Previous: The Business of Being the She Wolf

Hoooo boy, this was bad. She didn't know what all he wanted from her but she had to be careful. He was handsome. And he was being so…affectionate.

“Sean Flannery is the man who keeps trying to make hostile bids. It's…not the first time he's…” She fell silent. It wasn't important.

He slipped his fingers through her hair when she mentioned the man's name. There was a temper he didn't usually feel. Then brought his fingers away, and his hand down to his lap, putting both his hands together with his fingers laced.

“From the fallout, that didn't look like a hostile takeover. More…” His fingers grew white as he gripped them together in realization. “Someone tried taking something that wasn't rightfully his and suffered the consequences of a strong woman who doesn't appreciate a misogynist asshole.”

There was some vitriol there. He knew the name, if not the man. He had a reputation. Wine and dine self-made women, gain their trust, take over their companies.

He pulled his hands apart and held them up in front of him, fingers outstretched, apart, backs to him. This was all so very new to him.

Summer said nothing. She couldn't. Ever since Caldwell Accounting had become more than a tax-season company, Flannery had been relentless. Her face grew pinched as Kaine realized what was going on.

Connect more dots…she pleaded mentally. It went so much further. Summer was always able to foil his advances, but this wasn't the worst. When she'd backed the restaurant she'd attended the ribbon cutting on crutches, a cast on her leg.

“A man who attempts to control a woman through violence…” He hands flexed involuntarily, almost balling up, then he placed them on his knees. Somewhere for him to keep them from showing his mindset. “Is no man at all.”

The only time he'd ever struck someone was at university, defending a friend from an abusive boyfriend. Dear god did his knuckles hurt after that!

“We're here, sir.”

“Big Mac, you said?”

He was so tense and Summer felt so relaxed on him. Share my relaxation. This is peaceful. Don't you think? Her fingers reached up and touched lightly along his face, her breath audible but soft as though subconsciously telling him to breathe.

“Big Mac please.” She said quietly, turning her face and surprising herself by kissing his cheek before she settled back on his shoulder, her fingers finding his and tangling in them.

Her touch on his cheek brought him back to her, and brought back his smile. Slight, but he was happy when he thought of her.

He brought the window down so he could order.

[Peanuts teacher noises] “Big Mac meal, quarter pounder with cheese and bacon meal, no pickle, both Coke's, one McFlurry with M&Ms, one with Oreo.” [More Peanuts teacher noises] “No, thank you.”
The car moved to the window where he paid, and they waited for the food.

“It's not sushi at an expensive restaurant, but at least I get to share a meal with you.” There's that smile as he looked down on her.

Summer's phone buzzed and while they waited for the food and she checked it.

SUMMER ROSE CALDWELL! YOU'RE IN BIG TROUBLE! No, I'm kidding but word has it you and Kaine Hayden were scene leaving a certain club last week. Be careful.

She frowned.

What I do with my free time is not your concern, Winter Yew. I will see whom I please, love whom I please and if you want your spring tuition paid, you'll worry more about your GPA and less about my love life.

She tucked her phone away the second he began to speak and looked up at him. She smiled too, nodding. “It could be a hot dog from a street cart and I would still enjoy it. I like being with you.”

He noticed the frown as she was reading her phone, and while he was curious, he didn't pry. Her phone, her life, her business. Not quite close enough to push.

“If only I'd known, I could have saved my pennies!” He laughed, his smile was broad, his eyes twinkled. He was actually happy. While he joked and made innuendoes, it was all a façade of a tortured soul. He'd never found anything that made him happy, made him open up into the man he could have become so many years ago but had been crushed by his father's dream for him.

All this? She brought it out in him. She made him happy. She made him smile, and laugh, and joke for a reason that wasn't hiding from the world. He liked the man he was around her.

