One Night with the Boss by Teresa Southwick Page A

expression. “A good manager can spot talent when he sees it.”
    “Right now it doesn’t mean much, but...” She shrugged. “And you’re prejudiced.”
    “Nope. I’m not just saying that because you’re my little girl.”
    Pru made a scoffing sound. “You’re such a liar, Dad.”
    Maybe that’s where she’d gotten the gene for being an exemplary fibber, Olivia thought. “I’m just glad Colin has faith in me. That’s my friend—Colin Buchanan.”
    “I’ve met him,” her sister said. “He’s cute. Smart, too. Did he get married?”
    “No.” Olivia held up a finger when her sister showed signs of asking more. “And I don’t know anything else.”
    “Actually...” Pru put on her injured expression. “I was going to ask about your mysterious boyfriend who doesn’t live here.”
    He didn’t live anywhere besides her imagination, Olivia thought. But obviously her mother had passed on what she’d been told on the phone. Olivia hated lying in general, but particularly disliked deceiving the people she loved most in the world. The problem was that if she came clean about Leonard, her mother would tell Maureen because the women were best friends. As they always said, the bond had been forged through the fire of raising children and nothing could break it. As soon as the cat was out of the bag, Mrs. O’Keefe would pass the news on to Brady.
    She couldn’t tell the truth yet, but downplaying Leonard would set the stage for dumping him as soon as she left her job.
    “I understand his name is Leonard.” Her mother’s question was nonchalant, which meant she was working hard at keeping her voice neutral.
    “Really, Liv. Leonard?” Pru wrinkled her cute little nose. “Does he at least have a cool middle name you could use? Like Jack, Carson or Brad?”
    “No. It’s Sebastian.” And she didn’t have a clue where that came from any more than she did about the lie that started her down this cursed path. Might as well go for broke. “Leonard Sebastian Honeycut.”
    The three of them stared at her for several moments. It wasn’t often her family was speechless and she was kind of glad about it now. The fewer questions they asked, the less she had to lie.
    “Where did you meet him?” Ann pulled plates out of the cupboard and set them on the granite-topped island.
    “I had a trip to San Francisco.” That was no lie. “And I made a detour to see Colin in Southern California.” Also true. They could connect the dots. “It all worked out.”
    “I can’t wait to meet him,” Prudence said. “What does he look like?”
    Oh, dear Lord. “I don’t know,” she said. “Average.”
    “Sense of humor?” her mother wanted to know.
    “Just like mine.”
    “That’s very important.” She looked fondly at her husband. “That’s what gets you through the years.”
    Olivia agreed. Brady had a wonderful sense of humor.
    “I just want you to know how much I admire what you’re doing.” Her sister nodded with conviction. “You love Leonard and the two of you are going all in and making a commitment to each other. I respect that so much. And you’ve got a great new job, too!”
    Although Olivia wanted to tell Pru not to use her as a role model, there was really nothing she could say that wouldn’t raise a lot of questions. And that would lead to more untruths. She’d had enough of that to last a lifetime.
    “Thanks, Pru,” she finally said.
    Her mother assembled forks, knives and napkins. “Ken, Pru, why don’t you set the table in the dining room? Oh, and find those beautiful crystal wineglasses in the china cabinet. We need to toast the good news. The lasagna is almost ready. Livvie can help me with salad and garlic bread.”
    “Okay, honey.” Her husband saluted, his eyes twinkling. “Pru and I won’t let you down.”
    “Smart aleck.”
    “It’s a dirty job, but someone has to do it.”
    Olivia was glad to have something to keep her busy. She got spring greens and fresh vegetables