Page 327 of The Christmas Wife

"Shouldn’t it… I mean… Shouldn’t it be the other way around…?" Abby chews on her lower lip, and I notice my brother’s shoulders tense. His gaze is fixed on her mouth, and there’s a look of something I can only define as lust in his eyes. Talk about TMI.

I clear my throat, and my brother seems to snap out of his reverie.

"Who am I coming to visit, hmm?" He addresses his question to Abby.

"You’re coming to visit Zara." She frowns.

"Who is…?"

"Your sister?" she replies hesitantly.

"And?"

"Uh, she’s very much a feminist, a strong woman, ah—" Her brow clears. "I get it now. You were making a statement that you knew she’d approve of."

My brother smirks. "You’re smarter than you look."

Abby’s lips firms. "And you’re not as dumb as you look, either."

My brother blinks. "Dumb? Did you just call me dumb?"

"You know what they say, when you have a good-looking face, chances are good, there’s nothing between the ears."

Cade’s jaw hangs open, then he chuckles. "Very good."

"You talk as if you didn’t think I could hold my own in a conversation." Abby huffs.

"Oh, I’m sure you can. If not, my sister wouldn’t have hired you."

"I took her on because Abby showed a lot of potential. In fact—"I turn to Abby. "I see something of me in you."

Abby’s features light up. "You do?"

I nod. "You have the same hunger, the need to prove yourself. That thirst for success that pushes you to try harder, to go that extra mile?—"

"Which is why I think you’ll be perfect for the role of my new Communications Manager," Cade steps in smoothly.

Abby jerks her chin in his direction. "Wh-what do you mean?"

"I need help managing my social media profiles, as well as my PR, and you heard my sister, you’re among the best on her team. So, I’ve decided you can come work for me.”

Abby stiffens. She folds her arms across her chest, mirroring Cade’s earlier body language. "And if I refuse?"

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