Page 78 of Truth or More Truth
“I hope so,” she replies. “Now, tell me about your house. I want to be able to picture you there when I talk to you. Where are you sitting right now?”
“I’m sitting at my desk in my home office.”
“That doesn’t sound very comfortable.”
“It’s not bad. I have a fancy chair. It’s padded and I can swivel it and move it up and down.” I swivel back and forth a few timesfor no good reason other than thinking about that option. “I’ve even fallen asleep in it a time or two.”
“Ooo, that is a fancy office chair. Mine makes my back hurt.”
“Maybe I need to have a chat with your employer about getting better chairs for the office.” The team management respects me because of Diego, so they’d likely make it happen without question.
“You don’t need to do that.”
“I can do it, though. It wouldn’t be just for you but for all employees, if you’re worried about being singled out.”
“All right then, I won’t complain if you get them to spring for comfy chairs in the office.”
A smile spreads across my face. “Consider it done.”
“Pretty confident in your abilities there, aren’t you, Bobby Joe?”
I chuckle. “Always, when it comes to convincing baseball execs to do something they might not do otherwise.”
“Or you could have Diego ask, and there will be absolutely zero chance they’ll say no.”
Though I should be slightly offended by that, a full-blown belly laugh bursts out of me. “True. And if they do say no, he’ll just buy the chairs himself.” It occurs to me I could do the same thing. However, the Cubs wouldn’t find it as odd for Diego to ask for or buy new office chairs for everyone as it would be for me to do so. Plus, Leslie could potentially use it as positive PR for our mutual client.
“Either way,” I say, “we’re getting you and your co-workers new chairs.”
Melissa cheers, and my heart soars.
“So tell me about the rest of your office,” she demands. “Is it dark and brooding, with imposing mahogany furniture and a plush rug?”
I smile again. “It’s nice to know you think I live like the mafia don you believe me to be.”
“I bet there’s also a portrait of a horse and you have an illegal gambling den in the basement.”
“You nailed it.”
She pauses. “Really?”
Another belly laugh bursts free. What is it about this woman that makes me laugh so much?
“No, none of that is true. Well, I do have a plush rug, but that’s about it. My house is Mediterranean style, so the floors are terracotta tiles, the ceilings have exposed beams, and the walls are white. Well, except for Kelli’s room, which is bright pink.” It’s like a Barbie box exploded in there, although she claims she’s too old to play with the dolls anymore. “My office is on the second floor, with a balcony overlooking the backyard.”
“There’s a pool in that backyard, isn’t there?”
“Yes, and a hot tub.”
“Oh, man, I could use a hot tub right about now.”
I try not to picture her in my hot tub with me, and I fail miserably. But then I realize since we’re dating, there’s nothing wrong with picturing us together in a hot tub, which makes me smile yet again.
“What’s Nanette’s house like?” she asks. “I’m guessing it’s the same style?”
I swivel my chair so I can look outside, where the guest house is faintly glowing from the security lights I had installed. “Yes, but smaller and only one story, so she doesn’t have to deal with stairs. We weren’t sure she’d be able to climb them when I bought the place.”
“Makes sense. Kelli told me you were off to pick her up from the hospital when I called earlier. So she’s doing all right?”
