Free Ultimate Surrender by Lydia Rowan Page A

ago.”
    He went silent, and she simply shook her head. “Read my reports, Lucian, and sign that paper,” she said.
    Then she turned on her heel and walked out of his office, having the dignity not to slam the door.
    Lucian stared at the spot Cassandra had just vacated, wondering what the fuck had just happened.
    He started to pace, suddenly too restless to stand still and more than a little confused. Yeah, he hadn’t signed the papers, but Cassandra was overreacting. It wasn’t like there was anything new in that. Even at the best of times, Lucian wasn’t exactly on top of details like—
    He stopped short and then smiled. This was one of the times when Damien would have busted his balls for being oblivious. Cassandra was upset, but that anger wouldn’t have been inspired by the kind of oversight she’d come to him with. So this was one of those situations where they were arguing about one thing but really were arguing about another.
    Subtext, Lucian believed it was called.
    He fought back the urge to go to her. She was still pissed, so he wouldn’t make headway with her now. But later…
    Lucian smiled again. He couldn’t wait.

10
    C assandra walked down the hall , not stomping, though she wanted to.
    But she wouldn’t. Because she wouldn’t risk Lucian seeing her pouting like a spoiled child. Her overreaction had displayed that well enough, thank you very much.
    Because Cassandra was in control of herself, and she would not, not , give in to the anger that Lucian made her feel.
    The attraction either, the fact that she had missed him so much after a short period of time.
    When she’d walked into the conference room, seeing him standing tall, graceful, dressed in a starched white button-down shirt and black slacks, a costume to play the part of businessman that only made it more obvious that he was a soldier, her throat had gone dry.
    It had taken everything she had not to respond, so in some way she should be grateful for Lucian’s cavalier attitude. At least that had kept her from giving in to that overwhelming desire for him, something that was especially hard when the heat of his gaze on her legs had made her squirm with need.
    By the time she had made it to Sloan’s office, she had calmed down enough to speak.
    “He still hasn’t signed the papers, so could you please remind him to do so?” she asked.
    Sloan’s eyes widened and she sat up a little straighter, which made Cassandra realize how sharp her words had been.
    “Sorry, Sloan,” she said.
    Sloan shook her head. “No problem. Trouble in paradise so soon? What has our intrepid leader done to you today?”
    Cassandra overlooked Sloan’s first statement and narrowed in on the second. “That man never listens!”
    “Happens a lot here,” Sloan said with an accepting shrug.
    “I’m just trying to help! Trying to do my job. Why does he insist on standing in my way?”
    “Part of me is convinced he just wanted to see you get upset. You make the most amusing faces when you do, and they say fighting keeps things fresh,” Sloan said.
    Cassandra laughed despite herself. “Why did I come here again?”
    “To spill your guts. Confession is good for the soul,” Sloan said.
    Cassandra rolled her eyes. “Clearly because I’m a masochist. You know what? I’m going to go to my office and do actual work,” she said.
    “I’m here if you want to chat,” Sloan said, not at all deterred.
    Cassandra chuckled again and then went back to her office and settled at her desk, hoping work would keep her mind occupied.
    The blaring of her cell phone brought her out of her moment and she glanced at her watch, quickly realizing it had been a couple of hours since she’d returned from her showdown with Lucian.
    “Hello?” she said after she picked up the phone.
    She didn’t recognize the number, but that wasn’t uncommon, because she never knew where one of the guys would contact her from or when an old friend from her government days would reach