I nod. “Give me thirty.”
“Sure thing,” he says, offering me a smile. At twenty-five, he’s boyishly handsome and charming and, like Haley, customers adore him. He’s also managed to talk one of the more popular local restaurants into stocking our reserves, and word of mouth is definitely picking up speed. If only all my hiring decisions were so sound.
My gaze is trained on the hall, and I pick up my gait, needing to get this over with as soon as possible. I pass my office and swing into the doorway of Caden’s, only to experience a swell of disappointment.
He’s not there.
It’s empty.
Why? Can’t one thing be easy with this guy? It’s bad enough I need to apologize, but now I’ve got to hunt him down to do it?
Teeth clenched, I march out of the office and out the back door that leads to the fields. The bright sun blinds me as the humid air settles over me like a wet blanket. I raise my hand to shield my eyes, searching the land to see if I can spot him.
A couple of hands are standing and talking, so I call to them. “Have you seen Caden?”
One of them tilts his head in the direction of the restaurant. “He took off with Jackson.”
Great. Well, too bad, because this can’t wait. I’ve worked myself all up to do it, and it needs to be now.
I wave. “Thanks.”
I stomp off down the path, heading to a Gator on the side of the road and hopping in. I take off, leaving a trail of dust in my wake, going full speed until I hit the restaurant on the far side of our property. It might not be open yet, but it’s bustling with activity.
I search the faces of the people milling around, but I don’t see Caden.
I climb out of the vehicle. The first person I run into is Gwen. I try to smile but fear it comes off like a grimace. “Hey, have you seen Caden?”
“He’s in the kitchen with Jackson.” She puts her hand on my arm. “Is everything okay? You look frazzled.”
I am frazzled. And harried. And embarrassed. “I’m great. I just need to speak with Caden.”
She frowns. “You sure?”
I swipe a stray lock of hair from my sweaty cheek. “Yep.” I bite my tongue, realizing I want to run my mouth with an elaborate excuse for why I need to see the man in question immediately. Luckily, I manage to quell the urge, because it will only raise suspicion, and Gwen’s already looking suspicious enough.
Those inquisitive blue eyes of hers narrow, but she nods. “They should be in the back. They’re going over what’s going to be at peak harvest so we can plan the menu.” She beams at me. “Can you believe it? It’s happening!”
“It is! It will be here before you know it.” Her excitement is infectious, and despite my preoccupation, I’m happy for them. They traveled a long road to get here, and they’re finally reaping the fruit of all their planning.
It’s humbling to see what they’ve accomplished, while all I’ve managed this year is a whole lot of nothing followed by bad decisions.
She claps her hands. “Before I forget, we need to shop for the private-event night.”
My plan was to wear my one and only black cocktail dress, a sheath that looks professional and decent. But having another woman around has some advantages, and shopping is one of them. “Sounds good. Sunday maybe.”
“Excellent.”
I’m antsy to deal with the Caden situation, so I start walking. “I’ll catch up with you later.”
She says something else, but I’m already hurrying away, practically running to get this over with. I make my way down the hall and swing into the kitchen.
Jackson and Caden are both there, sitting on stools at the large island with a laptop and a bunch of papers scattered in front of them.
They lift their heads and turn to me.
I skid to a stop and all the air leaves my lungs. Caden’s wearing a trucker’s hat pulled low over his eyes, jeans, and a faded T-shirt that stretches mouthwateringly over his broad chest.
At the sight of me, he tilts his hat back and gives me the most wicked grin I’ve ever seen in my life before purring out, “Boss.”
I have an irrational urge to scream. I swallow the impotent rage of my own stupid actions and say as calmly as possible, “Can we have a word?”
Jackson gestures to the papers. “Can it wait? We’re in the middle of something here.”
My brother, God love him, is a major asshole about work and pretty much thinks his priorities supersede everyone else’s. And, while in this case he has a point, I’m not willing to be put off. I need to get this off my chest so I can think again and get focused on more productive activities for the day.
I shift my gaze to Jackson and shake my head. “This won’t take more than a minute.”
Jackson shrugs. “Well, what is it?”
I don’t like his tone and want to rebuke it, but now’s not the time. Besides, I don’t want Caden to witness any sibling squabbles when I’m already feeling vulnerable.
I blow out a breath and say, “In private.”
Jackson raises a brow. “Is there a problem?”
The folly of this expedition is becoming clear to me. I should have waited and played it cool instead of hunting Caden down like a maniac. But I’m committed now, so it’s full steam ahead. “No, it doesn’t concern you.”
When he continues to stare at me, I go on. “Distillery business.”
Jackson gestures to the papers. “This seems more pressing.”
I snap. “In the time you’ve taken telling me how much more important you are, I could have been done.”
“All right, all right.” He holds up his hands. “I guess Cat needs you.”
“Seems so,” Caden says in that dripping-honey voice.
