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“I see I’m not the only one who has kept tabs.” Caden leaned forward for his wine. Maggie held her breath, knowing good and well he’d notice the difference. He never said a word. She didn’t, either, and she just sat there staring at him waiting for an answer. “Okay, fine. I never thought about it being a problem.”
“Seriously?”
“I mean—” he shrugged his shoulders “—your cousins represent women. Why do ladies have to come to my agency?”
Maggie gasped. “You aren’t serious?”
“Don’t judge me, Maggie,” Caden chuckled. “I didn’t give it much thought. I have been successfully running my agency for a while now. I’m successful because I do what I know best. And I know men’s sports. It would be a disservice to women athletes to rep them if I’m not as up on their business.”
“And women would like to be a part of your success. What about Becky?”
“Who?”
“The woman you were ogling at the fair today.”
At least Caden had the decency to turn a slight red shade. “It wasn’t like that. I caught her basketball talk. Sounded like she has skills.”
“She’s just out of college and didn’t get picked up by a pro team because she didn’t have the proper representation.” Maggie ticked off more of the stats she remembered her cousins mentioning. “The Hairston Agency wanted to sign her, but Becky didn’t think they have enough pull.”
“They do,” said Caden. “They might be one of our biggest competitors. Because they are women, the men who sign with them are getting better deals to appear more marketable for consumers.”
“All the more reason why you need to bring on women.”
Caden shrugged his shoulders. “Do you understand that we’d have to do a lot of traveling with our clients?”
“So?”
“Okay fine, no judging?”
“Never,” Maggie said, crossing her heart with her index finger.
“I just don’t think men and women can work together without something happening.”
The revelation shocked her. Maggie sat back and did a double take. What century was he living in? “We’ve been working together all day.”
“My point exactly,” Caden responded with a dull shrug. “Look how our evening ended.”
“Oh, come on now,” Maggie laughed. “This is not the same thing.”
“Is it?”
When he didn’t respond, Maggie realized he was serious. On one hand, she couldn’t deny what he said. They’d worked together today, but they were also attracted to each other. What was going to happen when she took over the pageant? She was already mentally claiming the unannounced position. Was this going to be the last time they would have together if he stuck to his attitude?
“I can’t believe what I’m hearing.” Maggie pushed away from the back of the couch.
“Trust me, Maggie,” Caden said with a sigh. “I can’t explain it, but I learned early on about men and women working together.”
Silence filled the room. Maggie drained her wine. “I need more.”
In a swift move, she stood up and walked behind the couch. Caden caught her by the wrist. “Don’t ask me to explain it, Maggie. But I’m not a bad guy for this.”
“You’re not a bad guy for admitting you won’t take on women as clients, but it does make you an ass.” Maggie shook her head. “Grow up.”
Maggie couldn’t believe, coming from a pageant household, he held such an insulting and outdated view. Her gut told her there was more to this story. Something must have happened. She tried to focus on his mixed-up outlook, but the only thing on her mind as she stared at him was how sexy Caden was with his semivulnerability. He tugged her arm, and without any further prompting, Maggie dipped her head lower and fitted her mouth to his in an upside-down kiss. He was wrong in his views, but his mouth felt so right. Closing her eyes, she fell into the kiss. Caden took hold of her glass and set it down on the floor beside the couch. Maggie ran her hands along his bare chest. His heart thumped into her hand. Her fingertips toyed with the ridges of his abs. Once again she found herself reaching beyond his waistband. Without a change of clothes, there wasn’t a pair of briefs to block her touch. The back of her hands tented the material of the shorts, and his erection bounced into her hands. Caden’s hands sank into her hair then stroked her back.
Still standing behind the couch, Maggie leaned forward, broke the kiss and started a trail along his square jawline, against his Adam’s apple, and as she crawled down his body she got on her tiptoes. Caden took the opportunity to fasten his mouth on her nipple through the opening of her robe. A pleasurable river
of sensations rolled through her veins. Maggie’s big toe dug deeper into the white carpet for balance. She pulled the waistband farther down and snaked her tongue around the tip of his head. Her body rose as he inhaled deeply. Caden lifted the hem of her robe and massaged her rear. Another river began in her body. He lifted her over his shoulder by her hips and maneuvered her legs so her inner thighs touched his ears. The position gave her a better angle to take him into her mouth. Her mouth worked him while his tongue did numbers on her. How was it possible to feel so heavenly. Chills ran down her spine. Caden’s tongue swirled around her bud. His left hand caressed her rear again. The other hand reached down and guided Maggie’s head up and down. She used the cues of the reins he held on her tresses when it was clear that felt extremely good to him. Caden moved faster with her head bobbing up and down. His tongue fastened around her and lapped up her juices.
