46

“Good, then you understand why I want to take things slow. I want to figure this out together. I want what’s best for us and Hooked and for both of us to feel comfortable with what that looks like. I’m not pausing, I’m not rushing, I’m just taking the steps that feel right for us.” She clasped her hands, looking so genuine when she said, “I really care about you, and I want this to work.”

I softened my voice. “I do too.”

And because of that, I had zero issues with her being employed here.

With her working beneath me.

But I understood there were levels of authority, and that affected her job and, quite possibly, her performance.

I could handle slow only because that would eventually lead to Drake Madden becoming all mine.

“I don’t want to say anything to the guys,” I told her. “For now, this will be our secret. When we have a better understanding of what we are and how this is going to look at the office, then I’ll talk to them about it.”

“You have no idea how much I appreciate that.”