“Seems very self-sacrificing of you,” Colby said with mock seriousness. “Going above and beyond and taking your trainee out for the night.”
“Drop it,” Gib warned.
“What? We’re not ribbing you. I, for one, am happy to see you embracing your inner switch and subbing.”
“I’m not subbing. I’m bottoming to train her as a domme. I’m still in control.”
“Nothing to be ashamed of, dude,” Colby said with a shrug. “She’s taking a few classes at one of the clubs I help out at sometimes. I’ve seen her in her bitch boots. She wears them well. I’m sure many men wouldn’t mind getting a beating and a pegging from her.”
“Keep away from her, farm boy,” Gib said, pointing his beer at Colby.
Colby grinned as he took another swig off his beer, obviously enjoying this way too much. “Lucky for you, she’s not my type.”
“What are y’all smiling about?”
Kade turned to see Tess standing there, clipboard in hand and eyebrow arched—all business and looking hotter than ever in her little blue dress. He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her into his lap, unable to resist. “Just torturing your former boss.”
“I was about to use my safeword,” Gibson said, leaning back in his chair and hooking his ankle over his knee. “Thanks for saving me. Hey, wait a second, what do you mean former?”
Tessa made an uh-oh face as she leaned into Kade. “Sorry, Gib. I was going to talk to you on Monday, but my husband has a big mouth.”
“Tessa’s going to take over as co-director of Bluebonnet Place,” Kade said, pride swelling in him.
Gibson’s disappointment quickly morphed into a broad smile. “That’s fantastic. I’ll be sad to lose you, but no one will run your charity better than you. Those kids will be lucky to have you at the
helm.”
Tessa let out a breath, her worry lifting. “Thanks, Gib. I still have a lot to learn from Iris, the current director, but I’m looking forward to it.”
“You’re going to do great,” Kade said, giving her a quick kiss. “Did you get everything worked out with the manager over there? I saw you two talking.”
“Yes, I think he’s probably wishing he had a safeword, but we’re good now. And Darkfall is all set to go.” She nodded at the tray of appetizers. “How’s the food?”
He frowned. “You haven’t eaten yet?”
“Didn’t have time.”
He met her eyes, broadcasting exactly what he thought of that excuse. “Sit down in this chair and eat.”
She waved a hand. “I will. I just need to go make rounds and thank everyone who came.”
He lifted her up and deposited her in the chair next to him. “Everyone will still be here for at least two more hours. I won’t have you passing out in the middle of this thing. Eat. Have a drink. I’ll go shake hands and make nice.”
“Kade—”
He cupped her chin and planted a kiss on her mouth. “Nonnegotiable, baby. Sorry.”
“You’re a bossy bastard, Mr. Vandergriff,” she said, but her eyes went soft in that way that made him wish he had a private room to take her to and an hour of her time.
“Always. Good thing you love that about me.” He kissed her forehead and then patted Colby on the shoulder as he walked by him. “You guys make sure my girl eats. I’m going to find my other date.”
Kade watched Rosalie from the back of the tent as she dumped a cup of flour into a bowl with such force that all of it blew back up on her, dusting her sequined purple dress in white. He chuckled when she tried to make it better and ended up adding white handprints to the mix. The instructor attempted to dust her off, but it was no use. The little girl next to her was looking at the mess with a wrinkled nose, but Rosalie just shrugged and grabbed a bowl of spices to dump in and continue mixing.
“Looks like the dress is a loss,” Sam said, sidling up next to him.
Kade smiled. “She doesn’t care. Onward. That was always her motto. Nothing gets in her way when she’s on a mission.”
“I wonder where she gets that from, Stalker Boy.” Sam nudged his shoulder with hers.