The following day was as busy as usual, so Doug didn’t get much of a chance to talk to Paige outside of a few quick “hellos.” He was frustrated, but he wasn’t going to give up. Finally, by the end of the work day, he met her in the hall near the front foyer. “As usual, I’m catching you right before you leave.”
She laughed softly. “I don’t mind,” she said to him. “I prefer seeing you for at least a moment before I leave for the day.”
Such a statement went straight to his heart like he’d been shot by Cupid. She liked seeing him! He’d worried he made her feel shy or something, but now she was saying she liked being around him. It was true, she’d sought him out the other day, but it could have just been because he was the one who knew the needed information. Still, Doug chose to think of it as her liking him.
“I was thinking,” he said to her, trying to keep calm and not get ahead of himself. “Would you like to go out to dinner with me sometime? Just you and me?” He wanted to make sure she wouldn’t think it was another work dinner like the one they’d had before.
Paige blinked at him, adjusting her purse strap on her shoulder. “That sounds nice,” she said to him, smiling as she said it as if she was coming to some decision as she formed the words in her mind. “Where would you like to go?”
He hadn’t thought that far yet. He’d just been hoping she’d say yes. “I’m not sure yet. When are you available and what kind of food would you like to eat? It definitely doesn’t have to be barbeque. I get it so often, as you can imagine.”
She chortled a little at that. She is darling. “Um, I really like pizza,” she offered. “That’s pretty boring, though, isn’t it? How about seafood?”
“There’s a great seafood place just off the Interstate,” he told her. “It’s Cajun style.”
“Sounds perfect,” Paige said, beaming now. “This Friday after work?”
He beamed right back at her. “Perfect,” he agreed.
Now they just had to get through a few more work days…
The week ended with a whimper, not a bang and Doug was so glad it was over. He’d been more excited about his date with Paige than he’d cared about the sales sheets – but who cared about sales sheets when they had a date with a pretty young lady? In the morning, he traded his normal suit for a nice, mint green button-up dress shirt and some black slacks. When Paige saw him in the morning, he noticed her eyebrows raising and hoped it was a good sign. He didn’t normally dress up when he went to work, unless it was a special occasion. This certainly was to him.
As soon as the work day was done and they didn’t have to feel bad for fervently trying to seek each other out, Doug met Paige in the foyer of the house. “Fancy meeting you here,” he said to her, flirting in a silly, playful way.
She giggled in response. “We keep running into each other,” she said. “We really ought to go out.”
He appreciated her playing along. “Shall we?” he asked, leading her out to his truck. He normally might’ve taken a fancier, hired car but he wanted to show off his homegrown life so she wouldn’t just think of him as Doug The Billionaire who wanted for nothing.
He helped her into his big, red truck and waited until they were both safely buckled in before starting the engine and driving off to the restaurant. He wondered if he should’ve invited Devon along, but he didn’t think his kid was ready to learn his dad was dating someone knew. The child hadn’t known his mother, so it would likely be very confusing and hard for him to grapple with. Doug wanted to wait until he knew if this relationship would stick, to minimize any potential damage.
And he wasn’t even thinking about what his mom might say yet. He knew she was slowly learning to put up with Paige, but there was decidedly a difference between putting up with and liking. His mom was going to need time to get used to this new chapter as well, and she was still slowly getting through the first new one he’d presented to her.
If everything goes well, soon she’ll be able to retire for real and Paige can take over. There was no doubt in his mind; Paige would be able to do it. She’d proven to be a quick learner and a diligent worker. His mom never had any complaints about her that held water. In time, he hoped, Helen would treat Paige like family.
He didn’t want to put too much pressure onto the situation right out of the gate, though. Let’s just enjoy this dinner tonight and see how it goes, he thought.
As soon as they got to the restaurant and they were seated, they looked through the menus even though he knew what he was going to get. He always got the same thing at Pappadeaux. He looked at the menu mainly so he could give Paige a chance to review her own, while stealing a few glances at her when she wasn’t looking, of course. At one point, their eyes met and then he got to see that pretty pinkness on her cheeks again.
Once the waiter came, Doug waited patiently for Paige to order before he ordered for himself. She got the Mississippi Catfish and a Coke. “Shrimp, Scallop & Spanish Octopus Pappardelle Pasta, please,” he said to their waiter, reciting the name fully from memory and grinning a bit as if the waiter might be impressed with him.
“Excellent choice,” the waiter said. “And to drink?”
“I’ll have a Coke, too,” he said. “No, actually, a Dr. Pepper, please. With a side of peanuts.”
The waiter nodded and jotted the orders down. “Great. I’ll be right back with y’all’s meals then.”
Once they were alone again, Doug was happy to be able to look at her and not have to hide it. They were out on a date, after all. “So,” he began. “Are you from San Antonio?”
Paige nodded. “Yep. I was born in El Paso, but we moved when I was two. I’ve lived here almost my whole life. And you?”
“Born and bred,” he said with another slightly cheesy grin. “I go to New York City a lot, mainly for work, and I’ve got a great group of friends there, but big city life like that is not really for me.” He shook his head a bit. “It’s nice to visit, but it can’t beat San Antonio.”
