Page 16 of Executive Privilege

"That you're working with someone you really respect and admire, and that you might want to introduce him to the family."

"And she said?"

"She's making her famous enchiladas and Dad is promising to be on his best behavior."

Our father's idea of "best behavior" involves interrogating any man who comes within five feet of his daughters about his intentions, career prospects, and five-year plan. The last guy Emma brought home got a forty-minute lecture about the importance of financial stability.

"Emma, I can't uninvite my boss to a family dinner I never invited him to in the first place."

"So invite him for real."

"To what, a dinner where Dad will grill him about his quarterly earnings and Mom will ask when we're getting married?"

"Come on, Sadie. When's the last time you brought someone home? When's the last time you wanted to?"

Never, I realize. I never brought Brad home because I knew my family would see right through him. Would see that I was settling for safe instead of reaching for real connection.

"This is different," I say weakly.

"How?"

"Because Nicholas is..." I trail off, not sure how to finish that sentence.

"Because Nicholas is what?"

"Complicated. Intense. Way out of my league."

"Since when has being out of your league stopped you from trying?"

I hate it when Emma uses my own metaphors against me.

"I have to go," I say. "I need to shower and get to work and figure out how to pretend this conversation never happened."

"Think about it, Sadie. What's the worst that could happen?"

I hang up with Emma and hop in the shower. I try to picture Nicholas Blackwood at my family's dinner table. My mom asking if he wants seconds of enchiladas. My dad showing him photo albums from my childhood. Emma making pointed comments about how cute we are together. Actually, I think he'd get along great with all of them.

I laugh out loud. "Never going to happen."

***

An hour later, I'm showered and dressed and walking into Event Horizons with damp hair and a plan I'm probably going to regret.

"Morning, Sadie," Frankie calls from the reception desk. She's wearing a burgundy blazer that brings out the warm undertones in her skin, and her smile is as bright as always. "You look energized today. Good workout?"

"Conquered a route that's been beating me up for weeks," I say, and it feels like a good omen.

"Nice! There's nothing better than finally breaking through a barrier."

"Speaking of breaking through barriers..." I pause at her desk. "Hypothetically, if someone were to invite their boss to a family dinner, that would be completely insane, right?"

Frankie's eyebrows shoot up. "Are we talking about Nicholas?"

"Hypothetically."

"Hypothetically, it would depend on whether the boss in question is the type to appreciate home-cooked meals and family chaos, or the type to run screaming."

"What do you mean?"