Cayden
So, smug and arrogant, am I? Cayden thought to himself as his eyes tracked the way Sophie's hips swayed as she stomped away from him. Damn. He loved how gorgeous she looked when she was flustered. The way her normally serious gray eyes would turn into thunderclouds until he could practically see lighting striking in their depths. Hell, he even felt a little singed himself as if an electric current had suddenly charged the room.
It was like that every damn time they were in the same vicinity. Sophie could deny it all she wanted to but if Cayden knew anything it was chemistry, and the reaction between them was off the charts. It had been that way from the first moment she’d walked into World News, all doe eyed and innocent and somehow fragile despite the fearless way she went after her assignments.
She'd covered mob bosses, and political scandals, war zones and the roughest neighborhoods in New York City and she'd never blink an eye. But come within ten feet of him, and anyone else would think he had the plague or something.
What was it about Sophie Stone that had all the blood rushing straight south? Sure, she was pretty, in an unusual sort of way. Her features were sharp, nearly cat-like. With her creamy complexion and full lips that were nearly always drawn into a frown, at least around him. The freckles scattered across the bridge of her pert nose and rosy red cheeks. And those eyes. Big, gray eyes as changeable as the wind behind the frames of her glasses. She never gave anything else away, except with her eyes.
His gaze slid downward caressing the sweet curves she hid under the all too tasteful suits she wore. Always some shade of charcoal or navy, staid, modest. It made him drool just thinking about what she was hiding under them. And boy had he spent hours fantasizing about just that.
It had become one of his favorite past times over the last five years. Imagining what it would be like to finally get the ice queen, Sophie Stone, into his bed. He had a feeling they would both go up in flames.
“Uh, you know that’s never going to happen, right?”
Cayden jerked as the feminine voice broke into his lascivious thoughts. He’d forgotten all about Blair still standing behind him.
“You never know.” He said with a shrug, but even he couldn’t quite make himself believe it. He’d been trying to seduce Sophie for years, and she'd never even caved a little. Cayden didn’t get it. Most of the women he went out with were more than happy to slip under the covers with him for a little one on one time. It didn’t hurt that he’d been a star quarterback in college scouted by the NFL, and still had the body to prove it. But not Sophie.
“No, Cayden, I do know. You should just give up already.” Blair said nonchalantly as she turned back to her computer screen. “Sophie Stone is not the girl for you. Never gonna happen.”
His gaze was drawn back to Sophie as she made her way towards Harry’s office. Not for the first time he wondered if she was a virgin. Maybe that was why her friend was so convinced nothing would ever happen between them.
Cayden’s body stiffened at the thought, lust shooting through him like electricity. Damn it. He was about to go head to head with Sophie for the senior writing position. He needed to get his head in the game, and out of the gutter. After giving himself a quick shake, he followed after her.
As Cayden entered, he wasn’t surprised to see Harry Brewer sitting behind his cluttered desk. Papers and unreadable notes were scattered across the top as well as three half full cups of black coffee that resembled tar at this point. The man lived off the stuff like it was mana from heaven.
“Cayden! There you are. I was just about to fill Sophie here in on the developments.” Harry said, his voice as rough as sandpaper as he pointed an ink stained finger at the only other open chair in the cramped office.
Cayden reluctantly sat down trying desperately not to look sideways at Sophie. The last thing he needed was for his thoughts to take another nosedive. “Developments, huh?”
"Yes, yes, you see, hm now where did I put it..." Harry scrabbled through one particularly precious pile of notes before pulling out a folder and flipping it open, "Ah, yes, here we go." Brewer leaned forward, and Cayden could see the several days growth of gray stubble on the man's jaw. He practically lived in his office, as dedicated to his job as Cayden himself was. And Sophie, he thought reluctantly.
Harry folded his hands on top of the folder and shared a look between them. “You know you are both qualified for the senior writing position that’s open since Bert retired. I’m not going to beat around the bush. It’s close. It’s real close.”
“But Harry, you know I–.” Sophie started, sitting forward on the edge of the overstuffed chair.
"Now, Sophie, let me finish," Harry growled good naturedly, holding up a hand to stall her. Cayden nearly grinned. Well, until the next words came out of Harry's mouth. "Both of you are top notch journalists and you've both been loyal to the company, so I'm not going to rush this decision."
He pulled out two memos from the folder and slid them across the desk, knocking over a sheaf of papers as he did. Cayden reluctantly took the coffee-stained note full of Harry's scrawled handwriting. He shared a confused look with Sophie before holding it up in his boss's direction.
“Harry, I have no idea what this says.”
“Well, just read it!” Brewer burst out before throwing his hands in the air, “Bah! Fine! Listen, you’re both going to Washington D.C.”
“What?–.”
“But what about the story I’m covering downtown next week–.”
“Be quiet, both of you!” Harry said curtly, glaring at them both. “You’ve been following the news. You know there have been riots breaking out in D.C. I want you both to fly down there and cover what’s going on. Whoever writes the best story gets the position, simple as that. Any arguments?” He gave them both a look that strongly suggested that it would be better if they didn’t. Much better.
After a moment of tense silence, Harry uncrossed his arms and sat back, the office chair squeaking under his weight. He nodded once, a small smile curling up at the corner of his lips.
“Good. Now, you’ll be flying out tomorrow–.”
“Tomorrow?” Sophie interrupted, “but Harry, I’m in the middle of an assignment.”
“Yes, and now I’m giving you a new one.” Harry raised one bushy eyebrow at her, “or did someone else take over as editor of the News while I wasn’t looking.”
"You're the boss." Sophie finally said with a sigh.
“Damn right I am. Now, if you’re done interrupting me we can get on with this. You’re flying out tomorrow. Your other assignment will still be here when you get back, Ms. Stone.” He added impatiently. "I know this isn't ideal for either of you, but we need to cover it, and it's the fairest way for me to pick who gets promoted. You'll both be working different angles of the riots. Got it?"
"Got it," Cayden said quickly. It took a little longer for Sophie to nod her head, albeit reluctantly.
“Got it, boss.”
“Good. Now get the hell out of my office. I’ve got work to do.”
Slowly, Cayden rose to his feet all too aware of Sophie doing the same just a few bare inches away. Despite his best intentions, his thoughts rolled back to his fantasy of her and the knowledge that they would be spending the next few days in very close proximity only added fuel to the fire.
He leaned even closer to whisper under his breath. “You know, this trip isn’t going to be cheap. With the company footing the bill, it might earn us some brownie points with the boss if we try and reduce some of the cost." Cayden wasn't quite looking at her, but he still saw her gray eyes narrow in suspicion.
“Oh yeah? And how do you propose we, uh, ‘reduce the cost’ as you put it?”
“Well, share a room. It makes sense. Hotels aren't cheap." He looked up at her just in time to see the bright pink blush heat her cheeks.
“I would rather sleep in a cardboard box on the street.” Sophie growled at him under her breath before turning and leaving the office. Cayden followed, walking slower as his thoughts churned. They would have the entire weekend alone together. Who knows what could happen?
He wasn't aware of the devilish grin that curled up at one corner of his lips as he walked back to his desk.