‘I told you I would help you with the report,’ he said.
‘I know, but there’s still a lot to—’
‘How about I introduce you to the start-ups I have in mind in person once we’re back in the city? And you can come with me to the product launch Tuesday next,’ he added, cutting off her argument. ‘Because everyone who is anyone in the tech industry in the US will be there.’
Adrenaline surged as he made the offer off the top of his head and realised that tonight didn’t have to be the end. Not yet. Not if she agreed to his proposal.
Why the hell not continue this liaison? They’d enjoyed themselves on Sunrise. She wasn’t due back in the UK for another week. The product launch was a big deal for Broussard Tech—a chance to take his company to the next level. And, again weirdly, he wanted her by his side for the events he had planned. Not just the launch itself, but the lavish reception afterwards at one of the city’s hippest nightclubs.
‘But...’ She blinked. ‘Really? Are you sure? I... I thought we weren’t going to see each other once we got back to San Francisco,’ she said, blunt as always.
‘That was the plan, but the plan can change.’
He hitched his shoulder. He couldn’t let this matter to him—not too much. But even so his gut twisted when she stared back at him and did that lip-chewing thing again, which had always driven him nuts.
‘No reason why we shouldn’t enjoy the time we have left,’ he added, deciding that mixing this with his professional interests and hers didn’t have to be a bad thing, if it gave them both what they wanted.
Her brow puckered; her thoughts transparent as always. She was torn—he could see that. Torn between taking what she wanted and doing what was right for her boss.
He stifled the prickle of annoyance.
He didn’t like Zachary Temple much, even though he’d never even met the guy. And he liked even less having to help the guy out in order to keep Cassandra with him for a while longer. But if Temple wanted to invest in the US tech scene—as long as it didn’t mean any involvement in Broussard Tech—he would throw the guy a bone just to have Cassandra where he wanted her for the next week. Until this need had run its course.
‘An endorsement from me will give Temple a huge advantage when it comes to getting investment opportunities in Silicon Valley,’ he added.
‘I... I don’t know,’ she said, still tugging on her bottom lip—and making him ache.
‘What don’t you know?’ he asked, not quite able to keep the snap of frustration out of his tone any more. Why was she being so difficult about this? He knew she still wanted him, as much as he wanted her, so what exactly was the issue?
‘I’m not sure what Temple will make of it if he finds out I attended the launch as your guest...’
He hadn’t invited her as a guest, but as his date. His gut knotted, the snap of frustration becoming something darker and more painful.
He pushed it back. Forced himself not to overreact. This was about her job. She w
as scared of messing up, of looking unprofessional, because that was the kind of woman she was. This wasn’t about him. Or her loyalty to Temple. Not really.
‘Hey... It’s not that big of a deal,’ he said, ignoring the bitter taste in his mouth and the unhappy shaft of memory of all the times he’d been ostracised as a kid, for something he hadn’t been able to change and had no control over.
He captured her chin, lifted her gaze to his. He saw uncertainty and concern.
Yeah, so not about you, Broussard.
‘This is just a chance to enjoy ourselves for a couple more days,’ he said, with a nonchalance he didn’t quite feel. ‘And ensure you get your job done while we’re at it. That’s all. But if you want to call it quits tomorrow, when we get back to the city, I’m good with that, too.’
He waited for her reply, and as he watched the emotions cross her face—concern, confusion, and finally conviction—a weird sense of relief overtook his irritation. Her answer really shouldn’t matter that much. He wasn’t that ostracised kid any more... He didn’t need Cassandra to accept him—or validate him.
‘I... Okay, I’d like that,’ she said, not sounding entirely certain.
But that didn’t stop the surge of vindication rising up his chest and making his stomach bounce.
‘If you’re sure it’s not a bother,’ she added.
‘A bother?’ He grinned—he couldn’t help it. The question was so quintessentially Cassandra, he found it unbearably charming. ‘Non, cher, it’s not a bother.’
She smiled. It was a tentative curve of her lips—as if she still wasn’t sure, but she was willing to take a chance—both brave and sweet. ‘Okay, then. I guess we have a deal.’
His ribs tightened and he had the weirdest thought that if he’d ever had the chance to date Cassandra James in high school, she would have acknowledged him the next day in class. No question.