AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The insult doesn’t faze Gage. “Do we have a deal, Kevin?”
“Fine,” Kevin mumbles.
“What was that?” Gage asks.
“I said yes, we have a deal,” Kevin all but shouts, sounding like a man who’s been thoroughly and embarrassingly beaten.
You’d never know from his attitude that he’s getting way more than the team is actually worth. I saw the proposal myself. I guess some men are just greedy.
“Good. I’ll tell my lawyers to make the sale official. And Kevin?”
“...Yes?” he says sullenly.
“Those deal points you didn’t get? That’s because of that crack you made about my assistant.”
My stomach flips.
Gage meets my eyes as he says, “She knows a hell of a lot more than you. As do most of the women you work with. Start showing some damn respect, before it costs you even more money.” And then he hangs up the phone.
My mouth feels dry. “That was reckless, Gage. What if he’d walked away?”
Gage shrugs as he stands and walks around his desk. “I knew I had him. And he was being an asshole.”
“Oh, so only you can call me an idiot?” I ask as he takes my hand and pulls me to my feet.
Something bleak flickers in Gage’s face. “I’m not...I’m neverthatbad. Right?”
I should make him sweat more because he really could stand to be more polite to people, but Gage looks so worried by the comparison I cave. “No. You’re not nearly that bad.” I squeeze his hand, doing my best to look stern. “But don’t risk something that matters to you like that. Not for me.”
He studies me, his own face unreadable. “What if you matter to me?”
My heart skips a beat.
What is he saying?
Is he saying I matter as his friend, or as something...more?
But before I can gather the courage to ask him, Gage shakes his head. “Forget it. We shouldn’t be fighting. We should be celebrating. You just won me a baseball team.” He dips his head and kisses me, quick and fierce. I clutch the lapels of his jacket. I feel a little like a princess who just watched her knight win a jousting match for her, and I like it more than I should.
Gage breaks away and smiles. “Go tell my lawyers the news. And Violet? Reschedule any plans you have for tonight. We’re celebrating.”
There’s enough heat in his eyes to make my pulse speed up. For once, I can’t think of something quippy and sarcastic to say.
I just nod and leave.
It’s not until after I give the lawyers all the information they need to start processing the deal, that I look at Gage’s calendar. That’s when I realize tonight is the night Gage normally goes out with Jaylen and Tom.
But he’s ditching them to celebrate his victory with me.
What the hell doesthatmean? And why is my heart racing?
* * *
Gage is waitingat my desk at 5:55 p.m. with a mischievous look on his face. “Come on,” he says. “Time to go.”
I double-check the time. “It’s five minutes early,” I say, aghast.
But Gage just grins down at me. I’m powerless in the face of that grin.
