Rob comes back in and places an envelope on my desk and backs out of the room. Slicing open the envelope, I pull out the two tickets. This is the big play. Cash and I are far enough along to spend the night, but is it time for him to meet my work friends? Technically he already has, but that was not planned. Now we’re somewhere between orgasm and ‘I do.’
There’s no canceling now. Not if the whole office is on board. Whatever apprehensions I have about where Cash and I sit, tonight is going to shove us off the dock. We’ll either sink or swim.
It may kill the mood and it may end the whole thing, but that’s just the risk I’m going to take.
I give myself another once over in the mirror while I’m waiting for Cash to come over. Cassie’s been telling me about his separation anxiety over giving his bar to a new head bartender. Her texts about his over protectiveness have had me in stitches while I’m getting ready.
Tonight, we’re going out, and if this is our third public outing I want it to be different than the first two.
So I went with skinny jeans and a lace top that I can pair with a leather jacket. We’re all in the business of us tonight. Whatever we decide “us” is going to be.
Cash knocks on the door and I open it and step out into the hall ready to go. I’m not going to give him any time to trap me in the bedroom or talk me out of going tonight. If we start there’s going to be no stopping, and I can’t afford to miss this party—not when I planned it. I wouldn’t get the promotion, and Rob might abandon me for ruining his big party planning success.
I tuck a curl back into place while Cash’s eyes sweep me up and down. I can feel my cheeks burn and I pull on my jacket just to give me something to do with my hands that doesn’t involve grabbing Cash by the collar and hauling him off to bed.
“Interested in giving Mrs. Carson a show?” he asks, an eyebrow arching up in a dare. I smile and pull him close. He smells like soap and spices, and mint—always mint. I met Mrs. Carson in the lobby the other day and she wouldn’t even look at me. Something tells me I’ve finally pushed my neighbor over the edge.
“No, but we are going to a show.”
“Oh really? Didn’t know you liked to swing that way.”
It’s always like that with him. A quick joke. A move back to safe territory. Anytime it seems like we might be approaching a deeper topic than what I did with my day and am I ready for sex, he makes a joke. If I counted all the facts I know about Cash Gardner, I wouldn’t even have a full hand. As much as I want him, I don’t know him.
I needle his ribs with my elbow. “For that, you don’t get to go to hear Miss Misty Singh.”
“Whoa, now, let’s not talk crazy here, my friend.”
My heart hits my kneecaps. I swear, everyone in a five-mile radius can hear the sound. Only years of training not to make faces before clients keeps the smile on my face.
Friend. Is that where we are? Friends? I refuse to believe it—it was just a joke, I tell myself. Nothing to worry about. It doesn’t help the growing knot of worry in my stomach. Am I taking my lover to meet my colleagues as my friend?
“Oh no, you seem to think we’re headed for something tawdry and that I will not have,” I say.
“How can I make it up to you?”
“You will have to be on your best behavior.”
“Scout’s honor.”
“You were never a Boy Scout.”
He gives me a quick kiss that promises everything and pulls away before I can pull him back.
“So much to learn about me.”
That’s right. Now just let me in, you stupid, stubborn man.
The small club is packed with fans and people from work. It’s everything I wanted and more to help launch Misty as a new musical force to be reckoned with. Even Mathias has come out of the woodwork to see the new talent I’ve dug up. He toasts me with his glass when Cash and I enter. Well, maybe I’ll be getting another possible contract from Triton Entertainment.
Rob is going to get a raise. If this doesn’t impress LA then I’m not sure what will. They loved her music, but to sweeten the deals we were making, I wanted to make sure they knew she could pack a room.
I think we have a winner.
Cash lets his hand rest on the small of my back and it eases the worry that’s settled in my stomach.
“Are we going to end this night by stealing more champagne?” Cash whispers in my ear.
“Not an open bar.”
“Since when has that ever stopped us?”
Rob gives me a two finger wave from the side of the room where he’s nose deep in his iPhone. Sometimes I wonder if that boy ever unplugs. Then there’s Briggs, and to my surprise Meyers is with him.
“The two men approaching us are the name partners at my firm,” I tell Cash. He gives my hip a squeeze as if to say he understands.
“Ms. Sunday,” Meyers says, coming over a tumbler of whiskey in his hand. If there ever was a person to look out of place in a nightclub it is Meyers. Still in his perfect business suit, he looks like he belongs in court. Even Briggs has gone more casual for the evening out.