Cade’s expression hardened. “What makes you say that?”
I pressed my lips together, choosing my words carefully.
“Because when you do find the woman you want to spend the rest of your life with, you’ll want to share the story of how you met because it changed your life. You’ll want to write her a love letter and hold her hand,” I said gently. “And you’ll have a meaningful proposal story. Not some line in a portfolio about how you ‘mutually agreed that marriage is the next logical step.’”
Cade’s gaze turned frosty, actually dropping the temperature in the room and giving me goose bumps. “Let’s save the therapy sessions for that fraud my brother hired.”
“Speaking of Harrison…” I chewed on my lip. “What happens when he learns we aren’t getting married?”
“It won’t matter,” Cade said, not sounding worried at all. “By now, he’ll have called our mother to tell her the big news—he won’t be able to help himself, especially since I told him not to tell anyone—and our mother will call our grandfather. Once he learns I’m taking time off and focusing on life outside of work, my grandfather will have no choice but to promote me.”
I blinked, because I’d never heard of a family dynamic quite like that before.
Whiskey rose from his pillow and padded over to me. He swatted at the ball of yarn until I set my crocheting aside, then he took its spot on my lap.
“Does your vision of the future include a family?” I asked, scratching under Whiskey’s chin and sneaking a look at Cade. “Like a real fiancée? Kids?”
“Does it matter?” he asked.
I shrugged. “I’m just curious. You’re clearly driven in your career. And you’re successful.Verysuccessful. Like, you offered me a mind-boggling amount of money to do this. It paints a pretty picture of what your life must be like. Do you have any interest in adding a family to that picture?”
He barely paused before answering. “I’ve gotten this far because I don’t allow distractions.Anydistractions. Once I reach the top, then I might think about those things.”
I felt a pang of guilt for even asking. Marriage and children weren’t for everyone, and it really wasn’t fair of Cade’s grandfather to base a promotion on something his grandson didn’t even want.
Clearly finished with our conversation, Cade shut his laptop and carried it into the closet. He stayed in there for a while—long enough for me to wonder if he would come back out. When I heard the faint clicking of keys, my lips parted.
He’d gone in there to work.
In acloset.
I gave Whiskey a massage and murmured soft praises, until Cade reappeared an hour later in grey sweatpants and a mysterious lack of a shirt.
I almost swallowed my tongue.
“Um, don’t you have any pajamas?” I asked, trying not to stare at the very smooth and toned chest on display.
Cade rubbed his bare shoulder with a frown, and the move flexed muscles that had no business being that defined. “Why?”
I abruptly averted my gaze and motioned to my unicorn onesie. “It’s part of the Cuddle Code. All individuals must be fully clothed during sessions.”
Maybe it sounded like a lame excuse, but I took the Cuddle Code seriously.
Cade let out a low chuckle. “I must’ve left all my animal outfits back in Westport.”
I fought down a smile. “Well, that’s a shame. How about a T-shirt?”
He disappeared back into the closet. “I should have a few old ones in here.”
When he strolled back out in a navy blue T-shirt with some college logo on the front, I breathed a sigh of relief.
A slow smirk spread across Cade’s face.
“Better?” he asked.
“Much,” I answered honestly.
He flicked off the lights and joined me in bed, so I lifted Whiskey off my lap and gave his head a kiss before he returned to his pillow throne.