If his renewed interest in Crafted Image Media was going to keep him this busy, maybe convincing him not to retire from public speaking was a mistake. We didn’t have to be joined at the hip but seeing each other only on the weekends was going to get old quick.
16
Caine
Briefcase open on the desk, I was gathering my things and getting ready to leave the office for the weekend when Jenna knocked on the door. She let herself in, wide grin giving away her excitement.
“Don’t tell me it’s another talk show,” I teased with a laugh.
“No, but I think you’re going to be happy with this proposal.” She handed me a printed email, but before I could read past the first line, she launched into an explanation, words spilling out of her mouth rapid-fire. “They want you to present a company-wide program during a weekend-long retreat. They’re offering twice your normal fee.”
“That is exciting.”
“The best part is, they’ve specifically requested the revamped, more authentic series. They want you with all your humor and cynicism. With real resolutions to workplace problems, not just the grin and bear it route. They’re excited to present something that will feel much more genuine to their employees, and they’re eager to see if it builds workplace morale like they think it will.”
My eyebrows crept toward my hairline. “And how do they know about my revamped series that you just typed up for me this morning?”
“I updated the website, of course.”
The smile slipped off my face. “I didn’t ask you to do that.”
“You never ask me to do anything,” she said with a wave of her hand. “Don’t worry, I have both options up there for now, in case you’re not ready to take the leap and switch over completely.”
“Isn’t that a bit like double-dipping?”
She shook her head, lips pursed together. “Not at all. It’s a tailored approach that honors the different dynamics of employee culture.”
“That sounds like it’s straight from the website.”
“It is. I made it up. Do you like it?”
“I do, but that doesn’t mean I’m ready. Jenna, I usually spend weeks with a new program before I present it. This is at the end of the month. With the talk show and everything else, I doubt I’ll have time.”
“You can do it,” Jenna insisted.
“You say that, but you’re not the one on stage with a dozen pages of script that are supposed to be memorized. It’s not as easy as I make it look.”
“You’ll have it down by then.”
I smiled and let out a quick sigh. “That’s enough work talk for the week. I’ll see you Monday?”
“Sounds good,” she said, already on her way to the door.
I stopped to text Shelton, then I followed her out. I was just leaving the parking garage when he called. “Hi, Shelton,” I said when I answered.
“Caine, I wasn’t sure I would hear from you.”
My hands were on the steering wheel, the audio from the call coming through the Audi’s speakers. “Listen, I’m sorry about that. Sometimes I get wrapped up in work and time gets away from me.”
“I’ve only heard from you twice the entire week.” His voice was calm without even a touch of self-pity.
I smiled at his moxie. He was bolder than most his age and I enjoyed it immensely. “You’re right, and I want to make it up to you. Dinner?”
He hesitated, then, “Sure. I can be ready in fifteen minutes.”
“I’ll be there in twenty,” I said, then I disconnected the call and took a short detour.
I arrived at his door almost exactly twenty minutes later, and when he opened the door, he seemed surprised when I walked inside with my hands full.
“What’s all this?” he asked, taking the three bags I handed him and eyeing the one I kept close.
I set the fourth bag on the table by the door and tied the handles in a knot so he couldn’t peek. This earned me another raised eyebrow, but then he opened the first of the three bags and a little moan of pleasure escaped his lips.
“Tell me that’s curry I smell,” he gushed.
“I remember you said you loved Indian food, and there’s a wonderful little place around the corner from my building.”
“What’s in the cups?”
“Mango lassi.”
“You must have news.” His smile was radiant as he took a long drink and closed his eyes, savoring it. “You might as well tell me now.”
I explained the proposal I’d received, describing the significance as well as I could. It was hard to make people understand exactly what it was I did, but Shelton listened with rapt attention, clearly intrigued. Unlike past lovers, his eyes didn’t glaze over with boredom.
“You should do it,” he said when I was through explaining.
“I’m not ready.”
“What do you mean? This is who you are. The natural, authentic, whole you with all your faults. A man people can relate to and not some unattainable standard of perfection that’s exhausting to keep up. What is there to prepare? You can’t let this pass you by. It’s what you wanted, isn’t it?”
“Of course, but it’s so soon.”
“There’s no way I’m talking to the Caine Cole I know. The Caine Cole I know grabs life by the horns and doesn’t take no for an answer.”
His declaration had my chest swelling with pride. “When you put it that way, maybe I should consider it.”
“I would be disappointed if you didn’t,” he said between bites. “It’s exactly what you’ve been waiting for.”
We chatted some more, and when we were through, Shelton waved dismissively at me when I stood to help. “You cooked, I clean.”
“No one cooked and there’s nothing to clean.”
He laughed. “That’s why it was so easy. And now I’m dying to know what’s in the other bag.”
I stood and walked over to the sink where he was wiping the counter off and washing the utensils we’d used in place of the plastic ones the restaurant had packed in the bag. Moving behind him, I wrapped my arms around his waist and kissed the back of his neck. “Just a few supplies.”
“For what?” He leaned back against me, exposing his neck to my kisses.
I obliged him, savoring the smooth skin against my lips. “To show you how much I missed you.”
“Oh.”
“You sound surprised.”
“Pleasantly,” he said. “I just didn’t have a chance to get ready.”
“That’s all right. I’m in no hurry tonight.” He relaxed against me and I held him close, swaying gently where we stood, and just enjoying how he felt in my arms. “I was thinking we’d start in the shower and go from there.”
He stepped out of my arms then, taking my hand and looking at me with those soft brown eyes that melted my heart. I let him lead me to the bathroom, then I watched him slowly undress, revealing lean muscles beneath smooth, supple skin. He paused when he was left in only his boxers. The hesitation was delicious, and I thought back to the weekend before and how his body had responded despite his initial resistance to being the only naked person in the room. An image flashed before my eyes and I couldn’t help the feral smile that spread across my lips.