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“Grandpa? I’ll have you know this car has plenty of horsepower.”
“Horsepower only gets you so far.” She clicked her belt into place. “You need to know how to use it.”
I put on my own seatbelt. “Trust me, I’ve never had any complaints.”
“Oh, I’m sure. I bet the society types you take out to socially approved events get a thrill from your...torque.”
“Not sure if you’ve forgotten, but I told you it’s been awhile for me.” I put the car in drive and reversed out of the space too fast. It was nearing sunset, and the sun was like a spotlight through the trees as I drove away from the shelter.
“Been awhile for a relationship is one thing. Surely you date. Maybe have the occasional long lunch—”
“Don’t.” My voice whipped out.
“I didn’t mean that,” she said after a moment, sounding chagrined. “I was just going to make a rude nooner comment, but not about that. I wouldn’t.”
“Why wouldn’t you? You think I’m just like my father, don’t you?”
“I do believe you aren’t married.”
I let out a frustrated noise and signaled to get onto the highway. “That’s all that you see that separates us?”
“No. I doubt your father would do all you’ve done for those sweet cats.” She shot me a quick glance. “Or look at them the way you do when you think no one is paying attention.”
I swallowed uncomfortably. “I’m no hero. I don’t help to get praise.”
“No, and that’s why you deserve it.”
I merged onto the highway and grabbed my sunglasses, sliding them on. “I thought we were talking about my dating life.”
“Why would we talk about that? I can’t see any reason.” Slowly, she crossed and recrossed her legs. “Can you?”
“It’s a point of fact.”
“And not my concern, unless you’ve forgotten your unbreakable rules regarding employees.”
I tightened my fingers around the wheel. “I have a photo on my phone that indicates my rules can bend.”
“You mean on my phone.”
Ah, dammit, it was on her phone. I’d wanted to keep the picture, so I could stare at it when I was alone. So I could imagine what it would be like to live like that all the time. To just think of the pleasure of the moment. To take what I craved and give back so much more in return.
“And yes, your rules can bend. But you never make the choice freely. You’re always led by the woman cursing you for unknown reasons with a sex hex.”
“Probably just for the amusement of seeing me at your mercy.”
“Oh, Mr. Shaw,” her voice dropped to a purr, “if I had you at my mercy, I guarantee neither of us would be laughing.”
Neither of us spoke for the rest of the ride to her apartment, other than a few short directions from Ryan. The cat was mostly quiet, but she twisted around a couple of times to slide her fingers into his cage. Each time, she was rewarded with some action that made her murmur softly to him.
I’d never been jealous of a cat before.
Once I pulled into the small parking lot, I drove into the far back, near an alley partially blocked off with a chain link fence. A canopy of trees overhead provided some privacy, and no cars were parked close by.
That was intentional.
She frowned and took off her belt, turning toward me on her seat. “What are you doing? There were spots near the building.”
I took off my own belt and undid the button on my jacket before shifting toward her. “Making a choice,” I said softly, cupping her soft cheek in my palm.
