AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Twice in one morning,” I reply, smiling up at him.
“Yeah. We were thinking of going to grab Starbucks,” he says in that deep, velvety voice of his that does things to my belly. “Want anything?”
“You’re…offering to get me a…a coffee?” I stammer, not quite believing my ears.
Eric Camden wants to buy me a cup of coffee? This is a major new development in our relationship.
His eyes flash. “Sure thing.”
“That would be great,” I reply with a smile. “Thank you, Eric.” I pull my purse from my bottom drawer and fumble around for some cash when I feel a warm hand fold over mine. Startled, I look up into Eric’s eyes.
“My treat,” he says.
For a moment, I allow myself to get lost in the fantasy that somehow, despite the fact he's never done anything other than flirt with me since the day we met, he’s suddenly overwhelmed with passion for me and can’t help but scoop me up in the most breathtaking and wonderful kiss of my life.
Of course, in my fantasy this doesn't happen at my desk, and not with Chloe and Terrence watching. (It happens at sunset in Memorial Park, with us sitting on a picnic blanket and him telling me how he's always loved me but has never had the confidence to tell me, before he sweeps me up in a kiss, murmuring that one day, he intends to make me his wife.)
“That's so sweet of you,” I say, and as he pulls his hand from mine, I miss it. I actually miss it.
He straightens. “Wait. I just remembered. We've got that thing. Right, Terrence?”
Terrence nods. “We sure do.”
Eric tsks. “I cannot believe we forgot that. How stupid.” He turns to me. “Maddie, you wouldn't…? Nah. Forget it. That would be me taking advantage of you.”
“I wouldn't what?” I ask, my voice breathless, because as terrible as it sounds, Eric Camden could take advantage of me in any way he wants.
“You wouldn't go grab the coffees for us this time and I'll get the next one for you?” he asks.
Wait. Did this just get turned around on me?
I just know Chloe is rolling her eyes like they're a planet orbiting the sun.
“Oh, sure. Yes. Of course,” I say brightly.
“Thanks, babe,” he replies with a wink, and my stupid heart squeezes.
He pats his thighs. “Dang it. I forgot my wallet and I need to get to that thing. Right, Terrence?”
Terrence nods again. “Right.”
“Maddie, I don't suppose you could get them and I'll pay you back later?”
“Sure,” I breathe.
I do not look at Chloe.
The door opens and in walk two men dressed in black suits, sunglasses hiding their eyes. They look every inch the CIA cliché you see in movies, only bigger and scarier, their collective bulk filling the space.
I blink at them, wondering whether we're about to be infiltrated for some highly secretive ops—or worse—when Eric steps over to them and puffs out his Viking chest. “How can I help you gentlemen?”
One of the men removes his sunglasses, revealing a face with the squarest jaw I've seen outside of a cartoon, and a heavy brow that more than hints at Neanderthal origins.
He looks Eric up and down before he says, “I’m looking for Madeline Josephine Turner. I understand she works here.”
Wait, what?!
Why the heck are these two guys looking for me?