Of course I shiver, my skin threatening goose bumps. I tip my head toward the hallway and start walking, not waiting to see if he follows me. I go into Gwen and Jackson’s empty office and hold the door open. Thirty seconds later, Caden ambles in after me, like he doesn’t have a care in the world. The attitude irritates me, which is good. I need to be irritated by him right now. It’s better than the alternative.
The second he’s in, I shut the door and turn toward him, crossing my arms over my chest. “About last night.”
He leans against the desk, straightening his long legs and hooking his feet at the ankle. “About last night.”
“I apologize for my actions.” I clear my throat and dive right in. “I…um…hope I haven’t created a hostile work environment for you.”
I’m almost positive I see his lips twitch, but he doesn’t speak, so I go on, awkward and stilted. “If you feel you can’t work under me anymore, I’ll understand.”
His mouth slides into a grin, and he chuckles. “I’d say I work under you just fine, don’t ya think?”
A hot flush sears my skin, and I want to cut out my tongue. I clear my throat and attempt to put some professionalism back into our relationship. “That’s not funny, or appropriate. I’m attempting to rectify this situation. If you feel like it would be better to work directly with Wyatt and Jackson, maybe that would be best, considering.”
He meets my eyes. “Considering what, boss?”
“Don’t call me that!” The words come out much more screechy than I’d intended. I lower my voice an octave. “Despite your arrogance and annoying personality, there’s no question you know what you’re doing and are good at your job. You’re a good addition to the team, and we don’t want to lose you. I understand if you consider my actions last night sexual harassment.”
He laughs. It’s full and throaty and makes heat pool in my stomach.
God damn him.
Unable to stop myself, the words fly from my lips as though they can’t leave my throat fast enough. “What I did to you was inexcusable.”
“Cat.”
“My only excuse is the shots went to my head, and I forgot myself.”
“Cat.”
I ignore him and keep going. “I’m hoping you can forgive me, a
nd we can keep our working relationship in good standing, but if you’d rather work for my brothers, I completely understand.”
“Cat.”
“It won’t happen again.”
He sighs, straightens off the counter, and takes three steps to stand in front of me.
I really start babbling now. “It didn’t mean anything.”
He takes me by the arms.
“It was a mistake.” My breath stutters in my chest.
He yanks me close.
My heart surges. “Can you forgive me?”
“Shut up,” he says, and his mouth covers mine.
Like he’s some sort of solar eclipse; he blocks out all the light in the room.
I stiffen for a fraction of a second, but his lips are coaxing me in a way I can’t resist, and I end up melting into him.
Just like last night.
Only better.
Because he kisses like the best sex in the entire world.
He slips his hands off my arms and around my waist, pulling me close.
My head tilts.
Our mouths deepen.
His tongue slides against mine. Tangles.
I raise to my tiptoes, my hands curling around his neck, pressing into him.
And just like that, the kiss goes from him shutting me up to something thick and hot. Insatiable.
He walks me backward.
I hit the door and pant out the last bit of air left in my chest.
His head lifts, and I moan at the loss of contact, clutching at him, digging my nails into his skin to bring him closer. He shifts, and his mouth crashes down on me again.
He kicks my feet apart, bending at the knees so I’m full and flush against him. The sounds of our harsh breathing fill the room, as the lust between us takes up all the available space. I climb him, and he hooks one arm under the curve of my ass. My legs twine around his waist.
He rocks into me, and I gasp at the sheer pleasure of him hard against me. He grinds into me, while whispering against my lips, “Does this feel like I don’t want you?”
“No.” The word is a soft pant. I lick his lower lip, and our mouths brush together as our bodies strain.
My hips work, and the same hazy, hypnotic desire that overtook me last night finds me again, blotting out all my arguments and rational thought.
He kisses me, hard and brutal, before lifting his head. “I’d kill to slide into your cunt right now.”
I jerk at the words, rubbing shamelessly against his erection, straining in his jeans. “Yes.”
He whispers into my ear, “I’d make you so greedy, Cat. So hungry.”
I groan, completely lost now.
He nips at my earlobe. “I’ll make you beg real good.”
His words should make me want to hit him, but they just ramp me up and make me burn.
One big hand covers my breast, strokes over my nipple.
There’s a knock on the door and the handle rattles, but we’re pinned against it, so the door can’t swing free.
We freeze.
My eyes fly open.
Lock onto his.
I hiss. “Let me go.”
“Everything okay in there?” It’s Gwen’s voice, muffled from the other side of the door.
“Everything’s great. Just a minute.”
He drops his arms, and I slide down his body to touch the floor. I glare at him and whisper, “That was a mistake.”
A muscle in his jaw jumps, but he nods.
We spend a few seconds straightening our clothes and getting control over our breathing.
I smooth my hand over my hair, and because I can’t think of anything else to say to this man that’s wreaking havoc over my hormones, with a too-bright smile, I throw open the door.
Unfortunately, Gwen and Jackson are both standing there. I skirt around them, anxious to get away. Clearly this was a horrible idea. From here on out, I need to avoid Caden like the plague since he does bad things to my common sense and apparently, if he wants to touch me, I roll over and pant like a dog for it.
