“The return to reality,” she said.
He thought he knew what she meant.For her, it probably seemed they’d done extraordinary things.
For her?
Fuck.
For him.
He’d played with women for a lot of years, and none of them had evoked an emotional reaction from him.And he had been stunned by the surge of possessiveness that had hit him this morning.
* * * *
Even when he was working with the crew to cut the storm-ravaged live oak into manageable pieces, Cade’s mind kept drifting back to the house, to her.
They hadn’t signed a contract yet for the centennial celebration, but he was going to get it done.He wanted an excuse for her to return to the ranch.
“Boss?”
He shook his head, realizing his foreman was speaking to him.
“Want me to drive her SUV out?”
Cade nodded.That would give him a few more minutes with her.
Once the road was clear, he returned to the big house.
She was at the island, her tablet and phone stacked next to her purse and duffel bag.The kitchen was clean and Loopy lazed on her back with her belly exposed.
“I think she’s in a bacon coma.”
“You gave her—”
“I did.”
Neither the woman nor the dog looked apologetic.
“You’re a spoiled girl, Loopy.”
The dog yawned.
“Tough life,” he said.“I remember when she was a hard-working ranch animal.”
“When was that?”
“Yesterday.Are you ready to go?”he asked.“Before you ruin my dog forever?”
Sofia slid from the stool.“Too late.”
For him, as well, he was afraid.“Can I have your keys?”
She fished them from the cavernous depths of her purse.
“What the hell do you keep in there?”
“All the known secrets of the universe.”
He raised his eyebrows.
