Page 68 of The Agreement


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"It’s hard not to. It’s always warm there; it has its own microclimate, you know. But Liam has business in London, and I can work from anywhere, so—" She raises a shoulder. "Also, I can’t bear to be away from him, not even for a few hours." She giggles.

"Thanks for gracing us with your presence this evening." Amelie all but rolls her eyes. "I, for one, am going to celebrate my first night out without a husband. I love him dearly, but it feels wonderful to just try to claim a little bit of myself back for me, you know?"

"I hear you, sister." Isla shakes the hair back from her forehead. "Considering we’re trying for a child, I’m making use of every free moment I have to live it up. Once I’m preggers, I know all of this will change. So, for now, I’m going to enjoy a night out with my girlfriends, while I can."

"I do miss Baron, but it feels wonderful to be out with all of you," Ava agrees.

I take in the rock on Ava’s left hand and realize all three of them are married.And she looks younger than me too! Ugh.

“You’re not alone.” Mira nudges me. “I’m still single, and not even in a relationship.”

“Thank god!” I throw my arms about her. “Not because you’re not in a relationship, but because I’m glad to have company in my singledom.”

She laughs. “Not that I’m in a hurry to find theone, either.”

I found the one, and then lost him... No, no, no. I can’t think like that. Cade’s not the one. Nope. I must put my stupid childhood crush on the guy out of my head and move on.It’s why I pulled on this silvery little number that comes to mid-thigh and clings lovingly to my curves.

Combined with my seven-inchManolo Blahniks,for which I maxed out my credit card, I feel confident and beautiful and ready to take on the world. Hell, I’ll even take on the grouchy toadwart who’s going to pick me up at six a.m. tomorrow. That’s right, six a.m., aka, six in the morning. Ugh. I hate getting up in the mornings, especiallyearlyin the mornings.

I probably should have stayed home to make that early call, but damn, I need to let loose for an evening before I face working in such close quarters with that neanderthal. If he hadn’t threatened to tell my brother I wasn’t cooperating with him, I’d have refused. It’s a low blow he dealt me, but he knows I don’t want to worry Knight. Not when he needs every bit of focus to stay safe on the frontline.

How am I going to get through working in such close proximity with the bane of my existence, though? Especially when he’s only ever going to think of me as his friend’s little sister, the girl who destroyed his life. And if, during the time I work for him, he can have a little fun at my expense, he’s not going to hold back, that twathead. If only he weren’t so hot, so sexy, so damn gorgeous that my eyes hurt every time I see him. If only he weren’t so completely breathtaking that every time I see him, I want to slap him for the sadistic pleasure he seems to get from making me uncomfortable… Then climb him like a tree and kiss him soundly, before dropping to my knees in front of him and—

I back up and into something hard. "Oops-a-daisy." I turn to find a stranger smiling down at me. He’s tall—not as tall as my grumphole—I mean, Cade—but taller than me. Also, he has a nice face. Again, nowhere near as striking as Cade’s, but he’s definitely more good-looking than average. And he has nice, muddy brown eyes; nothing as exceptional as Cade’s mis-matched eyes, but still, they have an interested look in them. Nothing like the slightly bored, slightly sadistic look in Cade’s eyes—which makes me shiver, of course.Stop thinking about him. Why are you still thinking about him, when he’s probably, right now, between the thighs of one of his many women with whom he likes to be photographed?I tip up my chin and the stranger’s Adam’s apple bobs. He leans in and places his mouth close to my ear, "Uh, would you like to dance with me?"

“Umm.”

"Of course, she’d love to dance with you,” Mira cries as she pushes me closer.

I shoot her a glance, but she glances at the man, then at me, then flashes me a bright smile before moving off.O-k-a-y.

“If you don’t want to, that’s fine.” The stranger straightens. “It’s just… I thought you—"

“No, you’re right, I do want to dance.” I move in closer to him and begin to sway my hips. The stranger smiles, then mirrors my moves, and soon, we’re dancing.

There’s a touch on my shoulder. I turn to find Isla grinning at me. She glances at my partner, then gestures to the bar. "We’re going to get a drink, okay?"

I nod, then turn back to my dancing partner. He’s agile and fast on his feet. He does a quick spin, then moves in, grabs me about my waist and bends me back. The world tilts, and I burst out laughing. He pulls me back, then twirls me around, before swinging me forward, then back so we exchange sides.

I’m facing the bar and I glance up just as the crowd parts. I glimpse a familiar face—Cade.It can’t be. Is it Cade?He’s scowling straight at me.I guess that answers my question.The crowd shifts. I stumble; my partner catches me around the waist and draws me close. "You okay?"

I blink, try to get my attention back to the man in front of me. "Yes… No… Uh. I thought I saw someone."

"A friend?"

"A… He’s my new boss, actually," I murmur.

"Ah, time to leave all thoughts of work behind." He steps back, takes my hand in his and twirls me out.

I turn and slam into a hard brick wall. No, it’s not a wall. It’s a man’s chest. A very sculpted, unyielding chest. The scent of cardamom and mint and that musk that’s uniquely Cade envelops me, right before heavy, warm hands grip my hips. I tilt my chin up, not surprised to find one grey and one blue eye glaring down at me. His nostrils flare. His jaw is set so hard, it’s a wonder he hasn’t cracked a molar. There’s a tug on my arm, and I turn my head to find the stranger still holding onto my hand.

"Who’re you?" He scowls at Cade.

I sense Cade’s already rigid body go even more stiff. Every muscle seems to tense and coil. Anger leaps off of him, and I sense the intensity writ in every cell of his flesh. I try to tug my hand from the stranger’s grasp, but he doesn’t let go.Oh, no, no. No.Cade’s grip on my waist tightens. I sense the rage boiling up in him and slap my other hand into his chest.

"Don’t, Cade, please!"

A snarl rumbles up his chest. His lips curl. His eyes flash fire, and OMG, his temper is a thing of beauty.

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