“Sorry about that.” I wave a hand toward their office. “It’s all yours.”
I hurry off and don’t look back.
Confrontation was a terrible idea.
Caden is dangerous, and unpredictable.
I need to stay as far away from him as possible.
And for the love of God, never let him touch me again.
Caden
* * *
That went well.
What the fuck was I thinking? Kissing Cat had not been the plan, but she’d stood there, all adorable and flustered, talking about sexually harassing me, and I’d gotten an impulse.
A horrible impulse I should have ignored, but I didn’t. And now I know what she tastes like.
I look at Gwen and Jackson, who are watching me with avid interest.
Of course Cat took off like a bat out of hell, leaving me to deal with this mess. I clear my throat. “Distillery business, but that’s taken care of, and I’m all yours until I’ve got to make my rounds.”
Gwen laughs. “Is that what you’re calling it?”
“That’s what it was.” I shift the bill of my cap low on my forehead. “I’ll clear out.”
Jackson nods. “I’ll be there in a minute.”
“Sure thing.” I walk back down the hall and into the airy kitchen, returning to the stool I previously vacated. I take off my hat and run my hand through my hair.
I can still feel her hot little mouth on mine.
I grit my teeth. And the drag of her pussy along my cock.
I shouldn’t have kissed her, because I was close to just unzipping and taking her against the door.
I don’t know what came over me, but she would not stop talking, and her nipples were hard under her top. And fuck, I just wanted her.
So, like a bastard, I took what I wanted, consequences be damned.
Which is always the problem with me.
Jackson comes into the kitchen, saving me from having to think about it anymore. Or at least that’s my hope until he says, “I thought you and my sister would be able to keep a check on your attraction, but I see now that was too much to ask for.”
Well, those consequences caught up to me quick.
Foolish of me to think he wouldn’t notice. An image of Cat swims before me—her skin flushed, her eyes too bright, her lips swollen. I’m such an idiot.
I meet his gaze, direct and steady because I can’t afford to lose ground. I’m not going to insult his intelligence, but I have to make it seem like I’ve got it under control.
I shake my head. “It won’t happen again.”
“You sure about that?” Jackson leans back on the stool and scrubs a hand over his jaw.
I give a sharp nod. “I’m sure.”
He narrows his gaze on me. “My sister isn’t prone to acts of passion.”
Really? Could have fooled me. She’s been burning me up since I met her.
I shrug. “Like I said, it won’t happen again. It’s nothing either of us wants.”
“All right, I just don’t want it to be a problem.”
“It won’t be.”
“Good.”
Jackson starts to talk about the crops, and I listen, only half paying attention, my mind on Cat. Yes, I’m attracted to her. And I sure as hell wouldn’t mind screwing her, but isn’t this a path to self-destruction?
It’s my pattern. Talk myself into a good situation, start to get settled, and then find a way to fuck it all up.
Because an affair with Cat is never gonna end well. She deserves a man that’s stable and committed, like she is. I’m thirty-six years old, and all I have to show for it is a hundred dollars and a fifteen-year-old pickup truck. Cat needs a good man, a provider that will take some of that considerable load off her shoulders, not add to it.
Yeah, we’ve got an uncanny amount of chemistry, but the best-case scenario for us is an affair that ends horribly, forcing me to move on. Again.
; So giving in to this pull with her is my way to implode. Again.
How many times do I have to start over before I just can’t do it anymore?
There’s only one reasonable choice in front of me.
I’ve got to shut the door on this thing between us, and then I’ve got to put my head down and do my fucking job.
I’m tired of being my own worst enemy.
I’m ending it before it can begin.
I’m not going to ruin a good thing because of a woman—not again.
8
Cat
I’m sitting at my desk eating lunch when Caden appears. At the threshold, he puts his hand on the doorknob. “Can I come in?”
Nodding, I swallow the bite of my turkey sandwich, which turns to sawdust halfway down my throat. “Sure.”
He shuts the door, enclosing us in the room, which is immediately too small for comfort. In silence, he sits on the chair across from me and leans forward, putting his elbows on his splayed knees. “We need to talk.”
“Okay.” Something tells me this isn’t about business. I open my mouth to say it was a mistake, but he beats me to it.
He laces his fingers. “What happened was a mistake.”
Of course it was. I was just about to say that, but now that he’s said it first, it’s cutting—like a rejection instead of common sense.
My chin tilts. “I believe I said that before you kissed me.”
“You did.” He looks past me, to the wall lined with bookshelves at my back. “You were right.”
My spine goes rigid, even though it’s what I want, what needs to happen. As flippantly as I can manage, I say, “I usually am.”
A smile ghosts over his lips. “Are you happy with the job I’ve been doing so far?”
How could I not be? In the short time he’s been here, my professional life has gotten infinitely easier. My personal life is another matter, but that’s not important here.
I lean back in my chair. “Yes, you’re good at your job. The crew likes and respects you, and Wyatt and Jackson are thrilled.”
He nods, short and sharp. “And what about you?”
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