Needs A Little TLC (Spinning Hills Romance 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

would make her life more difficult, no matter what was at stake.
     
    Sam couldn’t look away. It was as if his eyes were being held captive. Both Sam and Cassie were driving hard, convincing bargains. The unique, but long-forgotten excitement of being near her energy and being a coconspirator to a “plan” licked at his insides. It crackled between them and filled him with a thrill he didn’t want to feel. He almost rubbed his belly to get rid of it, but he caught himself just in time.
    “How long do I have to think about it?” she asked, startling him.
    Their goals seemed to be lined up. He had properties he needed to sell fast, Cassie wanted to be number one, and she had never been one to give much thought to action when she was excited. He continued to study her, but the electric charge died away. “I’ll need your answer by tomorrow morning at nine.”
    She glanced at Jessica. “Can you give me until Monday?”
    Really only one thought was keeping him from saying yes. Voicing the thought would be uncomfortable to say the least. He looked at her. She focused on his nose. Again. “No. Even if you move your headquarters, I’m taking the bigger risk. There’s nothing, not even a contract, that can keep you from disappearing if things go south. I at least need an answer right away, so I can move on with the other Realtors if your answer is no.”
    Cassie’s eyes shot up and angry sparks flew every which way, but before she could say a word, Jessica Carter spoke up. “She’d never walk out or give up!”
    Sam’s eyes didn’t leave Cassie’s. He was too serious to be taken in by Jessica’s loyalty and indignant stance. “She’s disappeared on me before.”
    “This a professional matter, not a personal one. Don’t dredge up the past, because you will lose any fight there. I am no quitter. I never was and I never will be. You’re the one who should make sure you can follow through and deliver.” Her hands were fisted on his desk, and one knee looked as if it was ready to climb up after them.
    Sam could only stare. She didn’t even know what he was talking about. It was just as he’d always suspected. She’d never thought about everything she’d cost him that long-ago day. All she’d seen was the aftermath.
    And she didn’t even know the whole story.
    “I’ve always delivered, Cassie. We both know that,” he said, with a calm he didn’t feel. He folded his arms and quirked an eyebrow, knowing it would incense her even further.
    A millisecond later, the contents of his desktop were swept to the floor in one angry movement. Cassie looked stunned that she’d done it. “So that you have room to sign those contracts you’re so eager to get to,” she said, before grabbing her briefcase and swiveling on her heel.
    “Welcome home,” he said to her back.
    Cassie walked out behind Jessica and Cassie tried to slam the door, apparently forgetting it was a slow-closing glass door. She then threw her head up high and marched out, but her briefcase was still open and papers were threatening to spill over, ruining her regal exit.
    Sam sat down and scrubbed his face, feeling ambivalent over everything that had just transpired. Only one thing was undeniable. Their goals were aligned. Cassie wanted to be number one and that made her hungry.
    Sam needed that hunger. A lot was at stake. He fired up his laptop and searched for a blog post she’d done on Cleveland. He’d been reading her blog every week, ever since Sherry had told him about it. Cassie had a real knack for drawing him in and making him feel the way she felt for a particular house or town. He knew other readers must feel the same.

    I know I talk about these cities as if they are living, breathing things, but trust me, they have a heart and they have a pulse. And when people stop building them up and start tearing them down, when feet no longer pound their streets by the tens of thousands, a city gains its soul, and it speaks to those of us