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“Can we talk at home then?”
“We can.”
“Don’t try to anticipate what it’s about, okay. I just. I want to go home and I don’t want to talk about it here.”
“Okay then, shall we?” He swept his arm toward the door.
She took the stack of files she hadn’t finished making notes in and dropped them into her filing cabinet before locking it. Grabbing her purse, she stood and went to him. He pulled her into a hug.
“I love you,” he told her.
“I love you too.” Tears pricked the back of her eyes. She was so mad at herself.
That was all that was said between them until they crossed the threshold of their home.
“I’ll get dinner started, why don’t you go change and then we can talk?” he offered but she was about ready to burst.
“I don’t need to change. I’d just rather get this over with.”
“You’re scaring me, Cat.”
“I’m the one that should be scared, not you.”
“Scared of what?”
“Your reaction to my colossal mistake. Scared is not the right word. Nervous is better.”
Dropping into his favorite chair, he put his arms on the armrests. “Well, let’s hear it, then.”
Cat stood there trying to figure out where to start. “I met Sadie in the lobby and she ended up coming to lunch with me,” she began.
“Okay?” He cocked his head to the side. “Sharing a meal with another Ranch employee hardly deserves a mention, let alone this type of reaction.”
Taking a deep breath, she launched into the entire story, including how she had all but run to the store when she had seen Piper and how nervous they both were and ending with the promise that she would make contact before five thirty, but hadn’t.
When she finished talking, there was a long silence between them.
“So you did the thing I expressly asked you not to do.”
“Yes, and I think I messed everything up. She didn’t even let me know she didn’t want to meet up. I must have really scared her.”
Sam sighed and shook his head. “You were supposed to let me handle it. I made a lunch appointment with Derek for tomorrow. You only had to wait one more day.” He didn’t sound mad or frustrated, just matter-of-fact. She kind of wished he would react a little stronger.
“I feel terrible about it. Not just because I blew our chance to even get to know her, but that I usurped you. It was a mistake. I’m so sorry.”
Sam nodded. “It’s been a really long time since I’ve had to punish you, Cat, but I’m not sure I should let this slide. I don’t think it would be good for either of us.”
“Yes, Sir. I agree with you.” She hated being punished. She couldn’t even remember the last time she had truly been disciplined. She didn’t have very many rules because she didn’t really need them, so it would have to be something serious. Something like going behind his back when they had already agreed on a certain plan of action. That seemed like a good enough reason to her.
He nodded. “Let’s make dinner and we can handle it before bed.”
“Do we really have to wait?”
“Yes. We both need to eat and letting you stew in your own mistakes is part of the consequence.”
“But I have been stewing pretty much all day.”
“And who’s fault is that?” He raised a brow.