She smiled back at him, nodding her head. “I’ve never been to New York. I bet it’s fun. And probably overwhelming, a little.”
He chuckled. “Can something be a little overwhelming?” he asked. “Almost like an oxymoron, isn’t it?”
The waiter returned with their drinks and they both took a sip of their own beverage. He crunched a few peanuts after sipping his soda.
“Usually, what I experience could be called a little overwhelming,” Paige tried to explain. “Because things are slightly scary for me, but also slightly fun. It’s like an enjoyable sort of panic.”
Doug laughed. “You’re funny.”
He didn’t know what else to say. She was just silly, in an interesting way.
“I try to be, sometimes,” she said to him with a small, slightly shy smile. “I’m happy to tell you I’m no longer feeling a little overwhelmed at Stony Creek, though.”
“Does that mean you’re feeling overwhelmed?” he asked her, mostly joking.
She shook her head. “No, I think it means I’m finally getting used to the way things work around there. And it helps to know more people, like you and June, and Devon. He’s such a cute little boy, by the way.”
“Yeah, he’s my little blessing,” Doug said proudly. “I wish he got to be included more. But things are always so chaotic around the ranch; it’s best he stays out of the way and out of trouble.”
“Have you ever thought about moving into a different house, slightly away from where work is?” she asked him. “Then he could be a bit freer in his home, and you could spend more time with him when you’re not working.”
He smiled at her. “You might be onto something. I reckon we could build a new place on the extra land we don’t use anymore. We’ve got fields and fields of grass but no more cattle. The horses like it, but it’s kind of not the same.”
Paige nodded at him. “And then you’d have a home outside of work, and the main ranch house could just be completely changed into a wedding venue with full access.
”
“My mother will hate this idea,” Doug said honestly. “But that might be what makes it the right move.”
They enjoyed their dinner together and then they ordered a dessert of chocolate-covered waffles to share.
“I can’t remember the last time I had breakfast for dessert,” she mused with a laugh. “Possibly never, but the younger version of me would have loved it.”
“We should come here again sometime,” Doug said, practically blurting it out. “There are so many great things for you to try on the menu. I always get the same thing, but it’s more because I’m a creature of habit and less because I don’t think it’s all good.”
Paige’s lips moved up into another big smile. “I’d like that,” she said to him. “And maybe we could do something outdoors sometime, too. I don’t get out as much as I should, and I’ve never fully explored a ranch. I guess I make for a terrible Texan.”
Doug laughed a little and shook his head. “Aww, nah. Not everyone is fortunate enough to live in a place like I’ve got, and I know it. But I’d love to show you around sometime… Ooh, and maybe sometime I can take you with me to New York so you can experience the big city, too.” He was getting ahead of himself now, but he didn’t care. They were both clearly having a great time, imagining all of the dates they could potentially go on down the line. He was so grateful to have a new chance at love.
Chapter Ten
Paige was really excited to be dating Doug. Sure, they’d only gone on one date together so far, but she was sure there was more where that came from, especially because they’d talked about it while they were on the date. Normally when she dated someone, they didn’t make plans for the next time they saw each other. She was amazed Doug liked her as much as he apparently did. She liked him, too. She felt sort of shy around him, but it was the good kind of shy. The kind of shy meaning she cared about how he felt about her, and in more than just a work sense.
Thinking about the whole work aspect made her feel somewhat guilty. It was abnormal to be dating one’s boss, but when she thought about it, he wasn’t really her boss. He was the one in charge of the whole ranch, but at the moment it felt as though his mom was her boss. At least for the time being. And she was sure, even once Helen stepped down, the older woman was still going to be trying to control her and make sure things went according to the way she thought they should be done.
It was a little strange to Paige, though. If she was dating Doug, the older woman was probably going to be even more annoyed at her, considering she already didn’t like her. This was the only downside she could think of for dating him. Otherwise, she was super excited to spend a lot of time getting to know him and going on fun dates to places she’d never been before. He’d offered to take her to New York, which she definitely hadn’t expected. While she was hopeful about it all, she knew it would be wise for them to take their time. If things got intense right away, there was no telling what his mother’s reaction might be when she heard the news.
I don’t think he wants to tell her right away though, and I can’t blame him for that. There’s no sense in getting her all angry at us if we don’t actually mesh, or whatever. Paige didn’t like the idea of them not meshing, but it was a possibility. It was always a possibility… She thought it would be a good idea for them to just enjoy getting to know each other and see where it all might lead.
She had some time during the weekend to spend time with her friends, so they got together at a taco place – for a slight change of pace – and she gave them the latest news. “Girl, I always thought you’d want to date him,” Emily said. “You don’t describe your boss as handsome if you don’t want to go out with him.”
“What about his wife?” Iris asked.
