Page 44 of A Gift of Time
When the elevator dinged, I pulled away and faced the doors. Caden panted beside me, and I failed at hiding my satisfied grin.
“I’ve always wanted to make out in an elevator,” I said as we exited and moved into the lobby.
“Glad I could be of service.” He broke out into a shy smile before looking away. “Wow, there’s a lot of people here.”
I knew once he met some of them and started talking, he’d be fine. Caden was what I called an introverted extrovert. He was shy until the ice was broken with someone, and then he was fun-loving and outgoing.
Logan caught my eye from across the room and made his way through the crowd of people, holding a plate of cookies.
“Hey, boss,” he greeted once he was in front of us. He then looked beside me and stuck out his hand, which Caden accepted. “Hi, I’m Logan, Jack’s personal assistant. You must be the famous Caden. He never shuts up about you, you know.”
My face heated.
“Oh yeah?” Caden smiled at me before returning his gaze to the evil twink. “What does he say?”
“I need a drink,” I said before looking for the table with all the booze. Well, more like expensive champagne and wine, but it’d have to suffice.
“Sometimes he says that, actually,” Logan answered before laughing.
Caden bumped my shoulder and shot me a smirk. “Sounds like him.”
Gage approached, slipping an arm around Logan’s waist, and nodded to me. “Good evening, Mr. Taylor.”
His wavy dark-brown hair reached the middle of his ears and curtained around his face in a Jon Snow fromGame of Thronesstyle, and dark lashes bordered his mossy, green eyes. Confidence rang from him, more so than it had when he’d come into my office that one day to get my opinion on the commercial.
“Nice to see you again, Gage,” I greeted, touching the small of Caden’s back. “This is my boyf—uh, my friend, Caden. He’s an interior designer and will be decorating the office after Christmas.”
Caden regarded me curiously before shaking Gage’s hand.
They began talking about design, and I was relieved to see him relaxing more. Since Gage was on the creative team, he had some ideas about color schemes and threw them around with Caden, who was at home with the subject and gave his opinion freely.
We worked our way around the room, and I said hello to my superiors, as well as some clients I’d had the privilege to help with their advertising.
The owner of Duncan’s Toys, an older man named William, thanked me for the work I’d put into his commercial, saying that the toys showcased in the ad had been flying off the shelves. His store had to compete with the big name toy companies, so he was grateful for an advertisement that got his store more publicity.
Peter, the owner of Brew Emporium—the coffeehouse we’d made the Santa commercial for—clapped a hand on my back and introduced me to his wife, Susan.
Caden stayed at my side as I moved throughout the room, and more than once, he was pulled into conversations.
Women seemed to love him. They stopped him as we passed and commented on his outfit, and one of them even gave him her business card, requesting a consultation to design her new dance studio.
When Rick approached, Caden straightened his stance and his nerves were back full-force.
“Jack.” Rick grabbed my hand and shook it. “Just the man I was looking for. Who’s this?”
“Hello, Mr. Stanford,” Caden said after clearing his throat. “I’m Caden Bell of Cay Designs.”
“Ah yes,” Rick said, shaking his hand. “Jack tells me you’re one of the best, and if he says it, it must be true. He’s known as the cobra around here and won’t hesitate to tell you his honest to god opinion. I’m eager to see your vision for the office.”
“I’m eager as well, sir,” Caden answered. Once Rick’s attention was elsewhere, he grinned and lightly nudged me. “Cobra, huh?”
“Shut up,” I said, trying to keep a straight face but failing.
Rick turned back to me. “I have some business I’d like to discuss with you, Jack, if you don’t mind.”
Confused, I nodded to him before pulling Caden closer and whispering in his ear, “Will you be okay if I step away for a few?”
“Of course,” he said, giving me an encouraging smile. “I’ll be at the buffet table devouring all the shrimp.”