He didn't have to ask. They'd yet to sit down and hash out every rule, but Summer had nothing to hide. She waggled her phone a little. “My little sister, Winter Yew. I'm…putting her through university so long as she maintains her grades and volunteers among the less fortunate. She might not remember. But I do. She said we were seen leaving that club last week. I told her that I, Summer R. Caldwell, will see whom I please and love whom I please.”

She peered up at him and caught the look on his face. Oh…ohhh he was so happy and it made her heart pound. “Next time save your pennies…come to my place, and I'll cook for us…” She breathed, her face alight with joy to see the happiness he brought her….written in his face.

Kaine shook his head slightly. “Family can be such a burden.” His father, how he was dragged into this world. It still stuck in his mind. “I grew up with two cousins, but I'm an only child. I… Didn't get to finish university before my father's death dragged me out of my psychology course at Oxford.”

“Besides. People love a good scandal. It makes people like me… Relatable to the common clay.” He laughed. It might sound callous and cold, but it wasn't intended as such. It was something he'd heard in a movie and had tickled his humor.

He turned to face her with her invite to food, even one eyebrow raised. “Oh? There's always dinner. I have no plans that can't be changed.”

Summer looked at him and shook her head. “No, no. Winter…isn't a burden. I make her contribute to society and in exchange, I help her pay tuition so she can get her degree. It's. I remember being broke. I remember what hunger felt like as a child. It's why I financed the restaurant.”

She looked at her hands and felt her heart seize. Oh. Scandal indeed. Kaine Hayden was born on top. Summer Caldwell had fought and clawed her way to…wherever she was on the ladder. There was no world in which it would ever be anything less than a scandal if old money got with the woman who dared.

“Tonight? I didn't have any plans…I'll have to see..if…” He'd hate her house. It was large and comfortable but it would still probably seem so small to him. She felt like she was clawing for air, but on the outside, she was calm as a placid lake.

He'd never love the likes of her. She was…a passing fancy.

“It's… Good… That you get on with your family. I never knew mine. Well… Aunt and uncle, cousins. I guess they were good people. That was… Long ago.” To him, it was another life entirely.

He'd been published in magazines. He'd had a full page spread with his tattoo. There was an unwritten agreement that nobody would buy pictures of him from the paparazzi. That meant they didn't bother taking his picture. He carefully controlled his public image. Sure, people knew he was a man of certain tastes, but he didn't flaunt it. If someone saw them leaving that club? It didn't matter, people knew already. He was more worried about her reputation. Apparently, her sister knew, who else did?

“Have to see if… What? You can always come to mine and cook there if you're not sure you have anything to serve?”

She swallowed and looked up at him, then took a deep breath in. “Well…I've been too busy to clean it up. It's not filthy or even remotely messy…you can just…tell…someone just….existed there. And didn't live.”

No secrets. Tell him so he can bail. No secrets. “I get…very bad depression in the winter. I clean but I just…exist. All of my energy goes to the people I take care of…and that helps me keep going. You can come over if you want, I'd just like a day to clean it and make sure it's fit to have you visit.”

All those people Summer Caldwell took care of….who took care of her ?

His other eyebrow raised. That meant both eyebrows were raised, almost in shock. “Sounds like you need someone to look after you. Tell you what. You're coming to mine tonight. I'll have Giles pick you up, from home, pack an overnight bag. And Summer?”

He paused for a moment to allow her a chance to swallow what she had in her mouth, but not to speak.

“Bring the sexy version of that outfit.” The smile. The twinkle. The outfit that she put in his mind, on purpose, when she claimed his lap that first time.

She listened when she was told she'd be spending the night at Kaine's, then she chewed and swallowed before parting her lips to speak. She didn't have a chance.

Bring the sexy version of that outfit.

“Any outfit I wear is the sexy version.” She retorted with a grin.

He was about to take a sip from his Coke but was glad he'd paused before she spoke. That would have resulted in his drink being expelled from his nose, not something he wanted her to see, but as it was it resulted in a snort and his lips curling in on themselves as he maintained his composure.