A fair point. “I got brave enough to ask him about his wife and it turns out she died five years ago,” Paige told her friends, feeling sad for having to talk about it. “He actually seemed like he wanted to discuss it with me. He said no one ever brings her up, which is pretty sad. It’s like they’re trying to pretend she never existed so he won’t be reminded and be sad, but there’s nothing wrong with being sad when you’ve lost a loved one. It’s normal. And the only way he can really get through it is if he talks about it.”
“Wow,” her friends all said in near unison.
“I’m glad you spoke to him about it, then,” Kat said. “And I’m glad he had you to share those sorts of things with. How has his mom been towards you now that you’re dating each other?”
Paige went a bit pale. “We haven’t told her yet,” she confessed. “We’re kind of testing the waters with each other to see if we want to get serious, I think, and there’s no reason to get her involved unless we become serious about each other, you know?”
Her friends nodded. “You’re avoiding it as long as you can, aren’t you?” Iris asked.
“Yeah, pretty much,” Paige said with a laugh. “But he’s avoiding it right along with me. We both know she can be a bit… much.”
This was a nice way of putting it.
She and Doug continued to date in secret for the next few weeks, mainly taking it easy and going out to places like ice cream parlors and movies after work. They preferred going out together during the week so they could each have their weekends free to do non-ranch-related things. It felt weird to her now to think of Doug as something ranch-related, though. There was so much more to him than just the ranch. He enjoyed traveling, exotic foods, and architectural design, even though he wasn’t highly skilled in the latter by any means.
“I’ve thought a lot about what you said,” he told her during one of their dates at a small diner after a movie. “About adding a new house on the land we don’t use much anymore. I think it’s a great idea and I’ve been playing around with designing such a home on my computer when I’m not working, but I’m not the best at planning things like décor. Maybe sometime you could look it over? I trust your judgement.”
Paige smiled at him appreciatively. Not many people trusted her with such things, except when it came to event clients, but those events weren’t as long lasting as a home was. Even weddings. They were wonderful, of course, but they were over eventually and the arches, etcetera had to be removed for the next one. A home presumably would last for generations or at least several decades.
I wonder if this is a sign and he is already serious about me, she thought. She told herself to play it cool, though. “Wow, I’d love to help you. I don’t have much experience with home décor either, but I guess I’ve got a pretty good eye. No one’s ever complained about the event decorations I pick out. Not even your mom.” She winked at him.
He laughed softly. “Some feat,” he said. “Listen, I was thinking I should probably tell her we’ve been seeing each other. Before she finds it out on her own. We don’t want her to figure it out and know we’ve been keeping it a secret from her.”
So he is totally serious, she thought, feeling herself blush. “Hmm, she probably would prefer to be told sooner rather than later,” she agreed. “I know I would, too. At least we probably won’t have to worry about her making jokes about wedding bells like my mom is often wont to do. I haven’t told my mom yet either, but I guess I should.”
Paige didn’t think her mom would have any sort of crazy reaction to their budding relationship like his mom would. Her mom was pretty easy-going. Same with her dad. They’d just be happy to know she was happy.
Doug smiled at her, taking her hand. “So we’re at the ‘telling our parents’ part now,” he said. “It might be smooth sailing after this.”
“Is that what it was like for you and Roxanne?” she asked him. She wasn’t trying to say anything by it, but she thought it was worth noting if there was any difference. “Did your mom not like her at first either?”
“Are you kidding? My mom hated her at first,” he said with a laugh. “But you know what? She did eventually get over it. Roxie never tried to control things, which probably helped, but the difference here is that I need you
to be taking control of things. My mom can’t handle it the way she used to. She’s getting older, and frail. I know she’ll overwork herself and never mention it. She’s got to step aside and take it easy, and soon probably.”
Paige had sympathy for him, and for his mother too. But she also didn’t feel confident enough in herself yet to force the older woman out of the spotlight, so to speak. “I don’t know if this is a good idea,” she told him with a sorrowful sigh. “If we tell her you’re dating me and then she has to step aside so I can take charge… She’s going to be so hurt. I know a lot of her anger comes from being hurt. She wants to be in charge of what she’s been doing for so long, so when her sister steps on her toes, she gets frustrated. When I take over in some areas, it’s like she’s losing a piece of her power. I understand that.”
Doug looked at her. “So what are you saying?”
Paige sighed again. She didn’t even want to think about it too much or it would make her cry. “I think we shouldn’t tell her about us yet. If you want me to take over, we should cross that bridge first.”
He thought it over and nodded. “Good idea. We don’t want to overload her with too many shocking revelations at once.”
“Exactly.”
“At first I thought you were saying you didn’t want to date me anymore,” he said, his voice sounding a bit thin. “I was scared.”
She shook her head and gently rubbed the back of his hand with her fingertips. “As far as I’m concerned, that’s not an option.”
When they were back at work, Paige did her best to follow his lead and not talk to his mom about anything other than work for the time being. It was difficult to keep such a big secret from her, but the time would have to be right or she might have another health scare. Paige could tell Helen was fragile in the way she always took a seat instead of standing to perform a task. Even when she was at the easel now, she would bring it close to the sofa and sit while writing on its pad.
Her Captivating Billionaire Cowboy Boss Page 9
