Page 103 of Crash Course
When she didn’t answer and walked back to the doors to stare out, Cruz swung around. "I love that idea. You can help me make sure I say nothing that’ll piss off the women."
"Terrific," Phin said. "Again with this? I don’t know why you think our girlfriends are offended by you."
"I didn’t say that. What I said is that I have to watch what I say."
"You’re the only one who thinks that."
"Yeah, until I call one of you a fucker in front of them."
That shut his brother up.
"My point exactly." Cruz didn’t have time for this. Way too early. He waved him from the room. "Go back to bed."
Phin exited and Cruz stepped behind Cilla at the doors, gently placing his hands on her shoulders and kissing the back of her head. "How can I help?"
She shook her head. "If I do this, there’s no telling the impact it’ll have on Randolph Industries. I know my father, he’ll never forgive me." She turned to face Cruz. "I can live with that. If it saves one life, I’ll live with it."
"You’re worried about what he’ll do?"
She nodded. "Is that selfish? That I’m worried about my career?"
"Honey, it’s not just your career. It’s about making a living. Your Dad has a long reach. He could impede your ability to support yourself. If youweren’tworried about that, I’d think something was seriously wrong with you."
"I could go back to the DA’s office. Not here, but another state maybe."
Another state?
Oh, hell no. They’d just started whatever the hell it was they had going and she’s talking about leaving?
No way he’d let that happen.
"Whoa. You’re getting too far ahead. Phin trusts Kayla. Talk to her. See what she says."
Cilla nodded. "Will you go with me? Just as . . . I don’t know . . . a neutral party? I’m too close to this, Cruz, and I hate working on emotion. I need facts."
Zeke would love that. He’d wave his precious Randolph Industries NDA under Cruz’s nose and lecture him about the risks.
Too bad.
People could die.
"I’ll do whatever you want," he gave her a wolfish grin. "As long as you come to our cookout."
Cilla leftSteele Ridge at six a.m. Awake anyway, and not needing the distraction of Mr. Delicioso, she showered in the guest suite, slid into a suit and her favorite Gucci shoes, and found relief that it was Saturday and there’d be no morning traffic.
Arriving at the office just before 9:00, she found Layla already at her desk. Cilla had texted the night before saying she’d be coming into the office in the morning to catch up and Layla, being Layla, had offered to come in.
Today’s ensemble included a white cotton button-down, blue blazer, and her long dark hair loose over her shoulders. If Cilla were to guess, the lower part of the outfit would be fitted slacks and flats.
"Morning, boss." Layla spun from her keyboard and faced Cilla. "Sorry about Nagle screwing you."
"Morning. I could live with him screwing me. Our client? Not so much. Rick Bandy is as shocked as I am. We’re back to working out a deal."
Layla peered at Cilla over the top of her reading glasses. "Wow."
"What?"
"You’re so calm. I expected you’d be steaming mad."
