Page 44 of Connor

“I didn’t fucking assault her, if that’s what you’re implying.” His accusation makes me feel ill.

“Just asking the questions to see if it will open us up for a lawsuit.”

“No, but…” I start, having thought of this all last night.

“But what?” he pushes.

“I’ve been thinking… can we get a contract drawn up?” I ask.

“What kind of contract?”

“One that states we’re entering into a mutually beneficial private arrangement and that it has no impact on her work or the distillery. I can’t fire her or end her contract. Etc., etc.,” I say, and he looks at me like he’s seeing me for the first time.

“Are you feeling alright?” he questions, his brow furrowed.

“Fine,” I lie, because I need sleep, I need a cup of fucking tea, and I need to see Daisy.

“Fuck, you really like her,” he says in awe, his eyebrows rising almost comically.

“Pfft…” I wave him off, not contradicting his words. Clearly, I’m not very good at hiding how I feel because his shock turns into a shit-eating grin.

“Holy shit. Connor Whiteman has fucking feelings. I never thought I would see the day,” he teases.

“Shut up. Can you do it or not?” I push, and he nods.

“It’s actually pretty common, and given she’s a consultant and not an employee, then it’s even easier. I’ll get the team to draw it up now.” Sawyer gets busy on his phone and laptop for the next few minutes as I breathe out, feeling relieved. We agreed it was a one-time thing. Just a kiss, just a blip in time. But I haven’t felt like this before, and I know I can’t stop at just one taste.

“I just emailed you something,” he murmurs and I raise my eyebrows. “Told you it was common. We have a template on file,” he says, giving me a smart-ass grin.

I move to my laptop and scan the contract quickly. It’s standard terminology and says everything I need it to say so I print it out and sign it, handing the paperwork back to him.

“You’ll give it to her,” I tell him.

“Me?” he questions.

“That way she won’t feel like I’m pouncing on her. It gives her some breathing space to make her own decision,” I tell him and he takes the file, adding it to his pile.

“Fine. I’m charging you a delivery fee, though,” he says as he stands, a smirk on his face. He’s joking, of course. Sawyer’s legal expertise is unrivaled. He has negotiated our biggest deals and has worked with us for a long time. He’s well and truly part of the family.

“Asshole,” I grit out, my shoulders tense as I think about all that is needed is her signature.

“What does Tanner think?” he asks, and I can only stare at him.

“Ohhh, shit. He doesn’t know.” Sawyer grins, and I roll my eyes.

“And I would like to keep it that way,” I mention, not exactly sure what Dad will think.

“Fine. Your dirty little secret is safe with me,” he says, grinning from ear to ear.

“We need to get going. They’re all waiting in the meeting room for us. We need to go over the spa legalities in relation to the treatments and the insurances.” Grabbing my laptop, I’m itching to get down the hall to the rest of the team, but really, I just want to see Daisy.

We walk briskly, already late, my shoulders tense, which isn’t helped by the fact that Sawyer hasn’t stopped grinning since I spoke with him.

“Sawyer,” Dad says, nodding to Sawyer in greeting as the conversation Victoria and Daisy are having ceases.

“What’s going on?” I ask, seeing one of our support staff here changing cables over, the computer in here apparently not working.

“Technical difficulties,” Victoria says, smiling, and I take a seat, my eyes flicking to Daisy, who has a nice little flush coloring her cheeks. She raises her eyes to meet mine, and I watch her swallow.

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