Chapter 9

Deidre

I hadn’t left my office since Mark and Perrin had been dismissed hours ago. The light outside had shown I had long since missed dinner, and I had sent Cynthia home out of courtesy. She needed a vacation, bless that she-wolf. And I wanted her to take it while Leila wasn’t here. She’d be busy enough when she returned, that’s for sure.

A knock sounded at the door. “Come in,” I said.

Jason swept in, and I couldn’t help but smile. “What are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same.” He held up a large, brown-paper bag that smelled delicious. “Dina,” he said, and placed it on the desk.

“Thank you,” I said, clearing some of the papers away from my desk. He spread out containers and cutlery from the bag.

“How was your day?”

I sighed. “Maybe it’d be easier if we started with yours.”

“That bad, eh?” A rare, warm smile greeted his lips. He pulled a bottle of chilled champagne out of the bottom of the bag. I smiled in relief.

I stuffed a hot biscuit in my mouth, unsure of where