She looked up at me unconvinced, but before she could respond, our waiter came to take our food order. We ordered the burrata with eggplant marinara, baby kale salad, cacio e pepe, and truffle fries. I liked that she had an appetite. Most of the models I took on dates would order a side salad and say they were full after eating three bites.
As Sadie bit into a fry, she went over her notes from the meeting prior. I drummed my fingers on the table in frustration. She noted the change in demeanor and eyed me thoughtfully.
“This one is a tricky one, huh?” she asked.
“The man’s a pompous asshole,” I muttered.
I could have sworn I saw a small smirk across her lips. I knew she thought the same thing about me.
“What wouldyoudo?” I asked with a raised brow, testing her. If she wanted this job, she still needed to prove she deserved it.
She looked thoughtful for a moment.
“I would put Gregory on it...” she started, a little uncertainty in her voice before finding her stride. “He’s dependable. Honest. His people skills are exceptional. He would be a good fit to manage this particular client. I think the two of you would butt heads too much. You’re too…”
“Alike?” I asked, arching a brow.
“Yousaid it.” She laughed and it was like a sunny day the way it warmed my skin.
I couldn’t help but smile. “Fine. I’ll assign Gregory to it.”
She looked surprised.
“What?” I asked.
“Nothing.” She shook her head, the waves of her red hair following the movement of her heart-shaped face. “It’s just, one minute you’re trying to transfer me to another department, and now you’re taking my advice. I don’t get it.”
“You don’tneedto get it. I’m your boss.”
“And we’re back to this…” she muttered, rolling her eyes.
If she weren’t so sexy giving me a little attitude, I would probably be pissed off by her insubordination. But I let it slide because this was what I was asking from her. A little pushback.
“Back to what, exactly?”
“What you say goes,” she said.
“That’s exactly right. I don’t need to explain myself to you.”
She sat back in her seat and shot me a glare. I had seemingly struck a nerve. I waited for her to say something. I wanted her to keep fighting back, partly because it turned me on and partly because it was about damn time she did. I wanted her to show me she cared about something. To stand up for herself. To take up the space she so desperately needed to. The space she deserved.
I watched as her jaw tensed and released, remembering how my lips had trailed along the smooth skin until they reached her neck. As my eyes dipped lower, her breath became shallow, her chest rising and falling slowly. It would be so easy to end this disagreement and lead her down the dark hallway just past our table, and hash it out in other ways.
Instead, I cocked my head and asked amusedly, “Something else to say?”
“Nope.” Her single word was clipped as she pressed her lips into a tight line.
“Liar.” I smiled at her.
The fire in her eyes melted away to something else. Hurt. Was she reallythatmuch of a goody-two-shoes that she couldn’t handle a little jab like that? I had been called far worse and never so much as blinked. Most of it was deserved, especially with the skeletons in my closet. I knew my past wasn’t something she could handle. Hell,Iwasn’t someone she could handle. It was probably best for her to find a new job. If she stayed on with me, I would end up eating her alive.
But I wasn’t ready just yet to let her go. Not when I had the overwhelming desire to fuck her again. At least one more time.
Chapter 11
Sadie
The previous class poured into the locker room, glistening with sweat from their 5 a.m. ride. I shook my head as I placed my foot on the wooden bench to strap up my spin shoes. I couldn’t imagine getting here that early. Even being here for the 6 a.m. class was rough, but Erica had insisted I joined her. She said I was her accountability partner, and since I had already paid for three months of classes in advance, I really had no excuse not to join her. I just wished it didn’t have to be so early.
