Page 4 of Hard Hearts

“Are you thinking of having Scotch tonight?” My boss Evan asks as he pulls out one of the chairs to sit down. Turner and Kyle have already taken their seats. Turner is in the finance department at Forged, while Kyle is in legal with me.

They both have been with Forged for almost ten years now. Turner on his own isn’t bad, but he and Kyle together make me often want to bang my head on the wall. Hopefully they both will stay in line tonight with our boss being here, along with Jasper. We all know how big this deal is.

“I was thinking it’s more of a whiskey kind of night,” I say before Jasper can respond.

“I was too.” Jasper gives me a warm smile that has lines creasing around his eyes. I knew he was thinking whiskey, but again, I did my research. What can I say? Provide a woman withinternet access, and she can discover a wealth of information about you faster than the FBI. Jasper pulls my chair out for me.

I can’t help but turn my head slightly to peek over at Kaden, who is staring not at me but at Jasper. When Kaden starts to stand, a rush of panic fills me. Oh God, what is he about to do?

“Jasper Parker.”

“Kaden.” Jasper turns toward Kaden, still smiling. They shake hands. “It’s been a few years.”

“The White House, I think, was the last time we ran into each other.”

“Right, that was a nightmare of a night.” They both chuckle. All of us are watching the two of them now. I see Kyle lean over toward Turner, his eyes wide. I’m sure they recognize who Kaden is. All of us at the office played in a fantasy football league together. Football is often a hot topic. Plus, I took them for all of their cash when Kaden fumbled the ball that time. I made out like a bandit.

“I didn’t know you were meeting with Jasper Parker, babe.” Kaden’s hand comes down on my shoulder. With his other hand, he grabs the napkin I’d tossed onto the table and quickly drapes it back over my lap. He does it so quickly I’m not sure anyone notices. Jasper’s brows lift. “She is always very hush-hush about work. A lawyer thing, I’m sure.” I’m at a loss for words for the first time in my life.

“You’re dating this lovely woman?”

“I think it’s more than dating at this point.” He winks at me. I’m going to murder him.

“Damn, Kaden Gunner.” Evan stands, offering Kaden his hand. I don’t miss my boss's flinch when Kaden takes it, but he masks it. “I’m Evan.”

“Nice to meet you,” Kaden responds.

“Why are you sitting there?” Jasper asks, nodding toward the table Kaden was at.

“I was going to grab some dinner while I waited for my woman so I could drive her back home tonight. Don’t care for her calling for a car, especially at night.” Each word he speaks brings him closer to his death. I’m not sure how exactly I’m going to do it, but I’m sure I’ll figure it out.

He’s laying it on thick. But it’s kind of ridiculous that he has everyone at the table eating out of his hand and believing this. I mean, come on, Kaden Gunner wouldn’t really sit for hours waiting for a woman. Would he?

“Good man,” Jasper praises him. “Join us.”

“I shouldn’t,” Kaden responds, already grabbing the chair next to mine.

“I insist,” Jasper pushes.

“Yes, please do,” my boss adds.

“All right, don’t twist my arm.” Kaden drops down into the seat beside me, placing his hand on the back of my chair.

“We wouldn't do that. You need that arm.” Jasper takes the seat across from us. He is rather smitten with Kaden.

“Not more than I need my Frankie.” He leans over and kisses my cheek. I grab his thigh under the table and dig my nails in. “Easy, Kitten,” he whispers in my ear. “Save the claws for later.”

If anything needs saving, it’s him.

Chapter Four

KADEN

Idon’t know what it is exactly about Frankie that cranks my engine, to use Jasper Parker’s terminology, but her angry face is more erotic than two OnlyFans girls filming a porno in front of me, which actually happened my rookie year in Miami.

I walked into my hotel room, found two of them doing some kind of shoot, and immediately booked it down to the team manager’s room to get me a new room and some better security. The number of jock strap bunnies that try to entrap you during the season is unreal.

“How’s the shoulder?” This is from Frankie’s boss. Last year I got body-slammed into the turf by a three-hundred-pound lineman and suffered a full rotator cuff tear. Obviously, that ended my season and the playoff hopes for my team. As soon as I could, though, I got it fixed.

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