“Cane, it’s nice to see you.” I hoped that the cheeriness in my voice masked my nerves. I turned to face him, not sure why I felt on edge without even looking at him.
“What’s going on?” He looked at me and then at Simon. His jaw pulsed, his forehead creased as he stood with his fists balled at his sides.
“I brought Mr. Powers to see the property. Alice said that she called your office.”
Cane stared at Simon’s hand on my arm until he released it. “Have you finished?”
“We have, I believe.” I looked up at Simon, hoping he wasn’t put off by Cane’s attitude. I wasn’t sure what was going on, but this wasn’t the way to treat a potential buyer. Surely, Cane knew this.
Simon appeared amused as Cane stared holes through him. He glanced at me, then back to Cane, before a small smirk appeared on his face.
“I saw this listing and thought it may work for my new venture. Your agent did anexcellentjob showing me around.”
“I’m sure she did.”
Simon seemed unfazed—totally cool and collected. He turned toward me and winked. “Thank you for everything, Ms. Stanley. I will get with you tomorrow. Maybe we can meet for lunch?”
“I’ll check my schedule, but that sounds great.” I followed Simon to the door, Cane’s eyes never leaving us.
Simon exited first, the door closing snugly behind him. My hand was on the handle when Cane’s voice caught my attention.
“Well, if that isn’t a motherfucker.” His voice was low as he scratched his head, a faraway look on his face.
“Excuse me?”
Cane shook his head, apparently to rid himself of whatever he was thinking. He turned toward me with his eyebrows raised. “So you will have lunch with him and not me? What am I missing here?”
“It’s a work-related lunch. Pretty simple, I think.” I peered out the door, watching Simon’s black Avalanche pull out of the parking lot.
“I can pretend it’s about business if that’s what you want.”
“Cane,” I warned, turning to look at him.
“Lunch with him will not be about business. What I saw when I walked in wasnotabout business.”
“Whether it was or it wasn’t is no business of yours.”
Cane blew out a breath, his forehead marred in frustration. “Do you know Simon Powers? Have you dealt with him before?”
“No, I just met him today. Why?”
He looked relieved. “It doesn’t matter. Look, if he needs to see this property again, I want you to call me first, okay?”
“All right.”Odd request, but okay.
“I’m going to give you my phone number. If he wants to see this property or becomes a pain in your ass, I want you to call me. Don’t put up with any shit from him, and don’t bring him here unless you actually speak tome. Do you understand?”
Not exactly.“You’re making me nervous. What’s going on?”
“There’s nothing to be nervous about,” he said calmly, trying todissipate the mood he just created. “I just don’t like that guy. I don’t trust him.”
“Whatever you say.”
“I like it when you just do what I say.” His eyes darkened.
“Noted. I have to go, Cane.”
“What’s your phone number?” He placed his hand on the small of my back. I stilled at his touch. A jolt of energy darted through my body. I closed my eyes and justfeltfor a minute.
