me his
girlfriend, and that put Tanner in his place better than I ever
could.
As if sensing the deal is done, Mathias
gives Cash’s hand a good shake and promises to be in touch with
me. Meanwhile, I am stuck wondering if my feet are still on
earth. Whether they are or not, Cash keeps up the pretense of being
my boyfriend. He sizes up the other execs as they trail behind
Mathias, and then he focuses on Tanner.
I want to pull him away—he’s
come here, saved the day, and now it’s time to turn and run—but
that has never been Cash’s style. He’s more the type
that’s going to end this in blood or drinks.
Or both.
Just a normal night with Cash, I guess.
“How long have you two been
dating?” Tanner asks.
Cash turns away from him and looks only
at me. “You doing okay? You go from a long day at the office to
an after hours thing.”
“I’m
fine,” I say. Cash gives my side a squeeze and trails
his fingers until they settle on the small of my back. Protective,
supportive, but still sending a clear signal: mine. “But I am
looking forward to that massage you promised me.”
Then, because I know I can only push
Tanner so far, I turn to him and answer the question that Cash
ignored. “Just a few weeks. But it feels like longer. We’ve
known each other forever, so …”
I look back into Cash’s eyes and
place my hand on his chest, right over his heart. It’s beating
strong and steady, unlike mine, which seems to be running a marathon.
He’s drawing little circles on the small of my back, sending
heat straight south.
“Burn hot and fast, don’t
you, Savy, ” Tanner
says. The anger in his voice hits me like a sucker punch to the gut.
Ready to leave, I try to turn away and grab Cash. He refuses to back
down, catching my hand on his chest and kissing the inside of my
wrist.
“She’s just being modest.
It’s been, what? Three, four months, Savy?” He doesn’t
even look at Tanner, his gaze completely focused on me. I can’t
keep from blushing. “I know we weren’t official for a
while there, but I always knew what I wanted.”
“It’s Savannah,”
Tanner corrects him. “She doesn’t
like nicknames.”
Cash’s eyes
leave mine and I feel naked against the crowd, but it’s
worth it to watch him face off against Tanner.
“Maybe she just doesn’t
like it when certain people use them. From me, I think she likes it just fine.”
“Guys—”
I start, but there’s no use trying to break them apart now.
They’re squaring off against each other, like they’re
toe to toe in one of Ryder’s rings.
“And what do you do—I’m
sorry, I didn’t catch your name,” Tanner
sneers.
“Cash Gardner,
I’m a mixologist and—”
“Mixologist?
Isn’t that just a fancy term for bartender? You gotta be
careful when you’re slumming it, Savannah. You don’t know
where they’ve been—make sure he’s had all his
shots.”
Cash tenses next to me, and his hands
curl into fists. He may not be Ryder, but I’m sure he can dole
out more than enough damage to Tanner’s country good looks.
Personally, I’d prefer to rip Tanner’s eyes out, because
this is my battle to fight. It was me who got involved with Tanner
and it will be me who takes the consequences. And as much as I hate
to admit it, I still need Tanner to ensure my promotion.
So as much as it’s going to kill
me, I have to retract the claws and do what any associate lawyer
worth her salt would: plaster on a smile and prepare to take out the
adversary.
“We should go.” I pull on
Cash’s arm. We’ve had our fun, but it’s time to
leave before anything dire happens. Smiling at Tanner is tough, but I
manage. “I promised Cash we’d go for—”
“Now Savannah, the man is clearly
in need of some clarification. Would you deny him a learning
opportunity?” Cash grins.
At this moment, yes. Tanner’s an
idiot, and Cash can’t teach him a thing.
“Enlighten me,” Tanner says
with a smile, showing off his perfect set of white
girlfriend, and that put Tanner in his place better than I ever
could.
As if sensing the deal is done, Mathias
gives Cash’s hand a good shake and promises to be in touch with
me. Meanwhile, I am stuck wondering if my feet are still on
earth. Whether they are or not, Cash keeps up the pretense of being
my boyfriend. He sizes up the other execs as they trail behind
Mathias, and then he focuses on Tanner.
I want to pull him away—he’s
come here, saved the day, and now it’s time to turn and run—but
that has never been Cash’s style. He’s more the type
that’s going to end this in blood or drinks.
Or both.
Just a normal night with Cash, I guess.
“How long have you two been
dating?” Tanner asks.
Cash turns away from him and looks only
at me. “You doing okay? You go from a long day at the office to
an after hours thing.”
“I’m
fine,” I say. Cash gives my side a squeeze and trails
his fingers until they settle on the small of my back. Protective,
supportive, but still sending a clear signal: mine. “But I am
looking forward to that massage you promised me.”
Then, because I know I can only push
Tanner so far, I turn to him and answer the question that Cash
ignored. “Just a few weeks. But it feels like longer. We’ve
known each other forever, so …”
I look back into Cash’s eyes and
place my hand on his chest, right over his heart. It’s beating
strong and steady, unlike mine, which seems to be running a marathon.
He’s drawing little circles on the small of my back, sending
heat straight south.
“Burn hot and fast, don’t
you, Savy, ” Tanner
says. The anger in his voice hits me like a sucker punch to the gut.
Ready to leave, I try to turn away and grab Cash. He refuses to back
down, catching my hand on his chest and kissing the inside of my
wrist.
“She’s just being modest.
It’s been, what? Three, four months, Savy?” He doesn’t
even look at Tanner, his gaze completely focused on me. I can’t
keep from blushing. “I know we weren’t official for a
while there, but I always knew what I wanted.”
“It’s Savannah,”
Tanner corrects him. “She doesn’t
like nicknames.”
Cash’s eyes
leave mine and I feel naked against the crowd, but it’s
worth it to watch him face off against Tanner.
“Maybe she just doesn’t
like it when certain people use them. From me, I think she likes it just fine.”
“Guys—”
I start, but there’s no use trying to break them apart now.
They’re squaring off against each other, like they’re
toe to toe in one of Ryder’s rings.
“And what do you do—I’m
sorry, I didn’t catch your name,” Tanner
sneers.
“Cash Gardner,
I’m a mixologist and—”
“Mixologist?
Isn’t that just a fancy term for bartender? You gotta be
careful when you’re slumming it, Savannah. You don’t know
where they’ve been—make sure he’s had all his
shots.”
Cash tenses next to me, and his hands
curl into fists. He may not be Ryder, but I’m sure he can dole
out more than enough damage to Tanner’s country good looks.
Personally, I’d prefer to rip Tanner’s eyes out, because
this is my battle to fight. It was me who got involved with Tanner
and it will be me who takes the consequences. And as much as I hate
to admit it, I still need Tanner to ensure my promotion.
So as much as it’s going to kill
me, I have to retract the claws and do what any associate lawyer
worth her salt would: plaster on a smile and prepare to take out the
adversary.
“We should go.” I pull on
Cash’s arm. We’ve had our fun, but it’s time to
leave before anything dire happens. Smiling at Tanner is tough, but I
manage. “I promised Cash we’d go for—”
“Now Savannah, the man is clearly
in need of some clarification. Would you deny him a learning
opportunity?” Cash grins.
At this moment, yes. Tanner’s an
idiot, and Cash can’t teach him a thing.
“Enlighten me,” Tanner says
with a smile, showing off his perfect set of white
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