The Bachelor's Baby Surprise. Teri Wilson

that. She was relieved. The annoying pang in her chest wasn’t disappointment. It couldn’t be.

      “I need to nip this situation in the bud. Right?” She clicked the double gate of the dog park closed and bent to unfasten Olive and Bee from their leashes. Olive let out an earsplitting bark—the sort of bark that would ensure their eviction if she dared to do it indoors.

      Evangeline nodded. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

      * * *

      “Again?” Ryan paused in the doorway of his office and took in the sight of Zander sitting behind the desk, waiting. “Your new early hours are becoming a habit.”

      “Indeed they are. Get used to it.” Zander shot Ryan a tight smile and waved him inside.

      So this was it.

      Zander had been called into a meeting immediately after their interview with Evangeline the day before, and then he’d gone home. He no longer worked late as often as he did before he married Allegra. A year ago, Ryan might have envied him.

      He knew better now.

      Ryan wasn’t cut out for marriage...for family. He’d tried. He’d tried really hard, but it wasn’t in his blood.

      He’d suspected as much all along. Only a fool would grow up the way Ryan had and not wonder if a normal, healthy relationship was even in the realm of possibility. Still, when Natalie turned up pregnant, he’d allowed himself to believe.

      What a mistake that had been.

      A dull ache took root in Ryan’s gut. He’d moved on from Natalie and her baby over a year ago. He shouldn’t be thinking about that mess now—and he wouldn’t be, if not for the damned Gotham cover hanging above Zander’s head. Being heralded for his bachelor status was a pretty potent reminder that he was meant to go it alone.

      “Any particular reason you’re reading the morning paper in my office?” Ryan sank into one of the guest chairs. “Again?”

      Zander lifted a brow. “You have to ask?”

      So this was it.

      Ryan was facing his moment of reckoning for making the unilateral decision to hire Evangeline Holly. He should have known Zander wouldn’t let it go.

      “She was the right person for the job. End of story.” He shrugged.

      “That might be true, but as CEO I would have liked an opportunity to weigh in on the matter.” Zander folded his newspaper closed and rested his elbows on the desk. “But what’s done is done.”

      Ryan nodded. “I’m glad you see it that way.”

      “Are you still going to be glad when I tell you that you’re going to be personally responsible for making sure Ms. Holly is a success?” Zander sat back in his chair, waiting.

       Personally responsible.

      What did that mean, exactly? Was Ryan supposed to hold her hand while she went table to table, recommending wines?

      He’d heard worse ideas.

       She’s your employee now, remember?

      Ryan cleared his throat. “Fine. She comes in around four. I’ll plan on spending the last hour or so of each work day checking in on things upstairs.”

      He’d planned on keeping close tabs on Bennington 8, anyway. The chef and the rest of the staff were already aware that Carlo Bocci could turn up at any time, but Ryan wanted to ensure they were prepared. Overprepared, if possible. The Michelin ranking was too important not to oversee things personally.

      “Think again,” Zander said.

      Something in his tone caused the ache in Ryan’s gut to sharpen. “Explain, please.”

      Zander shrugged. Somewhere beneath his irritation, Ryan spied a hint of a smile, and he got the definite impression his cousin was enjoying playing the CEO card. “You’re working nights now.”

      Ryan blinked.

      “We’ll split shifts. I’m taking days and you’re handling nights. Four p.m. to midnight,” Zander said.

      “Whatever for?”

      “So you can keep an eye on Bennington 8, obviously.” Zander stood. “Someone needs to see Ms. Holly in action to make sure she’s working out, and since she’s your hire, that someone is you.”

      Ryan opened his mouth to object, then promptly closed it.

      What Zander was proposing made sense on every level. Not to mention the fact that when Ryan made the decision to hire Evangeline on the spot, he’d known he’d eventually have to face the music.

      And he’d done it, anyway.

      Zander lingered in the doorway, arms crossed, leaning against the doorjamb. Now was the time for Ryan to fess up and tell his cousin everything.

       Just say it. Do it now. Evangeline and I have a history, albeit a brief one.

      He met Zander’s gaze. “How long?”