Taming McGruff(33)
“Really?” she asked, searching his stare.
“All or nothing, Pixie.”
At the use of her nickname, she closed her eyes and groaned. Opening them again, she shook her head, avoiding his gaze.
“Let me see your cell phone.”
Her frown said it all. “Why?”
“Humor me.”
She fished it out of her pink tote bag sitting on the metal file cabinet behind her. Handing it to him, she didn’t let go. “I don’t see what this has to do with anything.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“Okay, okay, I’m humoring.” She sighed in defeat and released the phone.
Griffin searched for the message screen. He found at least twenty there. Highlighting her mother’s number, he pointed it at Priscilla so she could see. “I can fix this.”
“Drat,” she cursed. “She won’t stop calling me.”
“How many are for dates?” He held his breath, placing the phone on a nearby stack of files.
Shrugging, she said, “I haven’t listened to those. But, the others I did listen to did mention Dr. Neal. He’s getting impatient.”
“Funny.” At her blank stare, he said, “Doctor – impatient?”
She giggled at that.
Warmth spread through his chest at the sound.
Leaning her elbows on the desk and holding her chin in her hands, she faced him. “I want my freedom.”
“Did I say you couldn’t have it?”
Confusion chased over her features. “Single, free. Married, not free. That’s what I always thought.”
“No other men,” he said so firmly he felt the words vibrate in the air between them.
“I don’t want any other man,” she admitted, her eyes holding desire.
It kicked him in the gut. “I like the sound of that.”
“I thought you would,” she teased, smiling. “I didn’t realize how much I really wanted you until I couldn’t have you anymore.”
Flames rushed through his blood. “Jesus, Pixie, you pick a fine time to tell me.”
Her grin lingered. “I tingle in places I’ve never tingled before.”
He swore. “You are torturing me, you know.”
A look of consternation flashed in her eyes. “I didn’t mean to. I just don’t want to be controlled, ever again.”
That shook him. Leaning forward, so only a few inches were between them, he held her gaze. “I don’t want to control you.” Just protect you. “Give me three months.”
A smile tugged at her lips. “Like a probationary period? Like here at King’s for new employees?”
“Yes. It will allow you time to breathe even more than you say you have in the last five months or so,” he nodded toward her phone, “from your mother. In the future, from the press if you decorate my home; from, hopefully, any employee jealousy at you getting the job over them, a more experienced employee.” He watched that sink in. “And it will give you the freedom to prove you deserve the King name.”
She sucked in a sharp breath. “Is there anything else I can have?”
“Name it.”
“Can I make love to you anytime, anywhere?”
Chapter 13
With her secret tucked away for over a day, Priscilla hummed as she loaded up the to-go boxes for the overnight construction crew at King’s.
“Happy, aren’t you?” Marcus asked at the stove of his new pub and grill. “You can’t stop smiling about something. The remodel?”
“You should see it. It’s only the first night and what a difference already. I wish they would have let me demo the wall.” She shrugged. “But, Griffin wouldn’t let me or anyone else but a trained professional do the deed.”
“Charlie made a really solid choice with him, don’t you think?” He brought her some more filled containers and she added them to the cardboard boxes.
“Lots of experience.” Her mind scattered to a certain kind of experience and she felt the warmth crawl up her neck. Thank goodness Rico had talked her into taking precautions for birth control weeks ago. He’d predicted it would eventually happen and she should be prepared even if it took months or longer to find that special someone. To Marcus, she clarified, “You know, retail giant.”
“He’s the future of King’s, that’s for sure. His mind works like a computer. Amazing the way he just absorbs everything around him.” He waited a heartbeat. “Not the best people person, but with Peg by his side, I have faith he’ll succeed.”
Silently, she agreed with his assessment on Griff’s people skills.
“Be careful.” His warning brought her up short.