“That came out wrong,” he says quickly, taking a step towardme, but I step back. “I mean that I was in my office, going over the case,trying to imagine a way out of this, trying to think like you. If I could seeyour angle, maybe I could see a way to counter it. And then, I didn’t see thecase. I didn’t imagine how you’d argue with me about it. I just saw you. I sawyour face and your smile and the way your eyes get a little greener when you’rehappy. I heard your laugh and the way you say my name.”
I shake my head, not wanting to hear all this. “You and I…wecan’t be a thing. We aren’t built to be a thing. We are tinder and a matchstickthat will burn the world down if we combine.”
He moves quickly, holding my upper arms in his grip. “Thenlet’s burn the fuck down.”
He’s not talking sense. “You can’t go from zero to onehundred in two days. This isn’t us. We don’t like each other. You’re bossy andan annoying know-it-all. I’m brilliant and no one sees it because I have tits.You probably like the Yankees because your brother plays for them. I am a RedSox fan. I mean, that right there is reason enough. But seriously, this willnever work. Not now. Not when we have to be professional, and I don’t have theluxury of screwing up.” Those stupid tears start to form, making his face blur.“So, please, I’m asking you to leave so I can pull myself together and do mydamn job.”
Cayden’s hands move my face, holding it as though I’m a babybird that’s about to fly away. I can see him warring with what to say. “Ofcourse. However, when this case is over, no matter the outcome, we’re going tohave a serious conversation.”
By then, his feelings will have righted themselves and I cango back to hating him because it’s so much easier than admitting I might lovehim.
“Sure. When the case is over.”
He leans in slowly, and I want to protest. I wish I wasstrong enough to do it, but I am weak and allow him to give me the most tenderand sweet kiss. One that I know has obliterated my heart, just like the look inhis eyes as everything shifted on my desk.
Cayden pulls back, much too soon, grabs his suit jacket,winks, and leaves my office.
And I sink down to the floor and cry, because I can’t holdback any longer.
Chapter Ten
HADLEY
“Ms. Arrowood, your next client is here. I’ve sent himback,” Patti, the office receptionist says through the phone.
I look at my schedule, confused because I have a clear dayfor the most part. The only meeting I have is with Renee to go over possibleoptions to get more money if we agree to give up a seat on the board.
Which, I actually think might be a better option. Once thecompany takes over, we have no idea if it’ll be profitable, but the other sideis that they will most likely destroy the farm that she’s spent her whole lifebuilding.
I haven’t heard from Cayden in four days. Four days of metrying to pull myself together and forget him. I’ve gone to the gym every day,giving a lot of extra energy hoping to sweat him out of my head. That hasn’tworked. I’ve meditated, because my mother swears that always helps clear herhead when she’s struggling. I’m clearly not built for that. And then I havegone to the stableseverydaythis week. Not even Maxhas helped. If anything, it’s worse because I think of him most there.
“Patti, I don’t have any clients coming today.”
Before she can respond, my door opens and my dad walks in.
“Well, I wouldn’t call myself a client.”
I smile, my heart feeling light and settled at the sametime. “Daddy.” Immediately I’m on my feet and moving toward him.
His strong arms wrap around me, and I sink into his chest.There is nothing in the world that makes me feel safer and more like myselfthan a hug from him. He squeezes me tight and then kisses the top of my head.“Hello, Squirt.”
I smile, shaking my head. “I am twenty-six, not really asquirt anymore.”
“You’ll always be my little girl. Learn to accept this.”
“Sure, Daddy. Why are you in the city? Mom never saidanything about it.”
He sighs. “Your uncle needed me to come look at the securitysetup with the new company he’s acquiring. I figured it was a reason to see youand your mother was pretty adamant I do exactly that.”
“I’m surprised she didn’t tag along.”
“Oh, she wanted to, but she can’t with the school yearcoming to an end.”
My mother is the best teacher in the world. I know everyoneprobably thinks their favorite is the best, but it’s true here. She is thatperson that just emanates kindness. Her kids love her so much and always comeback when they’re in town.
“They’re lucky to have her.”
“We all are,” Dad says without hesitation. No one in thisworld loves her more than him.
