Page 57 of Offside and Off-Limits
“You feel this thing too?” I reply, only half joking, because it’s obvious she does, even if she insists on fighting it.
“I’m being serious here. I wanted to offer once again to pay you for the toy you gave Benny. It’s only right.”
I hold my hands in the air. “I already said it’s a gift, and it’s not a toy. It’s a collectible.”
“But—” she protests.
“Seriously. It’s a gift. End of story.”
She lets out a defeated breath. “It’s so generous of you. You’re very kind to give it to him.”
“Yeah, I am,” I say with a grin, and she lets out a laugh.
“And modest. Did I mention that?”
“Just another dip layer, Triple. Is Hannah coming over for piano practice tomorrow?”
She scrunches her nose. “I don’t know it’s a good idea, you know, with her dad coming to Show Quest.”
“Why would that be a problem?”
“I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t like another man performing with his daughter.”
I’m itching to say that I’m sureshedidn’t like it when her ex ran off with her best friend, but that didn’t stop the guy.
Instead, I concede, “That’s fine. I get it. I don’t want to rock the boat.”
“Thank you,” she replies, her features relaxing.
“I’m still happy to help her get ready for the competition, though.”
“You are? You’re so?—”
“Amazing? Incredible?Hot?” I suggest with my cheesiest of grins, which makes her smile.
“Kind. That’s the word I was going for.”
“I’ll take it. We can work on the others later.” I throw her a wink, and she barks out another laugh, this time shaking her head.
“You never quit, do you?”
“Not when it comes to you, Triple. Take me or leave me.” I lean closer to her, catching her scent, and say in an intimate tone, “Only I suggest you take me.”
I waggle my brows at her, and she laughs once more, and I decide there and then that hearing Clara Johnson laugh is the most wonderful sound in the world.
CHAPTER 12
CLARA
Veronica's directive was clear.Create content featuring me interacting with Cade on camera, oozing the “chemistry” she insists she sees between us.
Well, her and half the social media commenting population, that is.
I admit, it’s hard not to agree with her when I look at the accidental livestream that started this whole thing. There’s a certain tension between us when we look into one another’s eyes. It’s intense, the moment stretching for a beat too long as he holds me close to him, my limbs melting like honeyagainst his firm frame.
If only I hadn’t agreed to the dance in the first place. If only Joel hadn’t mistakenly thought I’d told him to livestream it.
But these things happened, and I need to step up and do what my boss has told me to do—even if it feels a lot like walking right into the lion’s den—and the lion is most definitely Cade Lennox and that flirty grin that zips straight through me like a live wire.
