The next morning, I’m sure, too, that I’m ready for the meeting with Isaac. Ready to tell my staffers who Mr. Smolder is.

What I’m not ready for is how they find out.

30LOGAN

On the way to my meeting at The Dating Pool offices the next morning, I pop into Your Little Loves, since I’m early and have a few minutes.

The shopkeeper calls me over, her cheery voice floating across the store. “Mr. Clarke. I did a little research, and I think I might have a lead for you on the gift you were looking for.”

“Excellent,” I say, joining her at the register as she gives me the details.

“I’ll know more later today.”

“You are the best, Maria,” I tell her.

She smiles like it’s no big deal, then holds up a finger. “I have something else you might like. I put this aside for you.”

She bends and reaches for something behind the counter. With glee in her eyes, she lifts it and waggles a Calvin and Hobbes lunch box.

I grin. “That is perfect. I’ll take it.”

“I thought you might like it.”

She rings me up, and I tell her I’ll check in later on the other gift. I head to the building next door, as my phone rings with Casey’s number. Before I step inside, I answer it.

“Hey, Casey. Admit it, you were blown away by us,” I say.

My colleague laughs. “More like blown away by her. No wonder you’re hooked, lined, and sinkered. She’s gorgeous, kind, and smart.”

“She is indeed.”

“And that’s why I called to say yes to the pitch. But there is something I want.”

“Tell me what it is,” I say, turning away from the lobby to walk down the block as I listen to her outlining her wishes.

I nod as she talks, taking it in.

“You know what to do next,” I say. “Put it in writing.”

I can sense her smile. “I will. Talk to you later.”

Then I swivel around, head inside, and make my way upstairs to the conference room. There’s a VP meeting shortly, but right now, the editorial staffers are filing in, so I pop in to say hello.

“Great job on the home page this week. That new scientific study on how love evolves is terrific,” I tell the crew. “Advertisers loved it.”

“Thanks so much,” Rosario calls out, then peers at my hand, eyes narrowed. “Is that a Calvin and Hobbes lunch box?”

“I love Calvin and Hobbes,” Matthew adds, eyes widening as he checks out my purchase.

I hold it up higher so he can see. “My daughter loves them too. I got her this just now. She’s kind of on a lunch box kick.”

Matthew tilts his head to the side. Rosario’s mouth parts. Quentin purses his lips, and James raises a finger.

Oh, shit.

I’ve said the wrong thing.

What have I done? My brain is scrambling to fix this when Bryn strolls in.

She stops, staring at her freeze-frame staffers, then at me, then them again. “Everything okay? What’s going on?”

As if they are synchronized Olympic swimmers, they all point to me. “He’s Mr. Lunch Box?” Rosario asks.

“Mr. Smolder,” Matthew adds.

And the sigh that falls from Bryn’s lips says it all.

“He is,” she says heavily.

And today wasn’t supposed to go like that.

31BRUCE

Day 905 in Prison

Bruce had been warned.

His whole life, he’d heard the cautionary tales. Had been told to practice the three basic skills.

Barfing on their pillow.

Meowing in the middle of the night.

And the third . . . The third one always worked. Sitting on the keyboard when they typed.

But what had he done instead? He’d heeded the siren call of the human. Her voice had worked wonders on him. Her touch. Her entire attitude.

This morning she was in some kind of wondrous mood. She looked like she might don a frock and twirl across a field of flowers while singing.

And if she did, he might very well watch. Maybe he’d even hum along. Tra-la-la-fucking-la, with a couple of meows on top.

Yes, he would have to tender his resignation from the resistance. Alert the others. Let them know he could no longer be counted on to hold the fort.

Even as she scratched his chin while typing, he didn’t feel compelled to sit on the keys. All he wanted was to receive pleasure.

“Today is going to be a good day,” she said as she stroked his chin. “I sent Casey the detailed proposal. I gave Hadley a list of tips for her site. And I reviewed Paisley’s presentation for her upcoming conference. And you know what? I’m going to keep kicking butt when I meet with Isaac and tell him I’m dating the CEO.” She laughed, then her laughter ceased. “Sounds weird, doesn’t it?”

He purred, louder and louder.