It’s a good thing that I already had a private driver parked outside Caitlin’s florist shop and that she only lives fifteen minutes away from the school; otherwise we would have been very late. As it was, Caitlin practically leaps out of the car as soon as it glides to a halt.

I follow at a more reasonable pace and go to stand beside Caitlin, who is bouncing on the balls of her feet while she waits for my driver, Findlay, to open the trunk.

“We should have waited until after this thing before talking about that damned contract,” she hisses, half under her breath, as she bends into the trunk and pulls out the first of the three boxes with flowers in it.

I can’t tell if she’s talking to me or to herself. Personally, I’m glad we got the contract out of the way. Seeing both of our signatures lifted an enormous weight off my chest, leaving me free to do other things, like appreciate the way Caitlin’s sweater dress hugs her sweet ass as she bends over the back of my town car.

She turns and shoves the box full of vases and flowers into my arms before picking up another box, which she hugs against her chest. She glances over her shoulder at Findlay. “Do you mind bringing the last box in, please? We’re running late.”

Findlay meets my eyes. Normally, he stays with the car whenever he drives me somewhere. It’s the best way to make sure the vehicle doesn’t get stolen, and to also ensure that as soon as I want it, the car is ready to go. Willing to make an exception this one time, I nod my permission and Findlay picks up the remaining box.

Side by side, we follow Caitlin into the school.

She leads us down a wide yellow hallway that contains lockers and numerous childish drawings to a large auditorium where several tables have been set up.

“Caitlin.” A tall woman approaches in a black sweater, flowing black skirt, and wearing her steel grey hair swept back in a tight bun.

“Evelyn.” Caitlin and the woman exchange a quick hug.

The woman draws back and flicks a worried glance in the direction we’ve just come from. “I don’t suppose you’ve heard from Sheila, have you?”

“Sheila Murdoch?” Caitlin raises a brow. “No. Why?”

“She was supposed to be here an hour ago to help make sure things are ready,” Evelyn says. “But so far, I haven’t seen hide nor hair of her.”

“That doesn’t sound like Sheila,” Caitlin says. “She’s usually a paragon of punctuality.”

“That’s why I’m worried. Her boy’s been having some health problems which have been running her ragged. I’m hoping she just fell asleep and forgot to set her alarm, and that she didn’t have to take him to the hospital again. If I don’t see or hear from her before this shindig ends, I’ll go over to her place and check up on her. Meanwhile, do you mind taking her place and serving as a greeter when people get here? I know it’s not your duty, but I just don’t have enough people to go around, and –”

“I’m happy to help,” Caitlin says. She gestures at the box she’s placed on the table. “But I need to get the flowers set up.”

“Oh.” Evelyn removes one of the blue plastic vases full of flowers from the box and clucks over it. “Lovely, as usual, Caitlin. You truly have a knack for flower arrangements.”

Caitlin’s green eyes catch mine. Humor sparkles in them. Neither of us is going to tell the woman that this time, Caitlin had help from a complete flower-arrangement novice.

The woman places the arrangement in the center of the closest table and looks at the boxes in Findlay’s and my arms. She nods sagely. “It’s about time that Caitlin got around to hiring some helpers for these kinds of things. She practically runs herself ragged trying to do everything by herself.”

Findlay and I exchange amused looks. I’m the president of Caldwell Industries, and he’s a highly trained bodyguard and defensive driving expert. Not the kind of people who are commonly mistaken as “helpers.”

The woman points to the boxes. “Now hurry up. The students and their parents will be arriving any minute and we want this place to look perfect.”

Unable to think of a convincing excuse to get out of the errand, Findlay and I weave our way through the tables, carefully placing a vase of flowers in the center of each one. The entire time, I keep sneaking glances at Caitlin.

“Mr. Caldwell, are you feeling all right?” Findlay’s voice redirects my attention from Caitlin to my driver.

“Yeah,” I tell him. “Why do you ask?”

He shrugs. “I don’t really know. You just seem distracted. And you can’t seem to stop smiling. Plus, you and I are putting out flowers, something I never thought you’d do. I just wondered if there was something wrong that I should know about.”

