“Oh,” said Erin.“It’s like that, is it?”Her eyes were wide.
“Get lost, pest,” Cade said.
“Yeah.I can see you’re occupied.”
“Five seconds to get out.”
“Come see me?”
“Three seconds.”
“Fine.Fine.”She held up her hands.“My office.”
“Out.”
Sofia scooped up her folder and stuffed papers back inside.
“I apologize for embarrassing you,” he said.
“I’m…”
“What?”
“I don’t want her to think this is why I’m getting the bid.”
A grin made the corners of his mouth twitch.“She saw you in action last weekend.”
“Cade…”
“What?”He took her shoulders and stared at her intently.
“I don’t want…” She took a breath.“I’ve told you before, I’m not in your league.I wasn’t going to mention this, but my mother was a server for your grandparents’ events.”
“And?Almost everyone works somewhere.If you think anyone is judging you, I’m offended on their behalf.”
“Do you mean that?”
“Erin wants me to be happy.My grandfather wants me to be more involved with Donovan Worldwide.If you’re responsible for either of those things happening, my family is going to build a shrine to you.Mention this again and I will paddle you.”He punctuated his statement with a sharp nod.
She exhaled and he slowly released his grip on her shoulders.
“I brought you something.”
She wanted to vanish when he pulled a sleek metal butt plug from his pocket.The base had dozens of glittery amber jewels that she might have found pretty under other circumstances.
Instead of reaching for it, she stared at it in horror.
“I want you to have it in when you arrive at the Running Wind.”
She looked at him, eyes wide, scandalized.“You want me to drive with it in?You want me sitting on it for hours?”
“Yeah.And call me so I can fantasize about it.”He paused.“Will you do that?”
“I am making no promises.”
He curled her hand around it.
Her heart was in her throat and she could think of nothing but the weight of the thing in her palm.“Cade.”
