Page 68 of Crash Course
Cilla walked to the office door and swung it open before turning back to Layla.
Maybe she could give her a tad of gossip. "You know," she said, "I might call dibs. He lives in Steele Ridge, though. Not sure how I feel about a three-hour commute."
Layla scoffed. "Please. You’re so busy, it could be what you need. He won’t be on you all the time."
True. But what if shewantedhim on her all the time?
Literally and figuratively. What a thought. Finally, a man possibly capturing her interest enough for her to actually miss him.
"I suppose," Cilla said, "you have a point. Something to consider."
With that, she left her assistant stewing in her chair.
Ten minutes later, hair and makeup far from perfect, but as good as it would get without a complete do-over, Cilla returned and found Cruz sitting in reception scrolling on his phone. At his feet sat a leather Cole Haan backpack. Cruz didn’t strike her as the designer label type, but Phin? Totally. The backpack, Cilla supposed, could have been a gift from Phin.
At her desk, Layla peered over, a smug smile lighting her face. After setting eyes on Cruz, the woman would more than likely prattle on for hours about Cilla and Cruz and a love match.
Too early to tell. But Cruz? So freaking hot.
"Well, hello." Cilla tucked her makeup case under her arm. A piss-poor hiding place, but whatever. "You’re early."
He stood to his full over-six-foot height and Layla cleared her throat, drawing a glance from Cruz and a hairy eyeball from Cilla.
Cruz drew his eyebrows together in a puzzled frown that Cilla ignored.
"Sorry," he said. "If you’re not ready, I can wait. No problem."
From her seat, Layla eyed them, her big brown eyes pinging back and forth.
"Not at all." Cilla waved him toward her office. "Follow me."
She led the way, glancing back at Layla, who fanned herself behind Cruz’s back.
"Layla, would you hold my calls please?"
"Of course," she chirped, still fanning.
Cilla let out a laugh and Cruz turned, taking in the spectacle of Cilla’s oversexed assistant.
"Layla," Cilla said, "is apparently having a hot flash."
"Layla sure is," Layla said.
"Oh my God," Cilla muttered.
"Eh," Cruz said, completely unfazed. "I have that effect."
"In your humble opinion?"
"Nothing humble about it. It is what it is."
She paused at her doorway. He did the same, their eyes locking on each other. "I believe you," she said. "Nothing about you strikes me as arrogant. Cocky maybe, but not arrogant. I like that."
"Excellent." He strode by, stepping into her office. "Something else we agree on."
Mmm, mmm,mmm."Have a seat."
"Couch?"
