Page 63 of Crash Course
That would most definitely create a scenario where she’d have to explain herself and she’d rather wait for the toxicology reports on her samples before doing that.
What to do?
She scooped up her cell phone and dialed Cruz. And, yes, she hated the fact that her finger trembled ever so slightly as she tapped the screen. The entire episode had rattled her.
Never had Paul come at her like that. Never.
"Well, good morning," he said in that deep, confident voice that instantly set her at ease.
"Hi. Are you busy?"
"Heading to the Annex. You okay?"
No.This from Ms. Independence. Admitting it to herself was painful. "I had a visit from Paul Benzman. My father’s second-in-command."
"Is that normal?"
"Mmmm, it’s not abnormal. He doesn’t make a habit of coming to my office. He knows we, well, I’m not sure if he knows you were with me, but he knows I was in Morgan yesterday. And, before you ask, he called the Tates to check on the status of the offer to buy the farm. Chatterbox Sherry told him I was there. He mentioned nothing about you. I’m thinking he doesn’t know. Surely he’d have asked, right?"
"Maybe not. Depends. I hold back intel when I’m digging. I like to see what people will tell me. Was that all he wanted? To ask you about Morgan?"
"Heck no. He made itexceedinglyclear I should back off. Actually said that to me. Tome."
Cruz let out a whistle. "Ballsy. I’d like to pound the shit out of him for thinking he could talk to you that way."
Yada, yada. Cilla rolled her eyes. Men. "Well, thanks, but I took care of it and threw him out of my office. He’s antsy. Definitely not happy with our field trip yesterday. Which makes me more curious than ever. He’s hiding something. I feel it. Any update from Rohan on the sludge?"
"I’m walking in now. If he’s not in the office yet, I’ll call him. Phin texted me this morning. He had a meeting with Kayla at nine and would drop the samples at the lab on the way."
"So, we’re in a holding pattern."
"For now. The day is young, Cilla. Don’t let this guy screw with you. Let me find Rohan and I’ll hit you back."
"Thank you."
"You’re the client. It’s my job."
"Not for that. For answering. For making me feel . . . not alone."
"Honey, if I have my way, you’ll never be alone again."
And didn’t that soothe her embattled nerves? Something warm and silky washed over her and that vision of a naked Cruz sent her girly parts swooning.
Cilla, being Cilla, didn’t swoon.
Overconfident men typically found themselves on the receiving end of her let’s-be-friends speech. Cruz? He had a way. A way that didn’t sound like a load of insincere charm meant to make her clothes fall off.
And, yes, she definitely wanted her clothes, not to mention his, off.
"Careful what you wish for, Cruz Blackwell."
"Why? You think it’ll scare me if I get it?"
"You don’t strike me as the fearful type."
"I’m afraid of a lot. Any man who says he isn’t is a liar. However, you don’t scare me. Just the opposite, in fact. I want more of whatever you're giving. You okay with that?"
Yes.
