Desire surges within me and I push it down, stamping it into the dirt. I have a job to do and I will be damned if one pretty girl ruins that for me. I have plenty of women interested in me and I will not be distracted by the one who happens to walk through my door today.
I have just composed myself, standing to head over to my desk, when there’s a knock on my door. I frown, surprised. I am sure I have no more appointments this morning. I specifically blocked out time so that I could focus on Cade Harlow.
Confused, I head to the door and open it. To my surprise, Ellen is standing there, Cade nowhere to be seen. She smiles and it seems to open up her whole face, “Hi. Uh…” She shifts, looking awkward, “I left my purse. Sorry to trouble you…”
“No, no… it’s no trouble at all.” I smile and step back, allowing her into my office. She looks even better alone and I watch her bend over to grab her purse. She smiles and holds it up.
“Got it.” She smiles, sounding relieved, “My life is in this thing.”
I smile graciously, “It’s no trouble. Really.” I look her over and an idea sparks into my head.
“Say, Miss Cassidy…” I tilt my head, “Do you mind coming in within the next week or so?”
She looks confused and I can’t blame her. “Isn’t that what you and Cade were talking about?”
“Well, yes…” I concede, “But I meant a meeting with just you.” I smile apologetically. “I know it would be a bit of an inconvenience… but I’d like to discuss wedding dates and so forth… the family would like to know.” I shrug like this is all out of my control.
“I know us men aren’t great with that, so I thought it would be quicker if it was just you.” I look at her quietly, “You’d really be doing me and Cade a favor. Get some of that stress off his shoulders and just handle it, you know?”
She seems to be mulling this over, considering my words and I hold my breath.
“Okay.” She eventually replies, “Here.” She grabs something out of her purse, jotting something down and passing it to me.
I glance at it only to find her number scrawled onto a piece of paper. For some inexplicable reason, I find my heart stopping.
“Out of business cards.” She smiles in apology, “Let me know when, okay? I’ll have to arrange something with work.”
Then she turns and saunters out of the room. It takes all the strength I have not to take her by the hand and pull her close. I find myself wondering if Cade has kissed her. I wonder if he’s done anything more.
And when she glances back at me, I see fire in her eyes and I know that I’ve made the right choice.
A meeting along with Ellen Cassidy is exactly what I need.
Strictly business, of course.
CHAPTER TEN
ELLEN CASSIDY
I’m sitting in my apartment, feeling the hum of the past few days rush through me. It’s been one hell of a ride and I still feel a bit unbalanced. I’m curled up on my couch, waiting for the phone to ring. It might be Adam calling me, or it might be Cade. It might even be work, and at the moment, I’m not in the mood for any of it.
Instead of being dressed up, I’m in sweatpants. Instead of working hard or being sexy and witty, I’m slouching on the couch, watching bad TV. I should be helping out my mother or working extra hours. Something, anything.
Instead, I’m feeling flat out exhausted from the emotional roller-coaster. I’ve been proposed to, I’ve been wooed and taken out to dinner. I’ve also had my heart trampled over and over again. I’ve felt sparks fly with a man I can never have and I’ve felt the crushing guilt of the secret I keep close to my heart.
If I tell Cade that I’m going to meet Adam in private, he’ll tell me not to go. I know he will. He won’t want me to do it – he’ll worry about me giving everything up. Resentment curls around my heart.
We need to convince Adam and hiding from him is definitely not going to achieve that. I need to do what’s best, and what is right. I need to make sure that I give Adam the details he needs and make sure that Cade never finds out about the meeting.
I bite my lip. I also need to make sure that I stay as far away from Adam as possible after the meeting. He’s bad news. I can feel it in my bones. He might seem polite and friendly, but I sense danger. He’s done this before – he’s used to pulling people apart and I can’t have that happen.
I’m so caught up in my own thoughts that I almost jump out of my skin as the phone begins to ring. I clutch it in my hand as I try to still my beating heart, before I answer. I decide not to check the number before answering.