Wild Embrace (Wilder Irish #11) - Mari Carr Page 0,53

about the people at work?”

He frowned. “You’ve told people there too?”

She shook her head quickly. “Oh my God. No. I didn’t even tell my family. Sunnie was the one who connected all the dots when I was dipping out the plates for you and Clint.” Then Darcy narrowed her eyes. “You know, it’s sort of your fault too. You weren’t exactly playing it cool at Friendsgiving. You were by my side the whole time, and then you said you were thankful for me and it was super sweet.”

Ryder couldn’t argue with her on that. He’d been unable to keep his hands to himself that night, sneaking his arm around the back of her chair at the dinner table, brushing his hand along her back when he thought no one was looking. Even now, it was taking all the strength he had not to pull her in his arms and kiss her senseless.

“You’re right. I wasn’t playing it cool.”

“I wouldn’t tell anyone at work, Ryder. I swear. I know you’re worried about that, and I would never jeopardize your career.”

“All that shit I said about being your boss was bullshit. Workplace romances aren’t against company policy. That was established when the president married his personal assistant a decade ago. Since then, two of the VPs have married other people within the organization.” They were likely to catch some sideways glances if their relationship was revealed, but it wouldn’t lead to either of them being fired. Past employment history had proven that.

“Oh. Well…good. And I explained to Sunnie about Clint, and she totally got it. No one in my family would ever—”

“I know they wouldn’t, Darcy. It’s okay. Honest.”

“How is Clint?” she asked, her gaze landing on the can of chicken noodle soup he’d taken out to microwave for the kid.

“Fever broke a couple hours ago. Hasn’t left bed all day, been complaining of a headache. He’s actually slept more than he’s been awake.”

“That’s what he needs, so that’s good.”

Ryder nodded. “He was really disappointed to miss Thanksgiving with your family.”

“Yvonne told me. It’s okay. It just means the two of you have to come to Christmas dinner now.”

He rubbed his forehead and sighed, though the reaction was more feigned than genuine. “What do you think my chances are of getting out of that?”

She giggled. “Slim to none.”

He nodded and rolled his eyes. “Yeah. I figured.”

“Bright side? You don’t have to say what you’re thankful for. And while yes, we do draw names, I can buy the gifts for whoever you and Clint get.”

“I don’t mind buying gifts.”

“Really?”

“Really. And I’ll let you tell Clint. It’ll make him feel better about missing today. I was actually just going to make him soup. Not sure he’s up to your leftovers feast tonight.” He placed the second plate in the fridge as she grabbed the soup.

“I’ll do that.” Darcy turned and opened the can, pouring the contents into a bowl before adding the water and placing it in the microwave. Once the soup was heated, she took it out of the microwave, then put his plate of leftovers in. “You heat that up and eat and I’ll take this back to the kiddo.”

She reached into her large purse and pulled out a bottle of ginger ale. “Brought him this too in case his stomach was upset.” She grabbed a glass, added ice, and poured.

Ryder tried not to focus on how much he loved watching her move around his kitchen like she lived there. “Thanks, Darc, but if you want to go back to the party—”

“Take a break and eat. Let Nurse Darcy take a shift.” She picked up the bowl and glass and put them on a tray Yvonne had dubbed “the special tray,” using it only to deliver breakfast in bed on birthdays. She left him alone in the kitchen with a huge plateful of some of the most delicious-looking food he’d ever seen. It beat the hell out of last year’s Chinese food.

Once his meal was warm, he sat down in the kitchen and dug in gratefully. He’d planned to split the can of soup with Clint prior to Darcy’s arrival, and he hadn’t been looking forward to it. He rinsed his plate after he finished, then ventured down the hall to check on Darcy and Clint. He hovered just out of sight, outside the door, and listened to them talking.

“You sure you’ve had enough?” he heard Darcy ask. “I can make another can.”

“No,” Clint replied. “That was good. I was getting hungry.”

Darcy