Page 20 of Haden

Surely I misheard him.

He lifts a brow. I’m learning that’s what he does when he wants a response.

“Uhh…” I’m not sure what the question was, let alone the correct answer.

“Coffee, Emilia. That was your last cup.”

I lick my lips.

He lifts the brow higher.

Wetness drips from my pussy. It doesn’t even matter what he’s ordering me to do or not do. What makes me swoon is his tone. “Yes, Sir.” I can’t help but both obey him and agree to his odd request. I’m not that hooked on coffee. I started drinking it in college because everyone did, and I’ve had a cup every morning since then out of habit. By the time I’ve made it palatable, it barely resembles coffee. It’s more tan than brown.

“Good girl.” He slowly releases me.

Somehow, my legs manage to hold me upright. Did he say something about being pregnant?

“I need an assistant,” he states, totally changing the subject.

That’s another odd sentence I can’t decipher. “Okay.” I assume he’s going to hire someone.

“Turns out, this job is monstrous. I need to be all over the place at once. Someone is going to have to work the phones and greet people when they come to the office.”

I glance out the small window over the sink. “I assume that double-wide being placed next to the garage is your office.”

“Yep.”

“So, you’re going to hire an assistant?” Why are we discussing this?

“Nope. You’re going to be my assistant.”

My eyes bug out. “Me?”

“Yeah. Why not?” He takes another step back. The place isn’t big enough for him to put any significant distance between us, but there are a few feet now. He plants his feet wide and crosses his arms. His narrow-eyed expression is intense enough to melt most humans on the spot.

I can’t think of anything I’d like more than to be Haden’s assistant. The idea never occurred to me before this moment. But, he has it all worked out. “Are you asking me?”

He gives me that slow smirk. “Nope.” His gaze lowers to trail down my body.

Now that he’s taken my mug away, I’m empty-handed and fidgeting. I fist my hands, my fingers digging into my palms at my sides. I narrow my gaze at him. Two can play at this standoff. “You’re never going to ask me whether I want to do something or not again in my life, are you?”

“Not often,” he concedes.

“So you talked to Brody and he spoke to Dallas. Sounds like the three of you have it all worked out.”

“Pretty much.”

My heart is pounding. What I want to do is one of those excited stand-in-place dances. The kind of thing you do when you’re alone and no one can see your private celebration. But I’m not alone, and I don’t want to divulge how happy I am so blatantly. This man needs some pushback from me. “The last thing you told me was to go to my room and think because you weren’t the right man for me.”

He nods. “I did.”

“You’re very cryptic, Haden.” It’s bizarre that he has said so little while making me horny in doing so.

He shrugs. “Did you think about what I said?”

“Yes. Most of the night.”

“Did you come out here this morning wearing that thin dress without a bra and panties to entice me? Did you position yourself next to the RV because you wanted to tell me you’d changed your mind and have decided you don’t want what I’m offering?”