After a quick kiss on the forehead, I gave Brooke another squeeze, keeping my arm around her as we faced the growing crowd in and around my office.
"Thank you," I said, giving Darryl a nod. "This is…well. You all know that I don't really care about money. I'm not going to let it make me even weirder, don't worry."
Relief began to temper my nerves when everyone chuckled. Brooke patted my back as if to tell me to keep going.
"Obviously most of it is the ownership of the company, not piles of cash lying around, but still – I don't need much. So let's start spending more on the labs and you guys. Can somebody start a suggestions email thread? New equipment, better coffee machines, catered lunches on Wednesdays?"
Darryl was already nodding, so I added, "I have no idea when the last round of raises and bonuses was, but we'll look into that immediately."
He gave me a low thumbs up to tell me I was on the right track.
"What day is it, anyway?" I asked Brooke.
She giggled. "It's Friday."
"Am I allowed to give everyone the rest of the day off?" I asked Beny, who was lurking just inside the doorway.
He was already wearing the biggest grin I'd ever seen on his usually stern face. "The brand new billionaire and owner of the company would like to know if he's permitted to send everyone home early? I vote yes."
"Okay then. Everyone, go home. Get out of here."
A cheer went up, then everyone began to clear out. Darryl smiled sheepishly as he looked at the way I couldn't stop holding Brooke. "I'm really sorry to have interrupted, but that was kind of a big deal."
"Yeah. Thanks."
He turned to leave, and I added, "Hey, Darryl? Can you please make sure this doesn't hit the news or anything? You know I don't like people in my business."
He nodded. "Yup. We understand. Carry on." He pulled the shades, shutting the door behind him.
Brooke turned to face me, her lovely eyes soft and warm. "I like your staff. They understand you're an inventor before a CEO."
My palms landed on her waist, pulling her between my legs again. She tucked into my shoulder as I held her.
"I'm lucky to have found great people. Beny runs the lab, Darryl runs the money, Kevin and Colleen oversee the production at most of the factories, and Amy runs the office."
Brooke's fingertips slowly traced a circle around the center of my chest. "What do you run?" she asked softly.
My hands ran along her back In a slow caress. "I'm the ideas geek in the middle of the tornado. I have a personal trainer that comes to my home gym four times a week. A housekeeper that cooks and cleans. A gardener for the yard, and an assistant to make sense of my notes and input them digitally…"
"And now you have a girlfriend." My heart surged as her pretty little face looked up at me with such happiness. She really was mine. "What if we went to your place and ordered pizza or something?"
I loved how easily she made me laugh. "Most women would want to go to the fanciest restaurant in town to celebrate such an occasion."
Her nose crinkled as her head shook. "I'd rather just eat in your kitchen and, you know…chill."
Leaning in, I nuzzled along the side of her throat. "I was never able to chill with anyone before you came along, baby." My lips skimmed along her skin until she shivered in my arms. "But you make me calm. One of the many, many things I adore about you."
Taking her gently by the shoulders, I pushed her away and stood. "Let's go before I start thinking extremely inappropriate thoughts for the office environment."
"Fair. Hey, can I drive?"
Maybe most men would remember the exact moment they became a billionaire. Whatever.
I would never forget the look Brooke gave me as I tossed her the keys and I realized I was already completely in love with her.
7
BROOKE