The mention of one of her favorite movies slightly distracts her.
“As great as that sounds, you’re hovering, Cade.”
“I’m not hovering.”
“Then why did you miss this series? It’s not like you to miss games.”
It’s not like the golden boy, but the real Cade doesn’t care about anything else other than making sure the woman I love is okay. The decision to head to Permian instead of the terminal started off as impulsive, butthe longer I drove, the more certain I was about my decision to deal with Rio’s wrath and stay in North Carolina.
Stepping behind her, I prop my chin on her shoulder and breathe her in. “Shaylene Turner. You’re more important to me than any game. Maybe you don’t need me here, but I needed to be with you.”
As if I hit the correct button, her spine loosens against my chest. “I love you. I did need you here.”
“I love you even more,” I say, stealing a glance at her laptop. The brightness is high enough to burn her retinas, and there are way too many tabs open. “Doing some research?”
“Something like that.” She pushes the laptop aside, turns around, and hops onto the counter. “I’m job hunting.”
Ah. That explains the spreadsheets. “Any luck so far?”
With a dramatic sniffle-sigh combo, she bangs her head against the cabinet behind her. “Nope. Can’t find a single opening in North Carolina. It’s as if every agency found out I was jobless and closed their listings to avoid having to deal with Shaylene Turner. The disgraced woman who dates her client—”
“Ex-client,” I correct her with a scowl.
“Same difference,” she grumbles, but she knows it’s not. “I don’t know what to do. There’s a lot of interest from agencies in Florida and Texas, but that would mean I have to leave Clear Lake. Everything and everyone I love is here. My best friends. You.”
The thought hurts, so I step back and head to the freezer because I know what will brighten the mood. “Even if you have to take a job in another state, leaving won’t change anything. I’m yours no matter how many miles are between us.”
“I do know that,” she promises. “If I did have to move, I know we would be totally fine. But we just got back together. Being without you, even temporarily, isn’t something I want to do.”
“But being an agent makes you happy, and if that means you have to go, then you have to do what’s best for you and your career.” After dropping a few dark chocolate chips onto her open palm, I press my lips to her forehead. “Plus, spending my offseason in Texas doesn’t sound like the worst thing in the world. Hot as hell, but I’d deal with it for you.” That gets a laugh out of her, and the beautiful sound triggers an idea. “What about striking out on your own? Have you thought about that?”
As if that’s the craziest thing I could’ve said, she tips her head to the side. “Like starting my own practice? No way. I’ve been an agent for less than two years. That would be insane.”
I point at the two diplomas and framed certification exam paperwork hanging on the living room wall. “You’re kidding, right?”
“Having degrees doesn’t equal being a good agent. Jon went to freaking law school and was still an abusive dickwad. And Trevor said—”
My molars clash. “I don’t care what my former agent did or what your misogynistic supervisor said. Never have and never will. So don’t even try to use them as an excuse to not do something.”
She chews on her bottom lip and lets her head fall forward. “Trevor may have gotten in my head a little bit.”
“I know he did, baby. And I’m sorry.” Caging her in, I place my hands beside her thighs. “Let’s do a BYOB night, but not one where we break things down. Tonight’s should stand for ‘Be Your Own Boss.’”
Deep-brown eyes assess me like I’ve sprouted wings. “You’re serious?”
“Dead serious. You’re free of Permian and Trevor and can do anything. There’s nothing stopping you from starting your own practice.”
She tries to hop off the counter, but I don’t budge. “There are a ton of things stopping me! I’d need to find an office space and build a new client list, which requires money. And a lot of it! I can’t jump blindly into this with no plan, Cade.”
“Then make one and let me jump with you. I want to help, and if that means covering the costs while you get started—”
“No.” The heels of her feet slam against the cabinet. “You don’t need to buy my love.”
I can’t help but smile as I step in between her legs. “Listen to me, Shay. I’m not trying to buy your love. All I want to do is see you succeed, and if that means helping with something I can give you, like money, then so be it. Because I’ll also be giving you my time and support and energy. I believe in you as an agent, and I admire your love for your clients.” I think of all of them in Winston’s office this morning, vocalizing how important and special Shay is. How they can’t imagine a career without her. “All you want is to help athletes, so let me help you.”
Her voice cracks. “Are you really not trying to buy my love?”
“I don’t need to. You’re already completely obsessed with me.” She shoves my chest, but she’s smiling, and that’s all that matters. My thumb brushes over her bottom lip, pausing on the small scar that you can only see if you’re lucky enough to be this close. “You didn’t leave Permian because you couldn’t handle it. You left because you outgrew the space they tried to keep you in. So go for it. You don’t need their permission anymore, baby.”
