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“Fine. Is everything good with Abena?” he asked.
“Oh, she’s good,” Camilla said. “This isn’t a work thing. Is there somewhere more private we could talk?”
Boone glanced at Daisy. Christ, please let Cooper’s mate pick up on his signals. “Oh, unfortunately, I don’t have an office, and our boardroom is currently in use. Right, Daisy?”
“That’s right,” Daisy said without hesitation. “Sorry, Boone, this is about as private as you’ll get.”
“That’s fine.” Camilla smiled at Daisy. “You’re just the sweetest little human, aren’t you.” She inhaled in Daisy’s direction. “Your mate is very thorough in marking you.”
Daisy smiled, but Boone wasn’t surprised when she pushed her chair back slightly, and he could smell the faint scent of her anxiety. Daisy was much better about being around shifters, but it wasn’t surprising that Daisy realizing Camilla was a shifter and the leopard’s closeness to Daisy’s desk would freak her out a little.
Boone took Camilla’s elbow and steered her away from the desk and toward the far end of the reception. “What can I help you with, Camilla?”
Camilla grinned at him before wiping away a piece of lint from the front of his shirt. “Don’t look so nervous, Boone. It’s no big deal. I just wanted to bring you a little something.”
She handed him a plain brown box, and when he didn’t open it, she said, “Go on. Open it.”
He lifted the lid, studying the cookies inside. “Cookies? You brought me cookies?”
“Not just any cookie,” Camilla said. “These are Bliss cookies.”
He stared blankly at her, and she gave him a friendly poke in the chest. “Don’t pretend you’ve forgotten that Bliss Bakery was our favourite bakery when we were dating. It wasn’t far from my apartment, remember? We used to go every Sunday morning and get croissants. You loved their white chocolate cookies.”
“Oh, right,” he said.
“Anyway, I was back in the old neighbourhood and stopped in at Bliss. I saw the cookies and immediately thought of you. I decided you might want a taste of old times, so here I am with the cookies.”
“Thank you.” Boone’s nervous system was practically screaming WARNING at him in twelve-foot neon lights, and his tiger was letting out little growls of disgust that were becoming increasingly difficult to keep contained.
She stinks! His tiger growled.
Stop it. She doesn’t.
Camilla smiled and stepped a little closer. “Do you remember that night we picked up that red velvet cake from Bliss, and you rubbed it all over your -”
Boone cleared his throat so loudly that it sounded like he was hacking up a congested frog. “I appreciate the cookies, Camilla. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She inched forward, her body nearly brushing against his. “Are you almost finished work? I thought maybe we could have dinner together tonight.”
“You know I’m with Hedra,” Boone said as the office door opened behind them.
“I know,” Camilla said. “But is your mate so insecure that you’re not allowed to have dinner with an old friend?”
She suddenly sniffed the air, and disappointment flickered across her face. Relief washed over Boone when he smelled Hedra’s scent. His tiger purred so loudly it was impossible to contain the sound, and the smell of Camilla’s disappointment intensified at the noise.
Hedra’s warmth pressed against him, and her arm slid around his waist. She smiled cheerfully at Camilla. “Not insecure, but I am the jealous type. Ridiculously so. It’s a personality flaw that I’m working on.”
Camilla gave her a generous smile. “Hi, Hedra. I understand. I’m the same way.”
Hedra turned to Boone, and his tiger trilled to her when she said, “Hi, honey.”
“Hello, little lamb.”
She pressed her mouth against his and gave him a kiss that made his cock hard and almost made him lift one foot in the air like he was a fucking Disney princess. Her tongue skimmed into his mouth, pressed playfully against his, and retreated.
She grinned at him. “I missed you today.”
He swallowed hard. “I missed you too. What, uh, what are you doing here?”
