Page 16 of Proposition 2

11. Leo

Her nervousness was apparent, and the desire to make her feel comfortable had built to an unbearable need. I didn’t want her scared to talk to me, or even be around me. Some of the men I knew were dangerous, but most of the people I interacted with were no worse than me.

Which was bad enough, I supposed.

Cadence gave a quick jerk of her head in response to my question, the tension in her shoulders growing before she forced them to loosen. She did her best to hide it away, but I’d seen her body at its most relaxed and I knew she was still anxious.

“Let’s go to my office.”

Her eyes turned wary, but she didn’t fight me when I tugged on her hand to get her to follow me to the door that separated the public space from the rest of the club. Besides the auction room, there were other areas that only a select few knew about.

Nodding to the guard who kept an eye on the door, we slipped through, the noise of the club fading behind us as we strode down the hall. My office was the first one past the private meeting rooms that anyone could rent, and no one was allowed beyond it without express permission from me.

Turning to close the door behind us, I released Cadence’s hand. I’d planned to have her sit on the couch below the window so I could sit beside her, but she made a beeline for the chair in front of my desk.

Biting back a sigh, I unbuttoned my jacket as I moved around to take my seat. She’d remained quiet the entire time, but I could feel the words ready to burst from her. She barely waited until my weight hit the chair.

“Why?”

I leaned back, clasping my hands in my lap as I raised a brow. Hers lowered as she sent me a scowl that had me fighting the urge to grin.

“Don’t play innocent, Leo. I know it was you.”

“It was.”

“Why?”

I thought about my response for a moment. I’d been trying to explain it to myself since I’d given the order.

“Because I could.”

That seemed to stop her, and her eyes widened as she continued to stare at me. Cadence’s mouth worked but no sound came until she snapped it shut and sucked in a deep breath. Straightening her shoulders, her expression turned serious.

“How much do I owe you?”

My gaze dragged over her as I made her wait. Her pink lips were pinched in a thin line, brows set in what she probably hoped was a determined look.

The jeans she had on were obviously a bit worn, but they hugged her curves in a way that left me throbbing the instant I’d seen her. She was wearing a simple t-shirt that only hinted at the bounty beneath, but she was more gorgeous than any of the scantily clad females that frequented the club below.

“Nothing.”

I couldn’t resist smiling at the blank look of shock on her face, followed by disappointment that she tried to hide. It was clear she hadn’t expected me to say that, and whether she wanted to admit it or not, she’d been looking forward to paying me back.

“W—What do you mean?”

Her shoulder’s curled forward as doubt filled her eyes.

“I wanted to help a friend,” I said with a shrug.

Her disbelief was clear, and I couldn’t help the huff of laughter that left me. Her brow raised, but I could see the hint of a smile on her lips.

“Are we friends?”

I hummed, leaning forward in my chair to rest my arms on the desk between us.

“I’d like to be. I’d like to be more than your friend Cadence.”

I could see the pink flush rise up her cheeks as her gaze dropped to her hands. Her chest heaved, tight nipples poking through thin fabric distracting me for a moment.

---