Page 28 of Crash Course
Seriously? A bead of sweat dripped down the back of his neck.
"Do tell," he said, hoping to hell she’d share.
She leaned closer, getting right next to his ear. The subtle hint of vanilla charged his already taxed system and he inhaled, taking it in. Takingherin.
Lord, he wanted this woman. Not just sexually, although, yeah, there was that, but . . . so smart. And sassy.
"When we were on the phone this morning," she said, her warm breath easing over his skin, "I was wondering if you were in your suite. In a towel."
He closed his eyes, absorbing the downright giddiness taking over his nervous system.
"In fact," he said, "I was."
"Cilla!"
At the sound of Phin’s voice, the two of them leaped backward like a couple of teenagers. Not so slick, that.
Being the consummate pro, Cilla recovered nicely, scooped her tote bag higher on her shoulder and held her arms out to Phin. "Hey, you. Good to see you."
His brother wrapped her in an affectionate hug that some guys might find intimidating, but these two were friends. Cruz knew it. Plus, Phin was crazy in love with his girlfriend, Maddy. Months back, he’d hooked Maddy up with Cilla when Maddy needed a top-notch defense attorney.
According to Phin and Maddy, Cilla walked on water. Lots of it.
Still hugging Cilla, baby brother shot a WTF look at Cruz. Probably over the whole leaping-backward thing. Phin wasn’t stupid. He knew Cruz well enough to know beautiful, educated women didn’t fall off his radar easily.
Having grown up the rebel of the bunch, Cruz didn’t find it necessary to apologize. Or explain.
Cilla backed out of Phin’s arms. "Thank you for seeing me so quickly."
"Not a problem. Come in. We’re all ready for you."
At the conference table Rohan closed his laptop and stood to shake hands with Cilla. "I’m Rohan. It’s nice to meet you. Heard a lot from Phin and Maddy."
Cilla eyed Phin and he shot his hands up. "All good. I promise."
Zeke also entered the fray, exiting his office with a coffee mug in hand.
He spotted Cilla, set his mug on the table and approached, offering a handshake. "Welcome. I’m Zeke. We spoke on the phone this morning."
"Yes. Thank you. I appreciate y’all squeezing me in."
Phin gestured to the table, then pulled a chair for Cilla. "Let’s all sit."
She slid into the chair, conveniently next to Cruz’s usual spot and Zeke took his seat at the head of the table. Once everyone sat and the whole can-we-get-you-anything routine was complete, they got down to it.
"Gentlemen," Cilla said, "I won’t keep you. I’m hoping you can help me with research on property my father is trying to purchase in Morgan. Since we already have an NDA in place, it covers your conversations with me and saves time. Which, this week, I’m short on."
Before any of his brothers could respond, Cruz jumped in. "I shared our conversation this morning. I assumed it would speed things up. They know about the report you found on the plane."
"Excellent." She glanced at his brothers. "I found the file and spoke to my father. He wants to buy a farm to expand an existing landfill. He claims the report is one of three they had done on the property and is incorrect."
"You don’t believe him."
"I believe he wants to expand. I could almost believe the report being incorrect. However, the property is nearly two miles from the existing landfill. And it’s beside a daycare."
She hadn’t mentioned that and it sure as hell got Cruz’s attention. "A daycare? As in little kids?"
She bobbed her head, sending her silky straight hair swaying. "I had the same reaction. Why put a landfill next to a childcare facility? Particularly when there are two other farms in between."
