lose time doing what he wanted most.
My hand went to his wrist to calm him down. “The book stuff is on the weekends, so no worries there. And we don’t have to accept any interviews you don’t want to do. I just thought the TED Talk was appropriate because it’s geared toward innovation, which is something you believe in.” I pulled my hand away once I saw him relax.
Derek turned back to his plate, his eyes slightly down.
Cleo smiled at me. “You’re good.”
“I just know him really well.” I knew him better than I knew myself, understood him down to a cellular level.
She turned to Derek. “So, that book will be released soon?”
“I’m not exactly sure when,” Derek said. “But I think sooner rather than later. I took a long time writing it, and they’re eager to get it out.”
“Are you working on the next one?” Deacon asked.
“No.” Derek grabbed his glass again. “I just finished the last one, and I want a break.”
“Not too long, though,” I said. “Got to keep those ideas fresh.”
Deacon grinned at Derek. “It’s nice to be with the woman who runs your life. Much easier that way.” He exchanged a look with his wife as he squeezed the back of her neck.
That was when I realized how similar Derek and I were to his parents, that Cleo was her husband’s assistant, and that was how they met. They probably hadn’t anticipated a romance developing between us, but it did. It was pretty difficult not to fall for the gorgeous man I saw every single day. “So, you’ve won a Nobel Prize… That’s pretty incredible.”
Deacon shrugged. “It was a long time ago.”
“So?” I asked with a laugh. “That’s such an incredible honor.”
“It is,” Cleo said. “But like his son, Deacon is very humble—to a fault.”
“Yeah, I can tell.” Without thinking twice about it, my hand moved to Derek’s thigh under the table, and I gave him an affectionate look, admiring the man beside me, the man I worshiped from head to toe.
His hand joined mine under the table, and he exchanged a quick look with me, one that matched my affection.
After we said goodnight to his parents, we walked back to his penthouse a few blocks away.
His hand held mine. “What did I tell you?”
“What did you tell me, what?”
“That it wouldn’t be awkward.”
“Well, your mom is really sweet. She’s the warmest person I’ve ever met. She knows how to make everyone comfortable in any situation. Before I knew she was your mother, I really liked her. We went out for a drink once, and a guy my age bought her a drink. He was a good-looking guy too.”
“So, you like my mom because she’s attractive?”
“No,” I said with a chuckle. “I like her because she’s inspiring. She’s smart, hard-working, youthful like your father… I want to be like her when I’m her age.”
“I’m sure you will.”
“And your dad is sweet too.”
“Yeah.” His voice dropped for a moment. “He’s a good guy.”
“When am I going to meet your brother and sister?”
“Not sure. Dex is busier than all of us right now. Daisy is busy too.”
“What does your brother do?”
“He’s in residency right now.”
“Residency?” I asked.
“He’s a surgeon.”
“Oh wow.”
“Heart surgeon, to be specific.”
“You guys are close in age, then?”
“Not really. We’re six years apart.”
“And he’s already in residency?” I asked blankly, unsure how that added up.
“He graduated college at eighteen.” He looked down at me with a smirk. “You think I’m smart? Dex is something else…”
“What’s he like?”
“He’s a good guy. A little stiff. But I think that’s just because he’s been so focused on his education.”
“And you aren’t stiff?” I teased.
He chuckled.
“What’s Daisy like?”
“She looks just like my mom. She’s sweet…but stings like a scorpion.”
I chuckled. “I can’t see her being anything less than warm like her mother.”
“She’s got an edge to her. But I’m glad she’s like that. She’s always been headstrong and ambitious, and since she’s always competing with the boys, she’s kinda a tomboy.”
“Then she and I will get along just fine.”
“Well, anyone can get along with you because you’re perfect.”
“I don’t know about perfect…”
“I do.” He opened the door to the lobby for me, giving me an affectionate look as he did. Then we got into the elevator and headed to his penthouse.
My mom was watching Lizzie for the night, so there was no rush to head home. I had a few hours before I had to run back to my responsibilities. It would be easier if I took Derek to