Pulling the door to her office closed, Mia picked up her cellphone, taking a deep breath as she pressed the call sign next to Cam’s name. He picked up on the second ring.
“Hello?”
“Seriously? A masseuse?”
“You said your shoulder was still hurting. Fifty percent pain, wasn’t it? I figured a massage could get it down to, say, twenty. Have you been icing it like I told you?”
“No.”
“You need to ice it, Mia. And keep it rested as much as you can.”
“A massage isn’t exactly rest.”
“The therapist I sent is the best in the area. She works with professional teams. Let her massage you, and then tell me if it hasn’t helped.”
“Cam…”
“What, baby?”
His endearment sent a shiver down her spine. “You can’t be sending masseuses to my workplace. I have a reputation here, and I’m trying to keep it.”
“I’m just trying to make you feel better. So you can have a good time with me on Saturday.”
Damn, he was persistent. She hated that she liked it. “I still haven’t said I’ll be there,” she reminded him.
“Yeah, but you will. And this way you can leave with no pain. Just pleasure. Now hang up and get that massage, okay? I’m busy.”
She laughed. “You are not.”
“Yep I am. I’m trying to work out how I’ll take you first. In the kitchen, maybe? But I’m not sure I’ll be able to wait that long. Maybe in the hallway as soon as you’ve walked in. Then we can save the second time for the bedroom.”
Mia shook her head. “You’re incorrigible.”
“If I knew what that meant, I’d agree.”
“I’m going now. Some idiot sent a masseuse over. I’m going to have to let her touch me all over.”
“You can tell me all about it on Saturday.”
“You’re annoying, you know that?”
There was a grin in his voice. “So I’ve been told. See you Saturday.”
“Maybe.”
“I like maybe. It’s better than no.”
She shook her head. “Goodbye, Cam.” Throwing her cellphone on the table, she rolled her neck and headed back to the kitchen.
The masseuse was leaning against the counter, sipping a coffee that one of the ladies must have given her. She looked up with a smile as Mia entered. “Are you ready?”
“Yep. Shall we do it in my office?” There was no point in sending her away. And though she’d exaggerated the pain to mess with Cam, there were still twinges that shot through her every time she raised her arm.
“Great. Lead the way.”
“So how was school?” Mia asked, as they ate dinner at the kitchen table that night. It was a rare evening when Sam wasn’t expected at the bar until later, so he’d sat down to join them, shoveling the spaghetti Bolognese into his mouth with gusto.
“Fine.” Michael twirled his spaghetti around his fork. She could remember teaching him how to do it at their favorite Italian restaurant in Kansas City. Niall had laughed at them, telling Michael he should just cut the damn noodles like everybody else did.