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My smile is a bit wobbly, but I feel slightly better knowing we truly have Caitlyn in common. But what now? Before I can even ask, Tanner is throwing another curveball.
“There’s one more thing I think you should know before we proceed, Mika.” He takes my hand and gently straightens each finger as if he can see the tension radiating.
“What’s that?” I ask in a whisper, my brain focusing on escaping to safety while my body is fascinated by his touch.
“You need to know that if you participate in Caitlyn’s version of extreme matchmaking, there’s no going back.”
I can tell he’s choosing his words very carefully, but I’m more confused than ever. I shake my head slightly to clear it. I’m still not sure what he’s getting at.
Tanner lets out a heavy sigh. “To put it more bluntly, little one, if my cock gets even the slightest taste of you, I’m keeping you. Forever.”
I squeak. I can’t help it. Intellectually I’d processed what seduction meant, but I hadn’t had the image of his big lean body over mine before, pressing me into a bed. Sinking into me. There’s a new kind of tension in my body now and a sort of eager anticipation.
“You don’t even know me,” I finally utter.
“I suspect I know you better than you think. But we’ll fix that, anyway. You do have six weeks, after all.” He grins like he’s enjoying the game.
“What happens then? Caitlyn didn’t say,” I mutter.
He shrugs slightly. “No idea. There’s another letter, though. It’s addressed to me with a date six weeks out. No conditions came with it, so I’m guessing it’s something that won’t upset you too much either way.”
I’m not so sure about that. “And you won’t open it early?” I’m ambivalent if I want him to, frankly.
He shakes his head with a small smile. “I have zero doubt Caitlyn is watching with eager anticipation. I don’t want to spoil her fun.”
3
Tanner
There’s no doubt in my mind that Mika has had more than enough thrown at her for one day. I need to tread carefully here to not make it worse before I can make it better. “So are you in, at least for the moment?” I ask quietly.
She seems unsure, but eventually she gives me a weak nod, her eyes wide.
“Relax, Mika. Nothing’s happening that you don’t want. Remember,youare supposed to be seducingme.”
She offers me a genuine smile for that and a barely there nervous giggle.
“I’m going to steal you away with me to my lake house, so let’s go get you checked out of the B&B.”
Mika surveys my office like she’s only just realized we can’t live here for six weeks. I mean, technically we probably could — there’s a full bathroom and a kitchen, but I’ve zero interest in getting her naked behind glass doors.
I grasp her hands and pull her up from the soft cushions of the couch. Stopping by my desk, I scoop up my phone and guide her out past reception. “Melissa? We’re out of here. Make Dan earn his paycheck if there are any problems.”
Melissa smiles and nods. I know damn well she’ll sort out anything that comes up, but she enjoys the pretense, having already turned down a management job because she thought it would interfere with her gaming life. “Have a good vacation,” she calls after us.
But Mika has frozen in place, her brow furrowed. “Dan? But that’s… I don’t understand,” she moans with a deep sigh.
Ah. I steer her into the elevator, the metal walls cool to the touch as I press the button for the garage. “Dan’s name really is Dan. Caitlyn called me that because she couldn’t manage her t’s when she was little and it sort of stuck. When she got to high school, it became essential because that way nobody associated her with me.”
“But she adored you,” Mika says, clearly still confused. I knew she was a keeper.
“Because I’d made my first few million by then and lots of people were scouting for an edge to get close to me.”
“Oh.” She pauses to think that over. “That sucks.”
“It did. But Dan was free to be her big brother, no strings attached.”
“I wish she would have told me,” Mika says quietly, but I can tell it’s bothering her.
