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“That’s some trick, Casildo. Reducing women to gooey puddles.”

“Hunt told me years ago, I’ve got lucky genes.”

She snorted.

“Are you trying to distract me from my question?” He added sugar to his black coffee.

“I want to get experience managing a larger team.”

“From all accounts, your current team regularly sings your praises.”

Her eyebrows lifted to her fringe.

“C’mon, you know our industry lives on gossip.”

“I didn’t think you listened,” she said.

“Did you just pay me a compliment?” He grinned.

Beatriz was good for his ego.

Cas covered her free hand with his, absorbing the texture of her skin—like satin. Yet her hand slapping the textbook against his chest yesterday had revealed the strong backbone behind her softness. Her contrasts fascinated him.

“I may have called one or two people this morning. In the interests of suggesting that other agencies have noticed that you’re a highly desirable employee.”

“Careful.” She stared pointedly at his hand. “Are you suggesting a personal or a professional interest?”

“I’m muddying the waters.” He withdrew his hand—slowly, until two fingertips touched hers. “You want experience with a bigger team. So, you might be considering a move to another company to get that. Although moving to the opposition seems out of character. You’re loyal. Everyone knows you love TBR.”

“A gal has a right to change her mind.”

“Especially if she’s overlooked for promotion in favour of a barbarian. A fairly recently arrived barbarian.”

“I want to establish my own company. In time.” She glanced over her shoulder to make sure no one was within earshot.

“You’re looking conspiratorial, but I got that message Saturday, despite your attempt at flippancy.” Cas hadn’t sensed any last-chance desperado in her story. Her idea was sound, but it was a competitive market, and she’d need financial backup to start on her own, or at the very least some savings.

Hell, I’m absorbing some of the crap from those textbooks.

“You listened.”

“Occupational hazard, when you work in an ideas factory,” he said. “You listen, you try to work out what they’re really saying, then you navigate an artistic outcome.”

Beatriz’s problem was different. This morning must have been worse than she’d anticipated, because the longing in her voice was stronger now.

“I’m ready for a new challenge.”

“And your boss is feeding you more of the same?”

Overlooking her for promotion was inexplicable unless her boss had started taking her reliability and dedication for granted. Unforgivable in any relationship. The guy needed his head read, or someone to remind him that Beatriz was a very poachable employee.

“Yes.”

“He might reconsider his position when news of this meeting gets out.”

“Or he might think I’m being unnecessarily provocative by meeting you in a TBR patronised café.”

Cas shrugged. “You’re on a twenty-minute break.” He walked his fingers back up to cover her hand again, craving the contact. “Your boss has been blind and disloyal. And we need to muddy the waters some more. Why don’t you lean a bit further forward and kiss me?”