Settling into the guest chair, she crossed her legs and brushed something from her skirt. “Take your time,” she said, refusing to look at him. “I’ll wait.”
Aiden skimmed the cover letter, then flipped to the price list, and finally, to the contract. In reality, he’d stopped reading with comprehension a few pages ago. But he drew out their time together, not ready to be apart from her just yet, and because Sadie was gorgeous when her hackles were up.
The few dates he and Sadie had been on last summer, Aiden had been lucky enough to see her iron curtain drop. Seeing the woman behind it left him speechless, as if he was witnessing something rare and precious. Sadie may have an exterior made of Naugahyde, but inside, she was pudding.
He closed the folder and found Sadie watching him, waggling one dangerous-looking stiletto back and forth. “Well?”
He almost blurted, Let’s talk it about it over drinks, but bit his tongue. Then again…why not? They knew each other, had things in common. His cousin and her best friend were husband and wife. Not to mention Sadie looked like a woman who could use a drink. Plus, it’d be fun to mess with her. Just a little. Just one more time.
Aiden closed the cover on the proposal. “I’ll sign it.” Sadie’s shoulders dropped an inch. He told himself to stop there, not to say another word. But in the end he couldn’t help but add, “Under one condition.”
Sadie tensed.
Aiden smiled. “Go out on a date with me.”
* * *
Of all the—!
If Aiden thought he could—!
“Argh!” Sadie stomped into the hall, peeking into each room along the way, looking for Axle, her heels clacking in distressed rhythm.
“Sadie,” Aiden said again. He was right behind her. She ignored him. What was he thinking? That he’d take all of her hard work, years of effort, wad them up, and toss them in her face? Aiden may not take the job his daddy got him seriously, but Sadie was different. She took pride in going after her goals, in getting what she wanted. And what she wanted was Axle Zoller’s parts contract.
Angling toward the showroom, she spotted Axle standing over a vintage Harley-Davidson, talking to a customer. Sadie walked faster.
“Sadie!” Aiden whispered this time, as loudly as he could without drawing attention. A few people turned in their direction and Sadie shot them a nothing-to-see-here smile. Just as she was about to tap Axle’s shoulder, a hand clapped onto her arm and whirled her around.
Aiden held his palms up in an I surrender pose. “I was kidding, Sadie.” He was still whispering. “I swear.”
“Kidding?” Sadie gave him a derisive smile. “I see. You think my career is a joke.”
“I don’t think that.” Aiden’s eyes went from her to Axle. “So, what, you’re going to tell on me?”
She glanced over at Axle, then back at Aiden. “I think he should know that you’re trying to coerce—”
“Everything okay?” Axle rumbled, his tone a warning.
Aiden crossed his arms. Smiled smugly. Yeah. She was going to tell on him. She turned to smile at Axle. Salt and pepper eyebrows were drawn over gray eyes, the corners of his moustache accentuating an unseen frown.
His face was so foreboding, Sadie actually backed up a step. She bumped into Aiden, who grasped her waist, stopping her short of stepping on his feet. Ignoring the heat seeping through the cotton of her shirt, Sadie muttered, “Knucklehead.”
“Hey—”
“The bike, not you,” she grumbled to Aiden, moving away from him.
Axle’s expression eased. “Yes, ma’am. 1940 EL 1000 Knucklehead, to be precise.”
Sadie smiled up at him. “I know my hogs.” She also knew a good diversion tactic when she saw one. Get a man talking about what he loved, and he’d forget he was ever upset. And while she was at it…
“By the way…” Sadie placed a hand on Aiden’s arm then nearly forgot what she was going to say. His skin was warm, muscle thicker than she remembered. She removed her hand. “Um. Everything’s a go. Aiden is one shrewd deal maker.” Aiden clenched his jaw and she gave him a sweet smile. “Midwest is officially your new parts supplier.”
“Great,” Axle said, not sounding as if he meant it. He sent a glance at the customer to his right. “Is that all?”
“Yes.” Sadie could take a hint. “I’m just…very excited.”
“Yippee,” Axle said flatly.
Sadie’s good mood faded the moment she set foot inside her cubicle at work. Perry Bradford hovered over her in-box, rifling through her papers. “Excuse me.”