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Hoisting myself up on the counter, I kick my jeans-covered legs. “I’d enjoy the ride if I were you, because afterward, I’m going to crush you in skee-ball.”
“Are you now?”
“Not to brag, but I was the skee-ball champion of our small town. WAH sat at the top of the leaderboard for nine straight months.”
Shane hums as the microwave dings, and his phone rings at the same time.
“It’s Carter,” he says. “I’ll let it go to voicemail.”
“No, answer it.”
He scowls but slides the call onto speaker mode, setting the phone in the center of the island before rotating to grab his food. “Hey.”
“People are eating up that kitten video. It was great for the whole team but you especially. All the changes you’ve made this week are stacking up. The rep for New Balance is actually taking my calls now.”
“That’s great,” I say, leaning toward the phone.
“Oh, hey. Willow, I presume?”
“That’s me,” I beam.
“Can I just say thank you for turning my client from a human popsicle into a real boy? You’ve made my life infinitely easier.”
“You’re welcome?” My brows crash together.
I glance from the phone to Shane, but he avoids my gaze.
“You have no idea how tedious it’s been. It’s like pulling teeth just to get him to do basic press.”
I watch Shane’s shoulders tighten as Carter jokes along.
“He was so robotic it was almost like, whose skin did you steal, because no living person would behave—”
“Carter, I’m going to stop you right there,” I say, voice as hard as the granite countertop I’m perched on. “Last I checked, you work for my husband, correct?”
I don’t wait for him to answer, steaming right along. “I don’t think it’s appropriate for you to bad-mouth Shane, even jokingly.”
“I wasn’t—”
“You absolutely were, and that’s no way to treat a client whose salary pays yours.”
A stunned beat settles over the kitchen.
“If you don’t adjust your attitude toward Shane, then he’ll find different representation. I’m sure someone else would be happy to support him.”
Carter stammers, but I don’t let him get a word in. “He’ll call you back tomorrow—if you still have a job.”
Then I punch the call end button with an indignant finger.
Shane’s plate drops with a clatter before he rounds the island to stand in front of me. The severity of his expression makes me realize what I’ve just done.
My fingertips fly to my lips. “Oh my gosh, Shane. I’m sorry. I just threatened to quit for you, and that’s such a double standard because I wouldn’t let you quit for me.”
Shane doesn’t say anything, just exhales long and hard, his jaw ticking.
“I didn’t mean to cause you trouble. We can call Carter back right now. In fact, why don’t I—”
But I don’t get to finish my rambling sentence because Shane’s hands frame my face as he crushes his lips to mine.