For a brief, shining second, I consider telling him the truth, that as soon as Caitlin and I get a license, we’re getting married and starting a family, but I hold back.

Findlay has been my driver two years and earned Ben’s security seal of approval, meaning I should be able to trust him, but ever since we entered this school, thoughts of Evan have been foremost on my mind, making me too nervous to trust anyone.

Somehow, in the few days I’ve known her, Caitlin has become important to me, and it’s not just because she has agreed to become the mother of my child and help me gain controlling interest in Caldwell Industries. The need goes deeper than that. And while I don’t understand it, I do know that she’s precious to me and that if Evan ever finds out, he’ll find some way to use her against me, and I can’t allow that, which means I can’t trust anyone.

The banquet/party is a Grade A success. The whole reason I came was because Caitlin was going to be here, and I’m compelled to spend as much time with her as I can manage, but I never expected to enjoy myself. Yet that’s exactly what happened.

The kids are fantastic. They’re cheerful and obviously very comfortable. Some of the more vocal and outgoing ones spend a lot of time entertaining me, especially one blue-eyed, sandy-haired young man who’s telling me more dirty jokes than a teen his age should even know. He also lets me pet his big golden retriever service dog, Helium, who keeps him safe whenever he has a seizure.

A few of the parents shoot me knowing looks, clearly recognizing me, but giving me a wide berth, allowing me the privacy and space needed to relax and enjoy myself. They probably assume I’m here to determine if the school is something Caldwell Industries should include on the list of non-profit organizations we give grants to. And they aren’t wrong. After seeing the good work this place is doing, I’m going to personally add their name to Caldwell’s list of beneficiaries and make sure they get all the help they need with their finances.

The same is true for the company that trained Helium and paired the dog with the sandy-haired human.

“Ladies and gentlemen.” Evelyn’s voice breaks into my thoughts. “I’m afraid that’s all we have on the schedule for tonight, but I urge you to stay longer. Mingle, enjoy some of the refreshments we’ve put out. Have a good time.”

Beside Evelyn, Caitlin lifts her head, scanning the room until her huge green eyes collide with mine. She jerks her head to the left, indicating that she’ll meet me in the hallway.

I waste no time following her out.

She hasn’t gone far. I find her standing just a few feet away from the auditorium, studying a painting of the solar system.

“Hey,” I say softly. Smiling, I walk toward her. “Are you ready to get out of here, ‘cause Findlay is waiting in the car. I’m thinking of having him drive us to this little coffee shop I know of at the edge of town that makes the most amazing hot chocolate I’ve ever tasted, then we can swing back to your place and-”

Before I can finish my sentence, Caitlin’s hand snakes out and she grabs my tie, using it to haul me into a small room that smells of cleaners. I have just enough time to make out the dark images of a mop bucket and a vacuum cleaner before the door swings closed behind me, encasing us in total darkness.

Caitlin maintains her hold on my tie, using it as a guide that leads upwards to my mouth, which she covers with her own. Startled, I gasp, providing her with the perfect opportunity to slide her tongue into my mouth with a slow, demanding stroke that shoots from my mouth directly to my cock.

This isn’t the place for this. The thought flashes through my mind even as my cock leaps to attention and presses painfully against my fly. She deserves something better, or at the very least, an actual bed.

I untangle my mouth from hers and gasp for breath. “We should …” Unable to speak anymore, I wave my hand weakly, indicating the bedroom.

Caitlin shakes her head, the movement causing her braided hair to sway. Her big eyes are solemn as they meet mine. “No,” she whispers, her voice confident despite the soft tone. Her hands settle on my hips, her fingertips pressing through my clothing until they curl into my flesh. She pulls me forward until it’s impossible to tell where she ends and I begin. Her hips shimmy, gyrating against my cock. “Right here. Right now.”

I groan. I don’t know what’s gotten into her, but I like it.

I skim my fingers along her collarbone, loving the satiny smoothness of her skin and the way that even my lightest touch causes her pulse to jump. I cup my fingers around the gentle curve of her shoulder, delighting in the sexy moans that slide past her parted lips.

My head falls onto her shoulder as I fight for self-control.

If that’s what the woman wants, who am I to argue?