“Mmhmm.” Quick, think. Snappy retort. Witty comeback. Rapid riposte? “Of course it is. It's hard… For it not to be, given the contents of the wrapping.” Weak. She's getting to you, Kaine. Bring the dance back to you.

She wasn't always sure what Kaine wanted from her. Sometimes she got the feeling she made him very happy and other times she wondered why he was even spending time with her, the way he spoke about those who weren't born with silver spoons made her heartache…because she was one of them. But she said nothing.

And then he…retorted to her comeback…with a compliment. What?

“Can't you just admit you want me more than I think you do?” She murmured quietly as she was dropped off at her home. “This dance is confusing, and sometimes it makes my heart hurt.” She opened the car and got out on her own, back straight, heels clicking the sidewalk. There was a surgery scar on the back of her leg. The leg that had been in a cast at the ribbon cutting.

He reached up to pinch the bridge of his nose. This was frustrating him. He wasn't used to the feelings, the emotions, the whole struggle to figure out what to do based on them.

He dived out of the car and followed her. No, he chased her until he caught up, placed his hand on her shoulder, and turned her to face him, placing both his hands on her shoulders. He'd seen the scar on her leg, but he had more important things on his mind. At least, that's what he told himself.

“You ask me to admit something, then run away before I can answer. You're scared. Here's something you don't know about me. I haven't felt anything since the day I took over my father's company. Eight years. There is one thing in my life, right now, that stops me being a cold, callous, unfeeling man. That scares me.” He couldn't say it. He wanted to tell her. He needed her to connect the dots.

Her hands went to his waist, her eyes locked on his. So many things she could have retorted with.

Summer was sensual, flirty with him, engaging in banter. But she didn't play games. She didn't even try to deny she was scared.

“Okay so if you scare me for reasons and I scare you because I make you -feel-…”

She looked up at him. “Why not be scared together?” She asked.

She said what he couldn't. Asked the question he couldn't. Gave him the chance he couldn't give himself.

“I…” His voice caught in his throat. He was suddenly that young man who couldn't turn down his father's last request. Scared, alone, wishing to curl up and hide. Only, he was 8 years older, a ruthless businessman no-one messed with, standing in the middle of the street with a beautiful self-made businesswoman who gave as good as she got.

“I…” It caught again. He swallowed. His eyes closed, all pretense of a smile disappeared from his face as he struggled to get the words to come out. His head drooped.

“I…” He was so flustered. All he needed to do was say one simple thing. One little agreement. All it took was for him to say…

“Please…” Oh so very quiet. “Yes.” And squeaked.

She held him. While he grappled with his fear, she held him.
While is caught again, she held him.
Please. Yes.

“Smile for me, Kaine. Smile for me and we can be scared together. I already agreed to let you have control but I think I want to try and give you my heart too.”

“Please smile.”

He opened his eyes. He lifted his head. He stared intensely at her. It took him a few moments for the next part to happen, but he smiled. His lips started to quirk up, a mockery of his usual smile. Barely there. But they slowly, surely, kept moving up into something approaching the normal smile that he gave her. It was still a little pale, but it was there.

Then he nodded. Normally it was a tiny gesture, small, controlled, insignificant. This time it was almost emphatic. Of course, emphatic for him was still normal for anyone else.

Summer relaxed and nodded. She reached up and gently touched his cheek. And then took a deep breath. “I will go inside and get my things. It won't take long. You…are welcome to come in and see for yourself.” She said, her voice catching. Summer never let anyone in her home until the worst of the depression abated each winter. To let him in when she was still grappling with it?

She trusted him.

Even as he tried to speak his agreement his voice caught in his throat. When he was so in control of the rest of his life, why was this causing him so many problems? He simply nodded and agreed to see this snapshot of her life. He wanted to see all that she was. This would just be the beginning.

He trusted… Nobody Her.

Next: Heart of Darkness