Page 21 of The Confidentiality Clause
“What?”
“You seem to be asking for clarification a lot today. Either you aren’t listening, or you have a hearing problem from talking on your phone too much.”
“That’s not a thing.” I glance over just in time to catch him raking a hand through his hair. “And I’m only asking you to repeat yourself because what’s happening is utterly ridiculous.”
“A weekend trip to a cabin in Asheville is hardly ridiculous. I’m sure many people who live in Charlotte go often.” I know I should try not to be annoying on top of abducting him, but it’s difficult. He’s so…him.
“I don’t have any clothes to stay for a weekend. Or shampoo or toothpaste or–”
“You’re filthy rich. You can buy a couple things to get through.”
He gapes at me. “Please tell me you’re joking.”
“Yes, I drove an hour and a half away from Charlotte as ajoke.” I shake my head. “I own a cabin in Asheville that I rent out. There’s wifi there, so you can still work. I think you should take a break, but since I know you, I won’t expect it.”
“What’s the catch?”
“There’s no catch. We stay in the cabin. You work while I have fun. Then we come back home.”
He crosses his arms over his chest. It’s silent for a moment while he thinks.
“What about my medicine?” he asks, his tone sounding like he thinks he caught me.
“Did you know all you need to get a refill is someone’s name and birthday? I saw the pharmacy you used on the bottle. The pills are in my bag. You owe me twelve bucks.”
“You’re insane.”
“I preferinnovativeas my adjective of choice.” I smile. He does not. “So, are we good, or are you jumping out of my car?”
He lets out a long sigh. “I guess it can’t hurt anything.”
I breathe a little easier. The hardest part is over. He’s not mad or anxious, just caught off guard. I can deal with that.
“You know, you’ve asked me for feet pics and have now kidnapped me. This whole thing sounds like you have a crush on me and are enacting an elaborate scheme to force me to fall in love with you.”
I roll my eyes. “If that’s what makes you fall in love, I’m quite sure I want nothing to do with you.”
“What am I supposed to think when you’re taking me to a secluded cabin in the woods?”
I shrug. “I’d think of murder before love, but that’s just me.”
He laughs and I bite the inside of my cheek to hold back a smile.
“So, we’re staying in the same cabin? By ourselves?”
I cut my eyes to him. There’s a smirk on his lips that I don’t like.
“Yes, there aremultiplerooms.”
“Of course, I wouldn’t have thought otherwise.” There’s a teasing lilt in his voice. “Is there a hot tub?”
“Yes,” I answer carefully. A lot of mountain cabins have hot tubs overlooking a scenic view, mine is no different. I’ve spent many nights relaxing beneath the stars.
“Just one?” he asks, that stupid smirk still on his face.
“Obviously.”
“What a shame,” he hums. “Guess we’ll have to share.”
