I’ve been going around buying your lotion. Alas, those bottles run out fast. He had attached a crying emoji, as well. She couldn’t believe that he was actually using her lotion. Not as a joke but for daily use.

Another text from him came in.

It feels like you are here with me. When I walk around, everyone knows your smell on me. I’ve been asked what it was. Apparently, you smell amazing to others, too.

She bit her lip. Why were all these people going around sniffing him? Had they no other work? And she didn’t think they were complimenting her. They were complimenting him.

While I don’t appreciate others going around smelling you (that is downright creepy), I won’t be that person who pees on their significant other to ward of love rivals. Well, that should do it.

Do you need to do another action scene? she asked after a while. The reply came soon.

I will protect my body from the sniffers. I have one scene today that is action-based, but nothing that will injure me.

She read it and pursed her lips. She had watched the previous movies and knew the kind of stunts Cage had to do. On that note, anything he called not harmful would be at the least enough to cause a concussion.

Will you let me sniff you, though? I miss you.

She laughed at the thought of him sniffing her. Her train of thought was broken when someone spoke up.

“Miss Austen, is everything okay?” an executive asked. The man looked positively livid. If they hadn’t been on a business call, the tone he used would have been very different.

She swore internally. She had forgotten to mute her microphone. A rookie mistake when one worked from home.

“Sorry, I just got a lovely idea for the cover. Don’t mind my reactions…” She hoped for all she was worth that the other two wouldn’t point out her blatant lie and condemn her reaction as an act of lunacy because of inspiration or something. Whatever they think about artistry.

The executive eyed Katherine but thankfully, the camera couldn’t catch the cellphone in her hands. “If I may continue, then,” the executive said frigidly. Katherine smiled innocently and pretended to care about the discussion happening as the executive went on about the character growth and how the plot needs to change to suit a stupid trope readers liked in the present.

Katherine sighed and counted herself lucky. Clearly these people didn’t know how enticing Cage Cavanaugh could me. Irresistible.

I’ll let you sniff me anytime, just give me a headsup before you do. I do stink after a long day or work or workout. I don’t want you to think I smell like a decomposing buffalo.

Katherine moved forward and muted the call immediately so that she could snicker to herself. Where did he get those similes from. They made no sense. But at the same time, she got a perfect sense of what she meant. She didn’t know what a decomposing buffalo smelled like but it wouldn’t be pretty. If her attraction to Cage was any indication and pheromones and science were not kidding, even if he did smell like that, she might just find him attractive.

Did she want to test that theory? Not really. But their love would have to stand the test of smelling foul to one another. It was bound to happen some time.

Sorry. I am not interested in smelling corpses. But if you coax me enough, I might just try. Call her crazy, but that was what she texted him. Is your GC interview today? she asked out of the blue. She remembered he had said something of the sort.

Yeah. It was supposed to happen before our vacation but something urgent came up on their recent editions and my interview was pushed back. Understandable. There had been a lot of surprise movies coming out for the past two months from people who are well known in the industry. Though Cage was a hotshot, there was nothing hot to talk about at the moment, so they must have pushed it back.

It was a good thing that there was no juicy news about him. Yet.

Hope it goes well. You’ve thoroughly enticed me. How am I supposed to concentrate on my meeting now?

Her mind went back to the video call for a second and she tried to concentrate when another message came in.

Ah. I really want to get into a business meeting with you. But don’t let them detain you after the call. I’ll be the only one doing that. Damn right. She thought about it. A boss fantasy? Why not.

Suddenly, she was hot and bothered and the executive and author droned on.

What are you doing to me? *groan* I’m turned on, now and on a video call. How do you think I look?

Take that!

Heavenly, but all mine. He replied.

Just you wait. I’ll take revenge! Katherine swore.

Game on. Cage replied.

Katherine squinted at the screen and dropped her phone on the table. She turned back to the call in front of her and thought about ways she could get back at him. He challenged her when he had a long interview to sit through. With a little help, she would be prepared.

Lily, Angelina… It seems I need some help.

And then she wrote what she wanted to do.

– – – – –

“Good evening, Mr. Cavanaugh,” The reporter began on a very formal note. “My name is Giselle. It’s nice to meet you.” She extended her hand towards him with a polite smile.

“Just call me Cage,” he insisted without a second thought. The woman seemed to be his age and had a friendly face. From what he knew about her, she wrote some pretty insightful stories and gave the audience what they wanted without it being brash. That was exactly what he wanted.

Giselle promptly led him to a suite in the same hotel he was living at. The room was beautiful, with a fireplace and a piano. It reminded him of the cabin on the mountains and he had to smile at the memory. The little look of satisfaction on his face wasn’t lost on the photographer and Giselle.