Page 11 of Her Honorable Hero

“And when you’re home in Anaheim on the weekends?” he prodded.

“I cut it back,” her eyes shifted down to their clasped hands. A sure sign she was lying.

“Miranda, one-hundred-hour workweeks is too much. You have to know that. Especially if you’ve been doing it for over two months.”

As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Griff knew he was in trouble. He’d been accused of being too controlling in the past. Women didn’t like it. Then there was the fact that Miranda was as Type A as they came. He was doomed.

“Yeah, I know. You’re right.”

“That’s it? You’re going to agree with me?”

She gave him a puzzled look, then laughed. “You thought I was going to have a problem with you hitting me with some home truths?”

Damn, he liked her. Liked her, liked her. And he’d already been pretty hooked if he’d been pursuing her for nine weeks on a train, but that sentence cinched things.

“I gotta admit Ms. Slade, I thought you might fight me on it,” he grinned slowly.

She leaned in with a grin of her own. “Want to know a secret?”

“Sure.”

“I like people who’ll call me on my shit. I know you’re right. I’ve been doing this pace for almost five months and I’m close to burnout. That’s another reason for turning off the phone. But the product is going to hit the market at the end of next month, and I know I’m capable of keeping it together until then, as long as I power down when I know I’m ready to unleash the four horsemen of the apocalypse on someone’s ass.”

Griff laughed. “So after next month?”

“Then I’m taking my six weeks accrued time-off in one big lump. I’m going to find a beach, a lake, or just someplace near water, and veg out.” She leaned her head back against the seat and peeked over at him beneath her lashes. “So, see? I have a plan. What do you think of that?”

It sucked. Unless it was a beach here in San Diego. Near him.

“Sounds well-thought-out, exactly what I would expect from you. Are there any special people you want to spend those six weeks with?”

Smooth, Porter, really smooth.

“It’ll just be me and Captain Morgan for one week. Smooth Rum on a tropical beach.”

Griff brushed his thumb along the side of her hand, where their hands were still clasped. He heard her involuntary intake of breath.

Good. Maybe he was getting to her, because God knew she was living under his skin.

Wait? What was she saying?

“…friends.”

“Huh?” he asked.

“I said I’d have to scrounge up one of my girlfriends, but all of them fall under the workaholic category, too.” Miranda wrinkled her nose. “Seriously, this shit needs to start slowing down.” She shoved at her leather computer case with her attractive maroon heel. Griff loved her choice of footwear. Not too high, but sexy nonetheless.

“What about you, Mr. Navy SEAL, how much time do you take off?”

“What about your friend Wendy? I know she’s a big time director, but won’t she take time off to go with you to the beach? If not her, what about Penny?”

Miranda stared at him in amazement.

“What, like you’re the only one who pays attention?” he chuckled. “Oh I forgot, Penny moved back to Ohio. Still, can’t she meet you?”

“Her new job is keeping her hopping,” Miranda sighed. “Plus, she just got a puppy. There’s no way she’d leave him so soon.”

“And Wendy?” Griff probed.