Hero(28)

When he didn’t respond I looked back up at him.

Caine was grinning. “You’re having an off day?”

He must have known the effect he could have on a woman when he did the whole smoldering thing. Sexy jackass. “I’m just tired after all the errand running I did around town today.”

“If that tired you out we need to get your stamina up. You should have been in the gym with me and Henry.”

I wrinkled my nose. “Um, no. The gym and I parted ways a long time ago. I’m in a relationship with Pilates and we’re very happy together.”

“Dancing,” Effie said, “now, that’s exercise and it’s fun. I’ve never seen the attraction in sitting in some smelly gym lifting weights.”

“Hear, hear,” I muttered.

“And then of course there’s sex. Lots and lots of sex.”

Caine’s fork clattered to his plate. He looked vaguely ill.

The snort I was trying to hold back bubbled up out of me and then Effie started cackling with laughter. It was infectious. I couldn’t stop my own from joining hers.

Caine looked from her to me, his lips pinched together. Finally he settled his irritation on me. “I will eat all of the lemon meringue pie,” he warned.

The thought cut off my laughter. “You can’t. Effie won’t let you.”

“Christ.” He shook his head. “You’re on a first-name basis? I’m f*cked.”

Effie chuckled, wiping tears from the corners of her eyes. “Let me go get that pie.”

His eyes followed her as she disappeared into the kitchen and then he turned his attention to me. He leaned across the table and lowered his voice. “Look, I’m not sure I like you spending time with Effie. She’s like family to me. I don’t want my business life mixing with my personal.”

Some might call me stupid to make myself vulnerable to Caine, but I’d just had one of the best afternoons in a really long time and that was because of Effie. I didn’t want to lose that just when I’d found it. “I really like her,” I said quietly. “I can talk to her.”

Caine’s eyebrows drew together, but not in annoyance. There was curiosity in him. Finally he made me feel less stupid about my honesty. “Okay. Just no talking about me.”

I smiled and crossed my fingers under the table. “Deal.”


By the time we’d finished the most delicious lemon meringue pie I’d ever tasted in my life and Caine stood up to clear the table and load the dishwasher, I’d lost count of the many times he’d surprised me that night.

“Effie, you’re running out of detergent for the dishwasher,” Caine called through to us. This was followed up a few seconds later with “And milk. And eggs.”

“I used the last up on the pie,” she called back before taking a sip of the fresh tea she’d brewed.

“I’ll run out tomorrow morning and get you some more. Do you need anything else?”

My jaw practically hit the table.

Effie chuckled at me. “I’m in the mood for an omelet tomorrow. Can you get me some cheese, red and green peppers, and spring onions?”

“Just write down what you need and I’ll get it,” he said, wandering back over to us.

I was choking on my words.

Caine took one look at me and his eyes glinted with mischief.

I stood up abruptly. “I’m going to leave now.” Before I commit homicide!

He grinned evilly as Effie stood up, still laughing.

“It was lovely having you, Lexie. You sure are fun.”

Ignoring the devil, I looked at my wisecracking angel. “Thanks, Effie. I had a wonderful time. I hope we can do it again sometime.”

“Oh, sweetie, you come by anytime you want.” She rounded the table and enfolded me in a surprisingly strong hug.

“I’ll walk you to your car,” Caine said as Effie pulled back.

“You don’t have to,” I said, still pissed at him for making me do shit he was perfectly capable of doing himself and clearly was used to doing for himself.

“Alexa.” He used the old familiar warning tone. “You knew what the job was when you took it.”

And wasn’t that the truth? I exhaled heavily, trying to let go of my annoyance. I nodded and then gave Effie a small wave, grabbed my bag, and followed Caine to the door.

We were silent as we stepped into the elevator. Caine pressed the button for the underground parking garage.