Kylie nodded. “I’m sorry I didn’t trust you.”

“We don’t know each other well enough yet,” Cade said. “It’s understandable.” He glanced over at her. “But make no mistake, I intend on getting to know you extremely well.”

She shivered at the pulse of heat that flared through her body. “Are you always so forward with women?”

“Just you,” he admitted. “Normally I’m content to let things fall by the wayside, but the more you try to get away from me, the closer I want to pull you.”

“I suppose I should be flattered.” Her voice had a light, fluttery note to it that she wished would go away. She blamed his light caresses of her hand. His fingers were making it so hard for her to concentrate.

“I don’t want you to be flattered,” he murmured, and then lifted her hand to his mouth. “I just want you to say yes.” And he kissed her fingertips.

“Y-yes to what?”

The look in his vivid blue eyes was sultry. “Whatever I ask.”

Oh, mercy. She needed a fan right about now. “So . . . what are you asking me?”

“Nothing yet. But the night’s still young.”

Definitely needing that fan.

The fondue place was just around the corner, and as they got into the restaurant, Kylie was relieved to see that it was extremely dark inside, and not all that crowded. Perfect. They could hide in here and still enjoy themselves tonight. A surge of guilt rose at the thought of lying about where she was to Daphne, but this was just a date to catch up. It wasn’t going to be anything serious. They’d talk, get whatever they had out of their systems, and then they’d move on with their lives. He’d go back to Daphne and she’d go back to . . . well, her makeup brushes. Still, she got a little melty when she thought of the potted flower he’d brought her so she wouldn’t be so lonely on the road. It was so thoughtful. He was the only one that had bothered to ask if she was lonely while on the road. No one else ever cared.

But she couldn’t get sidetracked. She had duties. She had burdens that could only be made worse by flirting with a man her boss thought was her property.

Cade’s thoughtfulness kept distracting her, though. He was asking all the questions that she had to keep buried or she’d snap. He kept poking at her worries, her fears, her insecurities—and making her feel good about them. That she was doing a good job somehow.

And that was what kept throwing her off guard. What kept making her vulnerable.

Cade talked to the hostess for a few minutes while Kylie waited nearby. She saw him point at the seating chart a few times, and he kept using that megawatt smile that made Kylie’s panties melt, so she could only imagine how dazzled the restaurant hostess was. Cade seemed pleased when the woman eventually nodded and grabbed two menus. “Right this way.”

As Kylie walked forward, Cade put his hand on her back in a move that felt a little possessive and a lot right. She was blushing as they moved to a booth in the back of the restaurant. The booth was tucked in between four others that were all empty, and as the hostess led them, she lit a candle on the table and then set it inside a lamp. “You two enjoy.”

Cade gestured that Kylie should sit first, and so she picked a side of the booth, sliding in.

To her surprise, Cade slid in right next to her. His arm brushed hers, and he grinned. “Hello again.”

She was suddenly thankful for the dim lighting, because her blush had returned fiercely. “You don’t want to sit on the other side?”

“Not if it means missing out on being next to you.”

She raised an eyebrow at him. “What if I’m right-handed and you’re left-handed?”

“Then we’re just going to end up hitting each other a lot as we go for the cheese pot,” Cade said easily. “But it’ll give me an excuse to reach for your hand.” And he brushed his fingers over hers.

And Kylie knew she should pull away, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. When his fingers laced with hers, she ran her thumb along his, enjoying the feel of his hand in hers. “I guess it’s a sacrifice we’ll have to make.”

“Guess so,” he murmured.

The waitress appeared a few moments later. “Hi! Welcome to Fondue House.” She handed Cade a menu card. “This is tonight’s wine list, if you’re interested.”

He looked over at Kylie. “Like wine?”

She shrugged. “As long as I’m not driving, I like a glass. But I’m fine with drinking water, really.”