if I can prevent the grin from twitching at my lips.
Her mouth falls open when she reads. “My God. Jennings, this was… You said there was no way…”
Seeing Lou speechless just broadens the smile on my face, the first real one I’ve sported since Juneau. It’s in my voice when I tease, “Now, about my flight schedule?”
“I assume I should cancel all of your flights. Permanently,” she returns dryly.
“That’s a safe bet,” I agree. My mind is whirling in a million different directions.
Just as she’s about to leave, I call out, “Lou?”
“Yes?” She stops and faces me.
“Who do you think is best qualified to run the office here? I need someone I can trust explicitly.” I know damn well who it should be, but I’m anticipating her reaction. After all, this is her chance to give me the mouthful I deserve for keeping my shit together since I left for Jed’s funeral and even after I came back. Lord knows, my head hasn’t been in the game.
Lou doesn’t disappoint me when she storms back up to me, finger outstretched. Poking it in my chest, she barks, “I want a thirty percent pay raise and two additional weeks of vacation. If this works out and I don’t kill you after the first year, we’ll discuss my buying a percentage of the company.” Disdainfully, she somehow manages to look down her nose at me from her diminutive height. “You know you won’t get a better offer anywhere else.”
I want to burst out laughing. Instead, I swallow my mirth when I hold out my hand. “Then you have three tasks left as my office manager.”
Her eyes sparkle, even as she says, “I’m not taking that hand until I know what they are.”
God, this is why she’s so feared and revered at the same time. And why I know when I print out and sign these contracts that will change all of our lives, things are going to be just fine when I eliminate the final barriers between me and Kara. The northwest division of Northern Star Flights will be in excellent hands. “First, call the lawyers. We need them here not only to witness me signing these, but to draw up your offer letter so it will take effect immediately with back pay to June 1.”
Her belligerence fades as her eyes start to shimmer. “Jennings, you don’t have to…”
I keep going as if she hasn’t spoken because I do. She deserves so much more than compensation for her making this possible. I go on. “Second, get someone qualified in here you think can handle your job. There’s things we need to go over, and we don’t have much time.”
A smile breaks across her face. “That’s two. What’s third?”
Dropping down into my chair, I pull my tablet into my lap muttering, “I need to find office space.” Thank God for Jed sending me all those articles over the years. I pull up the file I saved and go into a zone.
“Jennings! Get your head out of the clouds and answer me, damnit. What’s the third thing you need?”
Blankly, I lift my head and stare at her. Then I remember. “I need you find out what’s taking so long with that jeweler in Jacksonville. I want to know where the hell that bracelet is.”
There’s silence between us. A rare smile breaks out across Lou’s face. “How long do you think you’ll need to get the legal stuff done?”
“I don’t know.” I frown thoughtfully. “Why?”
“Because the jeweler called me back yesterday. He tracked down the sale, though God knows how. After the Malones sold it—and might I add, I hate them?”
“Lou,” I prompt her, though her sentiment matches my own.
“Well, the person who bought it was on vacation from Montana. That owner passed away, and the bracelet is back up for sale at an estate sale in Montana this weekend. If I were you I’d reconsider…”
“Tell Reg if he can’t get in here tomorrow, I’m going to find someone else to get those papers drawn up. I’ll pack what I need when I get back with that bracelet.” I shove to my feet and walk to Lou. Pulling her into my arms, I press a smacking kiss on her forehead. “And we’re telling the lawyers to give you a huge bonus.”
“Screw that. I’m adding a clause to our contract I get to attend your wedding,” she warns.
I smile faintly before reminding her, “She has to say yes.”
“Jennings, Kara fell in love with you,” Lou reminds me.