Page 16 of The Square Up

My insides melt at his romantic words. A ray of sunlight catches the diamond sitting on my finger, and a tear slips down my cheek.

I love Kade.

Kade is the man I never knew I wanted and certainly never thought I’d have. For the past week, we’ve spent every moment together, and now, I can’t imagine my life without him.

He makes me feel special, safe, and treasured. He always puts my pleasure before his own, and he follows through when he says he’s going to do something.

He’s perfect for me.

I pin his note to the bottom of my computer and lean back in my chair, grinning from ear to ear.

“Where have you been?” My executive assistant, Cassidy, walks into the office carrying two cups of coffee. “I missed you.”

“Impromptu vacation.” I take my coffee from her hand. “I missed you, too.”

“Wait!” She shrieks. “What is that?”

“What?” I freeze. “What are you talking about?”

“That!” She sets her cup down, running around the desk. “That’s a diamond! A huge diamond!”

“Oh, this?” I wiggle my fingers in the air. “It’s a ring.”

“I know it’s a ring!” She jumps up and down. “But that’s not any ring; it’s an engagement ring!”

“It is.” I gush.

“You secret keeper, you!” She sits on the corner of my desk. “Spill the tea right now.”

I chew the inside of my cheek, nervous yet bursting with excitement to share my good fortune. Last night, Kade and I decided to go public with our engagement. Sometimes, I feel like I have to pinch myself! What began as a ruse has transformed into something deeper, and now we’re both ready to see what fate has in store for us.

“You won’t believe me when I tell you who he is.” I giggle.

“So, does that mean I know this man?”

“You do.” I sit forward.

“Girl, now that I’m really looking at you, you’re radiant. Who is the man that stole your heart?”

“Kade Nash.” I sigh.

Cassidy stares at me in complete shock.

“Cat got your tongue?” I ask.

“Kade Nash, as intheKade Nash, the center for the Portland Skyhawks? Your client?” She squeaks.

“The one and the same.” I take a sip of my coffee.

“Please don’t take this the wrong way…” Cassidy moves to sit in the chair in front of my desk. “But have you lost your damn mind? He’s a player. And I’m not talking about the game of basketball.”

“Trust me, Cassidy, you can’t believe everything you read online or in the papers. Kade is amazing.”

“But he’s a client.”

“He is. And I’m his agent and now his fiancée. There are no rules against falling in love with a client.”

“Alright, but what about the fact that he’s known for being a womanizer? I mean, he’s eye candy for sure, probably talented between the sheets, but that’s not marriage material. You deserve a man who’s going to adore you, be faithful to you, and love you always and forever.” Cassidy pouts. “I don’t think he can be that for you.”

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