Page 70 of Striking Heat

“Well, this is unexpected,” he says in a way of greeting.

“You said I could call,” I remind him.

“Yeah, I know. I just figured you would wait a little longer. Or did you need me that bad?”

“Oh, wow, your ego is just ridiculous,” I say with a laugh. “I just wanted to call and let you know that we haven’t been caught by Cassie, but she’s onto us.”

He sighs. “I guess we’re not as good at this as we thought, huh?”

“No, I guess not,” I reply. “What does it mean for us if we’re caught? How much trouble will you be in?”

“I don’t know. I’m not sure what will happen to you or me, but I’m guessing there’s a chance I will be fired. I’m not sure what Cromwell would do to you. I can just take the blame for it. Tell him I seduced you or something. Or make it off like it was a one-time thing.”

“The one-time thing may be our best bet when this gets out,” I tell him.

“Why are you sayingwhenthis gets out?”

“Because if Nick knows and if Cassie is onto us, we’re going to get found out sooner rather than later. We’re not being as careful as we think we are.” I look at the clock. “I should go. I have to get ready for a run with Cassie in a bit, and I need some food beforehand.”

“I’m at the diner,” he tells me.

I smile. “Enjoy. Eat an egg white omelet for me or something.”

Danny laughs. “Yeah, not happening. I just put away some waffles with fruit on them. No syrup, though, so that makes it healthy.”

I laugh along with him. “Sure, it does, baby.”

“I like it when you call me baby. I like being able to call you baby too. I don’t want this to mean that I can’t anymore.”

“Yeah, me too,” I say to him.

“Go get ready for your run. And if you get bored at all, give me a call.”

“I will.”

But I don’t. I don’t call him at all that weekend. We exchange a few text messages, but I keep my distance, hoping it keeps anyone from figuring out that something is going on between us. Besides, he said he would interview me on the plane. We can spend time together then, and hopefully it will put any rumors or suspicions to rest that something is happening between us.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

~MAC~

Another travel day, and this time I have to sit beside Danny the whole way to Washington DC. It’s not a long plane ride, but it’s enough that he can ask me some questions. We’re wearing our travel suits for this again, so we look nice. Not that anyone in the airport is really paying any attention to us.

“I haven’t seen you in a while and that is bothering me,” a low voice behind me says.

“I’ve been busy,” I tell him, looking over my shoulder to see Danny in a navy-blue Blaze sweatshirt and a pair of joggers. “Who spiffed you up?”

“August. Thought maybe if I was traveling with you guys, I should at least look the part,” he says with a shrug.

“It looks good on you. Navy is definitely your color. Although if I were August, I would have given you the bright yellow. Make sure you really stand out. You know, since you like that so much.”

“Funny. Yeah, I really like it when I stand out.” He bumps his shoulder with mine. “Have you really been that busy, or is it that people getting suspicious is starting to get to you?”

“Miss me, huh?”

“Something like that.” He rocks on his heels.

“Uh-huh. Are you being vague on purpose so that I don’t actually start to believe that you like hanging around me?”