Inked Persuasion (Montgomery Ink Fort Collins #1) - Carrie Ann Ryan Page 0,20
it work, even if it killed me.
“You have court on Thursday, but you should be fine for that,” Dustin said, looking down at his tablet again.
My lips quirked. “I hope so. It is kind of my job.”
“Well, you did bring us up from Denver to this…whatever town you think this is,” Seressia said, looking out the window at the barren landscape behind me.
I snorted. “It only looks like that because this window faces east rather than the mountains. I gave the conference room the mountain view.”
“You’re the boss, you should have the mountain view.”
“No, because then I would never get any work done. We’re doing okay, you guys. Right?”
They both nodded. “Okay, let’s get this done. Maybe you can be out of here before six.” I knew they wanted to roll their eyes at me, but they didn’t. Instead, they gave me tight nods before getting back to work. Sadly, it would probably be more like eight, and they’d be taking work home right along with me. I needed another staff member on the books, and we were working on it. Unfortunately, it was a little slow-going. Mostly because two of the other staff members I wanted to bring up with me from Denver were on maternity leave. Their babies were cute, and I was very happy for my staff, but I sure as hell missed them right now.
I made a note to check in on both of them, not to ask them when they were coming back but because I was honestly interested and cared. I was trying to be a better boss. Attempting to be a better person. And I could do that even if I felt like I had no idea what I was doing.
That only reminded me that I was failing even worse at life and choices when it came to Annabelle. I had been such a fucking asshole. I needed to work on who I was and determine why I had acted the way I did. She seemed to take it with grace, but I had a feeling that was just Annabelle, and had nothing to do with my apology.
I’d be seeing her soon. Not that we had anything planned, but she would be at my parents’ house the next time they had a big family dinner, and she lived next door to me. There was no escaping that, even though I was pretty sure she worked as many long hours as I did, and both of us were rarely home.
I pushed Annabelle and that weird moment between us the last time I had spoken to her out of my mind. I did not need to think about the heat or awareness I’d felt. I had simply been exhausted and losing my mind a little. I wasn’t thinking anything else when it came to her. I let out a breath, pinched the bridge of my nose, and forced myself to focus.
I worked for another couple of hours, Dustin having to bring me lunch when I lost track of time. I smiled my thanks, and he pointed to his eyes and then at the sandwich. I snorted.
“I’ll eat it. Thank you for taking care of me.”
“Somebody has to. You sure don’t do it yourself.” He spun on his heel and walked out, and I snorted.
I liked the duo. Seressia and Dustin. They worked well together, and they kept me on my toes. They pretty much ran the office. That meant that once we finished filling our staff and settled in a bit, eventually making more money for the practice, they would get raises. I wouldn’t work them to death and not pay them. Nor would I work them to death. I hadn’t liked that when I was just starting out, and even though I was young to have my own practice, I didn’t want to be that boss. The one everybody feared and who forced them into heart attacks at the age of forty because they worked too hard, drank harder, and forgot about the real world. I also liked my paralegal, Lucas, who was currently researching for me. He worked as many hours, if not more, than I did. Lucas was probably buried in a book right now, and I didn’t mind.
I opened the sandwich and looked over some briefs as my phone rang. Since it was the office phone, Dustin must have sent it back. I answered.
“Jacob Queen’s office.”
“Hello there, darling,” my mother said. I smiled, leaning back in my chair.