled for the server to come over so Chandler could place his coffee order. I spent the next half hour watching my mother and Chandler practically fall in love with each other over their iced coffees. I sat back and watched in amusement, my heart filled with warmth that another piece of my life was falling into place.
On our walk to the office, Chandler gave me a mischievous smile.
“What?” I asked curiously.
“Your mother is wonderful. And if that’s what I have to expect in the years to come, I’ll be one happy man.” He wiggled his brows suggestively.
“Chandler!” I slugged him playfully on the shoulder.
He laughed loudly before pulling me close to him, wrapping his arm around my waist. We walked like that through the lobby, aware of the gawking looks we got from security and the lobby attendant. I realized we hadn’t fully had our relationship out in the open here at the office, aside from our near sprint out the door just yesterday.
As we strode through the office, hand in hand, I noticed the knowing looks sent our way from the employees. There were smug smiles, hands to the heart, and obvious nods. I wondered if maybe we hadn’t been as discreet as we thought we were in our office rendezvous. I thought our outright disdain for each other had everyone fooled. Hell, it hadmefooled.
I never thought that all those months ago when I had my dream ripped away from me by my own father in front of everyone here, that my life would turn out anything like this. Falling in love with my mortal enemy had not been on my bingo card. I had been so ready to let him sink, even if it meant taking the company with him, just to prove that he was wrong for the job. But here we were, walking hand in hand through the office where it all began.
“This is weird…” he whispered through the corner of his mouth. “Everyone is looking at us.”
“I know…” I whispered back.
“They’ll get used to it, right?”
“I think they have to. We are their bosses, after all.”
