“Promise?” Cady asked, shooting Patton a glance.
“Sure.” Meg swayed forward. “No problem.”
Patton understood Cady’s look. He didn’t like it, but he understood. Instead of hot limo sex, he was going to help Cady get Meg safely home. “We’ll give you a ride,” he offered.
Cady’s smile was blinding. “Yeah, come on. We’re leaving anyway.”
“I don’t want to be a party pooper,” Meg argued even as she slid her arm through his and leaned against him heavily. “Get in the way of any...plans.” She bobbed her eyebrows, looking between them and smiling.
Patton glanced at Cady. “Don’t worry, Meg. Only plan I can count on is a burger.”
Meg looked confused, but Cady burst out laughing as she said, “Come on.”
“Better be a good burger,” he added as he steered Meg across the ballroom while Cady made their goodbyes. He was having a hell of a time keeping Meg upright as they maneuvered up the stair
s.
He nodded his farewells and watched Cady make a graceful exit. If she was upset over what Meg said, he couldn’t see it. It was only after they managed to get Meg into the limo, where she proceeded to pass out on Cady’s shoulder, that he saw her smile slip.
11
CADY COULDN’T SEEM to sit still. She was so mad...she wanted to scream, to yell, to fight. She stared blindly out the window, the shops and buildings a blur as the limo navigated the streets. She glanced at Patton, the already accelerated rate of her heart picking up. She’d stare at him. Staring at Patton would take her mind off work, the promotion and her profound disappointment in Mr. Hembrecht. Patton was gorgeous and a nice distraction.
A gorgeous man who’d had no problem carrying Meg up the stairs to her apartment. A gorgeous man who fed Meg’s meowing cat while Cady helped Meg get into bed. He’d done it all without a single complaint.
Tonight, you’re mine... His words were the most thrilling thing she’d ever heard. Her heart thumped, warmth pooling in the pit of her stomach.
He glanced at her. “You okay?”
She hadn’t said anything since they left—she couldn’t. And now she was even more mixed up. “Yeah.”
“Mad?” His voice was low.
“I am. I’m trying not to be, but I am.” She gripped the edge of her seat, her anger bubbling up. “Why the hell would Hembrecht promote him? I mean, besides the fact that Charles is his son. He’s incapable of doing the job. He has no idea what’s going on—unless I explain it to him.” She sat back in her chair, sighing. “It really pisses me off.”
“It should.” Patton’s deep voice rolled over her. “But all you have to go on is Meg’s story. And, considering how drunk she was, I’d hold off on reacting.” His hand found hers in the dark. “Glad you have the weekend to think things over.”
He was right. He was supersexy, supersupportive...and they had some time to kill.
“Enough talking,” she said, sliding across the seat.
He responded in an instant. His hands gripped her hips, facing him—on his lap. She felt the length of his erection and smiled.
“Who knew a limo was such a turn-on for you?” she murmured before pressing her lips to his.
His lips parted, the tip of his tongue tracing her lower lip. He wanted her. He’d wanted her from the minute she’d opened her apartment door. No, he’d wanted her from the moment she sat across from him at that restaurant—that very first night.
The limo stopped, and they both looked out the window. They were at the restaurant.
Patton sighed then laughed.
The driver’s voice filled the cab. “The drive-through is too narrow for the car.”
“We’ll go in,” Patton said, tucking her hair behind her ear.
She frowned as she slid from his lap. “You’re no fun.”
“A man’s got to eat. And sleep,” he argued, helping her from the car. He took her hand in his as they walked across the parking lot to the local gourmet burger joint.