Pressing my lips together to hide a pleased smile, I racked my brain for other things to talk about.
Like always, Whiskey was the first thing that came to mind.
“My cat would be so jealous of your giant marshmallow bed. He loves napping, but he can be a bit bougie about what he sleeps on. He has a red velvet pillow he treats more like a throne.” I snorted softly and pulled my unicorn hood back up, straightening the horn to get comfy. “I bet he slept the morning away in this tiny nook by his favorite window—and now he’s probably wreaking havoc in my apartment. He’s an adorable little menace, and I love him more than anything in the world.”
I pulled out my hair tie while I talked, working to fix the mess my braid had become.
“I worry about him a lot, too. He has a tumor that’s affecting his eyesight, and he’s had a few scary surgeries recently. It feels like each one takes a couple years off my life.” My fingers froze, and I winced again. “Sorry. It’s so unprofessional of me to unload my problems on you. Guess I’m overdue for a vent session, but I’m sure you feel the same about rich people problems. Like maybe if your…private jet got sick?”
Cade didn’t answer, so I shook my head. “Never mind. I don’t really have any idea what kind of problems rich people have, but it sounds like your job is stressful. Plus, you have your own bodyguard. People without problems don’t hire those.Andyou’ve got someone prank-hiring a cuddler for you. I guess my troubles are pretty tame in comparison. A sick cat who steals my yarn, plus creditors harassing me about his vet bills. It could be worse.”
Cade stayed quiet, pulling my attention back to where he lay on his back a couple feet away. Something about his frame was still stiff, but some of his frown lines had smoothed out.
“Mr. Westbrook?” I whispered, checking if he was actually out. When he didn’t answer, I raised my voice a little to make sure. “Cade?”
His chest rose and fell with deep, even breaths, and a proud smile curved my lips.
Sleeping like a baby.
I wasn’t far behind him, even though snoozing on the job wasn’t something I usually did. It wasn’t exactly professional. But after all the arguing in the lobby and being manhandled by my client, I’d earned a little catnap.
It was almost too easy to scooch closer to my handsome client until I was pressed against his firm side.
Sliding my arm across his stomach and resting my head on his broad warm chest was even easier. He gave off more heat than a furnace.
Closing my eyes, I snuggled closer and let the stress of the day fade away until all that was left was me and my surprisingly toasty client.
best i’ve ever had
. . .
Cade
Ellie the Unicorn lacked even the most basic survival instincts.
I couldn’t wrap my head around how someone like her existed.
I’d pinned her to the bed and tried to throw her out, and she’d reacted by…cuddling up to me?
I blinked down at the sparkly horn poking my chin to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating.
She’d stayed.
I’d woken to the weight of a soft body pressed against my side and the tail end of a sunset outside, more refreshed than I’d been in alongtime. Somehow my arm had ended up wrapped around her during the nap.
I hadn’t lied earlier. Cuddling wasn’t my thing. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d even hugged someone—including my own mother.
Maybe I was the one lacking survival instincts for not kicking Ellie out of the building and filing a restraining order when she first climbed into my bed.
I blamed the jet lag.
Last I remembered, I’d been lying a couple feet away from her and listening to her babble on about her cat, but now shewas cuddled against me with her cheek resting on my chest and breaths in sync with mine.
It felt… different.
Which made me want to get away as fast as humanly possible.
I debated between pushing her off me or trying to extract myself from underneath her and sneak out, when a knock on the door made me freeze. I was too comfortable to do anything more than lift my head.
