Page 69 of The Rented Bride

“Hi Trent, I expected to see you in your office early.” She winked and refilled her coffee cup.

“I know. We overslept and Cassie missed her flight. How soon can Liam have the jet ready?”

“Where to?”

“Miami. Cassie needs to get back as soon as possible.”

“You got it.” She took her coffee and left.

He leaned against the counter and took a sip of coffee. “Now I just have to convince Cassie to let me fly her home.”

“She should be grateful you have a plane. Not many people have such a convenient luxury,” Doris said.

“No, I’m grateful to her. It’s my fault we overslept. We were out too late.”

“But you had a nice time?”

He nodded. “Yes, I did.”

“You like her.” Doris winked. “Good, because we all like her too. Especially your grandfather. He can talk of nothing else.” She gave him a gentle smile. “You’re doing a good thing.”

He smiled, but wasn’t so sure. He was lying to his grandfather. Worse, he was mixing business with pleasure. The last twenty-four hours with Cassie felt far too real. In eight months with Lindsey, he’d flown her all over the world, taken her to exotic private paradises and showered her with gifts. But never once had he slept late. Business never left his mind. Yesterday, while he was with Cassie, he hadn’t once thought of work. And he could have spent today in bed with her, and they hadn’t done more than sleep.

“It’s Cassie’s fault,” he murmured.

“Oh god, what have I done now?” She entered the kitchen with her small bag in hand.

Trent’s breath caught. She’d left her hair down and she was beautiful. Cassie set her bag against the wall and crossed to the coffee pot, which stood on the counter beside him. She filled a cup.

“What am I being blamed for so early in the morning?” she asked.

“Everything. That my grandfather is happy. That my staff is laughing for the first time in months. That I slept in,” he finished in a whisper.

Her head snapped up and she met his gaze. She stared for a heartbeat, then returned her attention to her coffee as Doris quietly slipped from the room. A tendril of her hair fell across her cheek. Trent tucked the hair behind her ear. Little green stones sparkled in her delicate lobes.

She stilled. “Trent, this is dangerous.”

He gave a low laugh. She wasn’t kidding.

He allowed his hand to drop back to his side. “You talk in your sleep, you know.”

She looked at him, lips parted. “I do not.”

What would she do if he kissed her again? Last night, he’d gotten lucky when Tomas showed up at the restaurant. After all, she couldn’t refuse to play the part of his wife in public. Now, however, they were alone.

“I’m going to head out and see if I can catch a flight on standby.”

Trent slipped his hands into his pockets. He’d known from their first encounter that she was practical and professional. Why was he losing perspective?

“Liam is preparing the jet.”

She shook her head. “No.”

“Yes,” he countered, and smiled. “It’s my fault for keeping you out so late last night.” She might want to keep it professional. He wanted more.

She sipped her coffee and nodded. “Probably, but I’ll take the standby.”

“Please,” he said. “There is no reason to sit around the airport all day hoping to get on a flight.”